Prince William Sound Aquaculture

Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) is a private nonprofit aquaculture association founded in 1974 by local fishermen and other stakeholders to optimize Alaska’s wild salmon resources.

PWSAC produces hatchery-born, ocean-raised wild salmon for the commercial, sport, personal use and subsistence fisheries in the Prince William Sound and Copper River regions.

With headquarters in Cordova, Alaska, PWSAC operates four remote salmon hatcheries in Prince William Sound and one on the Copper River in Paxson. About 600 million salmon fry/smolt are produced for release into Pacific waters. The returning adults benefit all user groups.

PWSAC operations are financed through periodic state grants, licensing a portion of the returning salmon for a fee to seafood processors who in turn catch and sell the fish (cost recovery), and by a 2% voluntary salmon enhancement tax paid by commercial fishermen.