March 11, 2008

Alaska forecast salmon harvest of 137 million in 2008
 

Alaska's commercial salmon harvest for all species in 2008 will reach a new record high of 137 million, according to a forecast released by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The total harvest is expected to comprise of 672,000 chinook salmon, 47.1 million sockeye salmon, 4.4 million coho salmon, 66 million pink salmon, and 18.7 million chum salmon.

The chinook salmon forecast is an increase of 110,000 fish compared to the 2007 harvest, while the forecast harvest of the coho salmon is close to the ten-year average of 4.6 million.

If the forecast comes to pass, Alaska will mark the 2008 harvest the 18th largest harvest since 1960.