August 29, 2018

Alaska salmon harvest this year less than expected

Alaska's fishery officials have described the US state's salmon fishing season as "unusual," with commercial harvest around 31% below the preseason forecast level.

According to the "Preliminary 2018 Alaska Salmon Harvest and Fishery Update" released by the Alaska Department of Fishery and Game, statewide harvest may not reach the expected 147 million fish.

"Most of the harvest shortfall has come in the form of poor pink salmon returns to streams and rivers flowing into the Gulf of Alaska where pink salmon harvest is approximately half the preseason forecast amount", the update report said.

Several major sockeye salmon stocks also displayed unexpected run timing in 2018. For example, the Kvichak River sockeye salmon run peak was 10 days later than average, the slowest run since 1956.

There were other unusual run timing events that, according to the fishery department, created uncertainty for fishery managers, who depend on relatively consistent run timing to ensure fisheries are managed sustainably. These also resulted in foregone harvest opportunity for commercial fishermen.

While lower-than-expected returns and unusual run timing reduced fishing opportunity across much of the state, fishing closures and restrictions allowed enough salmon passage to meet or exceed many established escapement goals including Yukon River summer and fall chum salmon and Canadian border king salmon passage.

"Meeting these escapement goals increases the probability future salmon returns will provide harvestable surplus for all harvesters", the fishery department stressed.

Notwithstanding the troublous situation, the 2018 season has bright spots, notably in Western Alaska where Bristol Bay experienced the second-largest sockeye salmon harvest on record (nearly 42 million fish) and the fourth consecutive season with harvest exceeding 35 million sockeye salmon, the report said.