Support and development of ports and harbors contributes substantially to the successful economic development of the harbor’s host community. Like other comparable regions, the majority of communities in Alaska depend on their harbors and ports for access to coastal resources.
Multiple Uses - Many references support the need for basic community infrastructure that includes adequate ports and harbors. Why are these facilities important to rural communities? Waterfront access and vessel support facilitates serve a wide variety of industries and user groups. Subsistence gathering, personal use fisheries, commercial fishing, sport fishing, guided outfitting, transportation, shipping, seafood processing, oil industry support and many governmental activities are dependent on safe waterfront access. These are only a few of the community development benefits derived by the support of basic port and marina infrastructure.
Fishing - There is the obvious connection of fishing to waterfront access. Fishing can be broken into three areas. These are subsistence/personal use fishing, commercial fishing and guided/sport fishing. Public marinas greatly facilitate subsistence, personal use and recreational fisheries. In Alaska, marinas support subsistence food gathering. Subsistence gathering reinforces cultural values, provides nutrition that is more wholesome and is important to the lifeways of rural residents.
Commercial fishing and fish processing provides jobs and economic benefits to many coastal communities. Resent declines in the world seafood market have highlighted the importance of commercial fishing in many states. Commercial fishing activities include hatchery operations, processing, producing custom “value added” products, fishing vessel operations, employment and tax income to the government.
Sport and charter boat fishing also constitutes a major economic benefit derived from marina development. It is worth noting that typical nonresident fishermen will outspend residents in pursuit of common fish stocks. Guided sport fishing represents a major growth area and could be utilized as a potential new business for many coastal communities.
Marine Transportation - Water based transportation is a key component of many rural community economies. Good docks and harbors offer alternatives to expensive air transportation in road less areas. Heating fuel shipments can be shipped for much less money by barge. A community that has an adequate fuel dock can transfer and store fuel much more safely than by air. These facilities are also much safer for the environment. Barges routinely handle shipments of building materials, prefabricated housing and food supplies. Fast ferries depending on the location can serve some communities. Ferries offer much cheaper, all-weather transportation, when they are available, compared to aircraft.
Port and marina development is an important component in any community development plan. Waterfront facilities should not be studied in isolation, but rather as part of the greater community and region. Local ports and marinas can also do a better job to clearly define their role within the community.
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