October 4, 2017

Alaska 2017 commercial salmon harvest up 67% in value

Alaska's 2017 commercial salmon fishery all species harvest was 224.6 million wild salmon with an estimated preliminary ex-vessel value of US$678.8 million, up 66.7% from 2016's value of $407.3 million.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) said that although there are still fish being caught, the majority of 2017 salmon fisheries have ended.

Of the total number of fish, sockeye salmon again came in as the most valuable species, accounting for 48% of the value at $326.1 million and 23% of the harvest at 52.4 million fish.

Pink salmon accounted for 25% of the value at $169.0 million, and 63% of the harvest at 141.6 million fish. Chum salmon accounted for 19% of the value at $128.3 million and 11% of the harvest at 25.2 million fish.

Coho salmon accounted for 6% of the value at $37.6 million and 2% of the harvest at 5.1 million fish. The Chinook salmon harvest was 251,141 fish with an estimated preliminary value of $17.8 million.

Forrest Bowers, deputy director of the Division of Commercial Fisheries, characterized the 2017 Alaska salmon season as a banner year for the industry and state of Alaska.

"Tremendous harvests occurred across Alaska - from Kotzebue to Southeast, highlighted by an all-time record statewide chum salmon harvest. In addition, 2017 is the third year in a row statewide sockeye salmon harvest exceeded 50 million fish. Record wild salmon harvests like these are a testament to Alaska's sound, science-based management, the professionalism of ADF&G's staff, and thoughtful stakeholder engagement", he said.

In terms of poundage, the all species wild salmon harvest of 1.041 billion pounds ranks third from 1975 to 2017 and is only the third time harvest has exceed 1 billion pounds. In terms of ex-vessel value, the all species harvest of $676.6 million ranks third from 1975 to 2017.

This year's chum salmon harvest of 25.2 million fish is the largest harvest ever. Along with record breaking numbers, this year's chum salmon ex-vessel value of $128.3 million ranks second-best from 1975 to 2017. This year's pink salmon harvest ranks third in terms of ex-vessel value and fourth in terms of poundage.