Is big game (like moose or caribou) the main subsistence food?
A. As a general rule, no. Many small communities in Alaska depend on a great number of wildlife and fish resources, not just moose and caribou. In fact, Division of Subsistence research shows that the main type of subsistence food harvested by Alaskans is fish; 60% of the state’s subsistence harvest by weight is fish, including salmon, halibut, herring, whitefish, cod, and Arctic char-Dolly Varden, among others. On the other hand, land mammals represent 20% of the state’s subsistence harvest, marine mammals are 14% of the harvest, birds are 2%, shellfish are 2% and wild plants are 2%. Of course, the types of foods people eat vary from place to place. For example, subsistence fishing is a smaller item in extreme coastal Arctic areas, where caribou, seals, whales, and walrus are the major subsistence resources.
