Data & Research

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Maritime Jobs By The Numbers

Working with academic and private sector partners at the county, state, and federal level, the Coalition gathers and analyzes data to meet the needs of our stakeholders. Our goal is to empower our community leaders with hard data so they can hold informed discussions, guide planning processes, and anticipate future concerns.



Several economic impact reports reveal that the maritime sector is alive & well in Washington State, and Whatcom County.

Studies & Reports

Maritime Cluster Study done in 2013

Reports 58,000 jobs

The Coalition co-sponsored an economic report conducted by McKinley Research & the Port of Bellingham

  • Whatcom County: Reporting on jobs identified 3,600 direct jobs + 2,800 indirect jobs totaling 6,400 maritime sector jobs!


Rocky Mountain Institute's Roadmap Study details policy and recommendations required to transition WA state shipping commerce to Zero-Emissions Fuels by 2050

Urban Ocean Lab released a 'A Path to Protect & Support a Working Waterfront' in 2025, detailing strategies to preserve working waterfront businesses, infrastructure and the benefits of vitality and diversity they bring. Read the 9-page report via the link above, and visit Urban Ocean Lab via the link below:

Prepared by Port of Bellingham

The Fishery Friendly Climate Action released reports in 2025 around transition local commercial fishing fleets to a low-carbon future. Download the reports via the link, and visit the website linked below:

We've won many industry awards, including most innovative and agile. 

The Washington Coast Economist provides a repository of information, resources, random posts, musings and more about the economics and events on the coast. If you love keeping up-to-date on what makes Washington’s coastal economy tick, then check out this helpful listing of resources around Washington.

Over 6,000 jobs in Whatcom County are created or supported by Marine Trades, representing 4.2% of our workforce.

Whatcom County Maritime Industry

Impact Study 2024

The Port of Bellingham, with McKinley Research and in collaboration with your Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition, recently published a report on the impact of Whatcom's maritime industry in 2023. See the report below, and you can view the technical appendix via the button link beneath the report.

6,400

Jobs in Whatcom County supported by maritime trades

1,000+

Commercial Fishing Crew & Captains

$1.6 Billion

Revenue to Whatcom brought by maritime trades

$416 Million

Total Labor Income in Whatcom County

Washington Maritime Federation 2022 Impact Report

The Washington Maritime Federation recently published an indepth impact report for the Marine and Maritime Sectors in Washington State. The study, compiled by McKinley Research, points to the vital revenue and jobs that our marine trades bring to the state, and our local region. Read the full report below.

Washington Maritime Impact Report 2022

174,300

Jobs in WA State supported by marine trades

$45.9 Billion

Revenue state-wide brought by marine trades

$14.4 Billion

Labor income statewide brought by maritime trades

$122,000

Average earnings in 2022 for maritime trades workers

The National Working Waterfront Network

A Comprehensive Data & Research Toolkit

The National Working Waterfront Network hosts a comprehensive data and research toolkit on their website, featuring articles, data and case studies of successful working waterfronts from all over the nation. 

Check out their resources, and learn more about the impacts of working waterfronts via the link below:

NWWN Toolkit
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