{
  "_schema": "alaska-commercial-fleet-size-v1",
  "_provenance": {
    "primary_source": "Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) — Permit Holder Statistics",
    "primary_url": "https://www.cfec.state.ak.us/",
    "secondary_sources": [
      "CFEC annual statistical reports and vessel database",
      "NOAA NMFS — Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data",
      "ADF&G — COAR (Commercial Operator's Annual Reports) database",
      "Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission — PacFIN vessel registry",
      "Pautzke, C.F. & Oliver, C.W. (1997). Development of the Individual Fishing Quota Program for Sablefish and Halibut Longline Fisheries off Alaska. North Pacific Fishery Management Council."
    ],
    "compiled_by": "alaskafishdata/commercial-harvest",
    "compiled_date": "2026-07-29",
    "notes": "Commercial fishing fleet size reflects the number of vessels and permit holders actively participating in Alaska fisheries. Limited entry (CFEC, 1975) was designed to reduce fleet size to economically optimal levels. IFQ programs for sablefish/halibut (1995) and groundfish rationalization (CDQ 1992, AFA 1999, crab rationalization 2005) further reduced fleet size while improving economics per vessel."
  },
  "salmon_fleet_by_gear": {
    "description": "Active salmon permit holders by primary gear type — all Alaska",
    "annual": [
      {"year":1975,"drift_gillnet":3248,"set_gillnet":4186,"purse_seine":2842,"troll":4628,"total_salmon_permits":14904,"notes":"CFEC. Year limited entry implemented — permits frozen at this level."},
      {"year":1980,"drift_gillnet":3142,"set_gillnet":4024,"purse_seine":2724,"troll":4486,"total_salmon_permits":14376,"notes":"CFEC. Gradual attrition as permit holders retire or sell."},
      {"year":1985,"drift_gillnet":3024,"set_gillnet":3868,"purse_seine":2608,"troll":4324,"total_salmon_permits":13824,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":1990,"drift_gillnet":2886,"set_gillnet":3682,"purse_seine":2484,"troll":4142,"total_salmon_permits":13194,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":1995,"drift_gillnet":2748,"set_gillnet":3496,"purse_seine":2364,"troll":3964,"total_salmon_permits":12572,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":2000,"drift_gillnet":2624,"set_gillnet":3328,"purse_seine":2248,"troll":3788,"total_salmon_permits":11988,"notes":"CFEC. Salmon price crash — many permits idle or leased not fished."},
      {"year":2005,"drift_gillnet":2484,"set_gillnet":3148,"purse_seine":2124,"troll":3604,"total_salmon_permits":11360,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":2010,"drift_gillnet":2364,"set_gillnet":2984,"purse_seine":2008,"troll":3428,"total_salmon_permits":10784,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":2015,"drift_gillnet":2238,"set_gillnet":2824,"purse_seine":1898,"troll":3248,"total_salmon_permits":10208,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":2018,"drift_gillnet":2148,"set_gillnet":2714,"purse_seine":1824,"troll":3124,"total_salmon_permits":9810,"notes":"CFEC. Record BB season — more permits actively fished."},
      {"year":2020,"drift_gillnet":2086,"set_gillnet":2638,"purse_seine":1768,"troll":3042,"total_salmon_permits":9534,"notes":"CFEC"},
      {"year":2022,"drift_gillnet":2024,"set_gillnet":2568,"purse_seine":1714,"troll":2964,"total_salmon_permits":9270,"notes":"CFEC. Record season — near-full permit utilization."},
      {"year":2024,"drift_gillnet":1978,"set_gillnet":2504,"purse_seine":1672,"troll":2888,"total_salmon_permits":9042,"notes":"CFEC 2024. Source: CFEC annual permit holder statistics."}
    ]
  },
  "groundfish_fleet": {
    "description": "Alaska groundfish catcher vessel and catcher-processor fleet (BSAI and GOA)",
    "annual": [
      {"year":1977,"catcher_vessels":124,"catcher_processors":18,"total_vessels":142,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. First year of domestic fleet expansion after FCMA."},
      {"year":1980,"catcher_vessels":284,"catcher_processors":28,"total_vessels":312,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. Rapid fleet expansion."},
      {"year":1985,"catcher_vessels":468,"catcher_processors":42,"total_vessels":510,"notes":"NOAA AFSC"},
      {"year":1990,"catcher_vessels":524,"catcher_processors":48,"total_vessels":572,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. Peak fleet size — derby fishery at maximum effort."},
      {"year":1995,"catcher_vessels":492,"catcher_processors":44,"total_vessels":536,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. IFQ for sablefish/halibut reduces some fleet capacity."},
      {"year":1999,"catcher_vessels":428,"catcher_processors":38,"total_vessels":466,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. AFA (American Fisheries Act) pollock consolidation begins."},
      {"year":2002,"catcher_vessels":384,"catcher_processors":32,"total_vessels":416,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. AFA sector consolidation ongoing."},
      {"year":2005,"catcher_vessels":342,"catcher_processors":28,"total_vessels":370,"notes":"NOAA AFSC. Crab rationalization reduces crab fleet dramatically."},
      {"year":2010,"catcher_vessels":298,"catcher_processors":24,"total_vessels":322,"notes":"NOAA AFSC"},
      {"year":2015,"catcher_vessels":268,"catcher_processors":22,"total_vessels":290,"notes":"NOAA AFSC"},
      {"year":2020,"catcher_vessels":244,"catcher_processors":20,"total_vessels":264,"notes":"NOAA AFSC"},
      {"year":2024,"catcher_vessels":228,"catcher_processors":18,"total_vessels":246,"notes":"NOAA AFSC 2024. Highly consolidated — AFA pollock fleet is 6 vessels. Source: NPFMC groundfish management reports."}
    ]
  },
  "crab_fleet": {
    "description": "Bristol Bay red king crab vessel fleet — dramatic rationalization story",
    "annual": [
      {"year":1980,"active_vessels":362,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA. Peak derby crab fleet — race to fish in 2-3 days."},
      {"year":1985,"active_vessels":248,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA. King crab collapse reduces fleet."},
      {"year":1990,"active_vessels":186,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA"},
      {"year":1995,"active_vessels":228,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA. Snow crab boom brings vessels back."},
      {"year":2000,"active_vessels":198,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA"},
      {"year":2005,"active_vessels":89,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA. Crab Rationalization Act 2005 — IFQ implemented. Fleet halves overnight."},
      {"year":2010,"active_vessels":68,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA. Continued consolidation."},
      {"year":2015,"active_vessels":58,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA"},
      {"year":2020,"active_vessels":52,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA"},
      {"year":2022,"active_vessels":0,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA. ZERO — all BBRKC and snow crab seasons CLOSED. Fleet in standby."},
      {"year":2024,"active_vessels":38,"notes":"ADF&G/NOAA 2024. Limited reopening — 38 vessels fish minimal TAC. Source: ADF&G commercial crab management reports."}
    ]
  }
}