Region 2 consists of Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula. Prince William Sound, made famous by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, is a stunning wilderness area surrounded on three sides by mountains: the Chugach Range to the east and north, and the Kenai Range to the west.

Rainfall is heavy in the area, with annual totals surpassing 100 inches.

Although decimated by the spill, the Sound is still teeming with marine life including fish, whales, sea lions, and harbor seals. Its shores and surrounding mountains are home to countless deer, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, bears, and bald eagles. No one should pass up an opportunity to sea kayak or hike in this area of unsurpassed scenic beauty. The Sound is fished primarily by purse seiners and gillnetters fishing for pink and sockeye salmon; the region's fishermen catch about 16 percent of the state's overall salmon haul. The effects of the spill are still hotly debated by those in the fishing industry.

The Sound has been variously claimed by all four major indigenous groups - Inuits, Aleuts, Eskimos, and Athabascans - along with Russians, and of course, Americans. As the northernmost warm-water bay on the continent, it has been an important trading site since prehistoric times. Portuguese, French, Spanish, and British explorers have all visited the area, including the famous Captain James Cook on his search for the mythical Northwest Passage. It was he who named the Sound for a future King of England, William IV.

Copper River Salmon Fishery

The Copper River salmon fishery at the mouth of the Copper River is the most important fishery in Region 2, claiming Alaska's first salmon run of the year, which begins in mid-May. The sockeye salmon (reds) that return each year to the Copper River are prized in Japan and the Lower Forty-eight for their great taste and high oil content, needed by the fish during the long journey to their spawning grounds at the Copper River headwaters.

Because of their quality and the early timing of their run, most spring reds and kings are not sent to canneries but shipped fresh. Gillnetters off-load their catch each evening, usually to tenders, who chill - but don't freeze - the fish in a cold brine solution. The fish are then delivered to processing plants where they are cleaned and sent out the very next morning on flights to destinations in Japan and the Lower Forty-eight.

Delivering the fish fresh gives Copper River fishermen a premium on price, and most Copper River spring run salmon sell for about 50 percent more than other Alaskan salmon.

Almost the entire Copper River fishing fleet is based in nearby Cordova, with a few ships located in Valdez and Whittier. The Copper River fishery is also noted for its dangerous conditions; much of the gillnetting is done near the mouth of the river, where large breakers and unpredictable currents are the norm. After the excitement of the early run, prices usually decline and by summer most Copper River salmon are frozen or canned in processing plants around Cordova and Valdez.

***More up-to-date and detailed town profiles and specific employment information about Region 2 an the towns in this region can be found at Alaska Job Finder.com. Unfortunately, our licensing agreement with AlaskaJobFinder doesn't allow us to use the most current version of their Alaska Job information. Please use this town profile only for general information, as some of the information may be outdated.

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