In Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, a series of over 300 rocky islands, stretch over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from southwest Alaska to Russia. They are home to the largest fishing port in the U.S., Dutch Harbor. The primary target species is pollock, but crabs, salmon, and groundfish are also important. Dutch Harbour is ranked as a top fishing port with more than a billion dollars transferred each year. Huge harvests of pollock and cod in the Bering Sea are part of this total. The Bering Sea has a continental shelf that is one of the world’s largest, and supports a rich ecosystem.
Before the crab and pollock fisheries, Russian explorers arrived in the 18th century to harvest fur seals. In 1942, Japanese planes bombed Dutch Harbor – and World War II brought massive changes to the Aleutian Islands.
The massive fishing industry hums along 24 hours a day. But visitors to the island can learn about the history and culture of all those who came before and have left their mark on this community of 4,000 people.
According to adn.com; kodiakdailymirror.com. Source of photos: internet
