The totals for Alaska’s commercial salmon season have come in 31 percent below what was forecasted by state scientists, but some fisheries have performed better than expected, which has left fishermen and fisheries officials scratching their heads.
Although the state’s season is not yet over, given current trends it seems highly unlikely that the preseason estimate of 147 million fish will be reached.
A statement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game called this season “unusual,” partially due to the timing of several major sockeye salmon runs including the Kvichak River, which ran 10 days later than average, the latest since 1956. More than 50 percent of the Kenai River late-run sockeye occurred during August, which has only happened one time before. Both private sector and government scientists have been trying to figure out why this season has been so different.
The department’s statement blamed the shortfall primarily on the poor pink salmon returns to the Gulf of Alaska. Pink salmon were estimated to make up half of the preseason forecast of 147 million fish.
The Department of Fish and Game noted some fisheries in Alaska were extremely successful this year, such as the Bristol Bay sockeye fishery, which celebrated its second-largest sockeye salmon catch on record. Almost 42 million fish were harvested in Bristol Bay this year, which makes it the fourth consecutive year that at least 35 million fish have been harvested. The Togiak and Nushagak districts in Bristol Bay both experienced their largest harvests on record.
Two other districts are set to post record gains this year. Norton Sound, which is likely to break the record for coho salmon set last year, and the Kotzebue Sound chum salmon harvest will in all likelihood be among the top four harvests on record.
Photo courtesy of Brian Hagenbuch/SeafoodSource
