Inseason Alaska Commercial Salmon Summary

This summary provides management, harvest, and escapement information for the Alaska commercial salmon fishing season. This summary will be updated each Friday between mid-May and September. Please note, inseason harvest data published in this summary are preliminary and subject to change. For more information on the Blue Sheet, inseason summaries, and harvest timing charts, please see our Blue Sheet, Inseason Summary, and Harvest Timing Charts Overview page.

Statewide Summary

Last updated: Friday, September 01

Most salmon fisheries statewide are winding down. Total commercial salmon harvest to date is 186,000 Chinook (1,000 fish harvest last week), 17.9 million chum (1.3 million fish harvest last week), 1.5 million coho (300,000 fish harvest last week), 145.3 million pink (12.1 million fish harvest last week), and 49.9 million sockeye salmon (300,000 fish last week) for a total harvest through September 1 of 215 million salmon.

Statewide salmon harvest has exceeded the preseason forecast by 26 million fish.

Harvest to date is well above last year (2022 harvest: 156.6 million fish), due to strong chum and odd-year pink salmon catches. Harvest to date also exceeds 2021 (213 million fish) and the most recent 5-year average (158 million fish).

Area-specific fishery announcements, harvest, and escapement data can be found on the Commercial Fisheries homepage.

Inseason fish counts are posted on the Fish Count Data Search homepage.

Inseason harvest timing can be tracked here: Inseason Commercial Salmon Harvest Timing.

Southeast Alaska & Yakutat

Troll Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The department opened a third Chinook salmon retention period for the general summer troll season as a limited harvest fishery from September 1 through September 10, 2023, to harvest approximately 3,200 treaty Chinook salmon. A total of 9 Chinook salmon were allocated to each commercial troll permit.

Preliminary fish ticket data for the summer fishery reported through September 14 indicate a total of 513 troll permits landed 86,600 Chinook salmon during the first retention period, 307 permits landed 8,300 Chinook salmon during the second retention period and 266 permits have reported 1,500 Chinook salmon from the third retention period. Harvest reported on fish tickets for other species include 954,800 coho salmon and 346,900 chum salmon. Seasonal average prices are $5.77/lb for Chinook, $1.67/lb for coho and $0.55 /lb for chum salmon. Current average weights are 10.5 lb for Chinook, 4.9 lb for coho, and 7.5 lb for chum salmon. Chinook salmon average weight is below the 2022 and the 5-year average by 0.6 and 1.0 lb, while coho salmon average weight is below the 2022 and 5-year average by 0.3 lb and 1.0 lb. Chum salmon average weight is above the 2022 weight average by 0.3 lb and equal to the 5-year average weight.

The current regional power troll coho salmon catch rate for this week (SW 37) is 89 coho/boat/day, a rate above the 20-year average (84) for the same weekly period. The highest catch rate this week is in the Southern Inside area at 116 coho/boat/day followed by the Central Inside (60) and Central Inside (48) areas. Fishery performance data is not available for the other areas due inclement weather and low effort. 

Fishing effort in the directed chum salmon fishery decreased considerably in the middle of August after a decrease in product demand resulted in a drop in dock price.  No directed chum salmon fishing effort has been reported for SWs 36 and 37. Cumulative catch for the Sitka Sound area since SW 27 indicate 88 vessels have taken 119,800 fish from 395 landings at a rate of 303 fish per landing. A total of 35 vessels fishing the Crawfish Inlet area have reported a cumulative harvest of 57,200 chum salmon from 100 landings at a rate of 572 fish per landing.

Directed chum salmon landings reported on fish tickets for West Behm Canal and Neets Bay since July 1 indicate 55 vessels have taken 148,800 chum salmon from 470 landings at a rate of 317 fish per landing. A total of 14 vessels have reported a cumulative catch of 4,600 chum salmon from 32 landings in District 14 (Icy Strait) at a rate of 143 fish per landing. A total of 10 vessels have reported 5,500 chum salmon from 16 landings at Burnett Inlet at a rate of 343 fish per landing. Current data indicate these fisheries are finished for the season. 

The department announced today that the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat commercial troll salmon fishery will be extended through 11:59 p.m., Saturday, September 30th, 2023 in most waters of the region, however, the waters of frequent high king salmon abundance, waters specified in 5 AAC 29.150, and those waters closed by emergency order under 5 AAC 29.100 in Section 15A in Northern Lynn Canal and District 181 near Yakutat will be closed. 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Purse Seine Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 01

The Southeast Alaska (SEAK) pink salmon run is nearing the end and directed pink salmon fisheries have concluded for the year.

Purse seine openings directed at harvesting pink salmon began June 18 and expanded in time and area throughout July. Beginning July 27, the purse fishery began an opening rotation of 2-days on/2-days off and continued that rotation until the fishery was closed to directed pink salmon fishing on August 26. The fishery was closed after all processors indicated they would no longer be buying pink salmon. Fishing opportunity remains in select hatchery terminal harvest areas. In addition, the department will continue to look for opportunity for fall chum salmon fisheries.

The SEAK 2023 total common property salmon harvest by the purse seine gear is over 51 million fish. This includes an estimated 44.5 million pink salmon of which almost 100% were harvested in traditional fisheries, and 6.3 million chum salmon of which over 60% were harvested in traditional fisheries. The overall pink salmon harvest is estimated to be 46.5 million fish, 2.5 times the preseason forecast of 19 million fish. Escapement ranged from good to excellent throughout SEAK and many areas will be over management targets. Purse seine effort was low again this year with 206 permits making landings. This is more than the number of permits fishing last year and similar to 2021 (204 permits) but still well below the recent 10-year average effort of 242 permits.

The 2023 SEAK forecast of hatchery-produced summer chum salmon runs was 9.2 million fish. This includes 2.8 million fish to five Douglas Island and Pink and Chum locations, 3.3 million fish to six Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association locations, and 3.1 million fish to six Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association locations. A portion of these runs are harvested in traditional purse seine fisheries and in Terminal Harvest Area (THA) purse seine fisheries in Kendrick Bay, Anita Bay, Southeast Cove, Thomas Bay, Hidden Falls, Deep Inlet, and Amalga Harbor. Chum salmon runs and harvests in common property purse seine fisheries was better than expected and still ongoing. Over 9.5 million chum salmon are estimated to have been harvested in common property traditional and THA fisheries throughout the region The majority of chum salmon harvested are summer run chum salmon and that run has concluded.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Drift Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Friday, May 19

The 2023 Southeast Alaska traditional gillnet fishery will open on June 18 in Districts 1, 6, 11, and 15. 

The Southeast Alaska (SEAK) Chinook salmon stocks trend of low abundance continues. Over the past 5 years (2018–2022), the 11 monitored Chinook salmon index systems did not meet escapement goals 47% of the time. In 2022, 6 of the 11 monitored Chinook salmon index systems were below their escapement goal ranges. Of the 11 monitored stocks, ADF&G has more detailed stock assessment that allows for annual run forecasts for 5 of those stocks. In 2023, ADF&G forecasted 4 of those 5 stock total runs to be within their respective escapement goal ranges. Detailed Southeast Alaska Chinook salmon forecast information was released in an advisory announcement on December 9, 2022 (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1447493979.pdf). The 2023 all-gear Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST) Chinook salmon allocation is 201,900 treaty Chinook salmon (non-Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook salmon that fall under the terms of the PST). This year’s all-gear harvest limit includes a 2% reduction that will serve as a buffer to avoid exceeding the all-gear limit and payback provisions within the PST.

For 2023, the preliminary forecast for the Nass River is for a total run of 459,000 sockeye salmon. The terminal run forecast for Stikine River sockeye salmon is 86,000 fish, which constitutes a below average run size (103,000 fish). The Taku River wild sockeye salmon terminal run is expected to be 169,000 fish, above the average terminal run size of 155,000 fish. The Taku River enhanced sockeye salmon run is again expected to be minimal and below the average terminal run size of approximately 11,000 fish. Chilkat and Chilkoot Lakes sockeye salmon runs are expected to be average to above average. Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. (DIPAC) forecasts a Snettisham Hatchery sockeye salmon run of 151,000 fish in 2023, below the average of 160,000 fish but well above the 2021 and 2022 runs.

Excluding the Taku River coho salmon stock, wild coho salmon runs are not typically forecasted. The 2023 Taku River coho salmon terminal run forecast is 102,000 fish, above the 98,000 fish average.

The SEAK pink salmon harvest forecast for 2023 is 19 million fish, with a range of 12 to 29 million fish. The majority of the pink salmon harvest for the region is typically taken by purse seine gear.

The 2023 SEAK forecast of hatchery-produced summer chum salmon runs is 9.2 million fish. This includes 2.8 million fish to 5 DIPAC locations, 3.3 million fish to 6 Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) locations, and 3.1 million fish to 6 Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) locations. A portion of these runs will be harvested in traditional drift gillnet fisheries in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15, and in Terminal Harvest Area (THA) drift gillnet fisheries in Boat Harbor, Deep Inlet, Southeast Cove, Anita Bay, Neets Bay, and Nakat Inlet. Annual chum salmon harvests in regional drift gillnet fisheries have averaged 2.7 million fish.

 

For further details concerning this fishery, please see the 2022 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (PDF 3,507 kB)

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Tree Point/Section 1-B

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery was open for five days starting on Sunday, September 10. Effort decreased with 12 vessels taking part this week, which is one third of the 10-year average for effort of 36 vessels. The estimated weekly harvest for statistical week 37 was 2,900 coho salmon and 9,300 chum salmon. Coho salmon harvest increased from the previous week but is below the 10-year average. Chum salmon harvest decreased from the previous week but is greater than the 10-year average. The Section 1-B gillnet fishery is being managed based on the strength of the return of wild coho salmon runs. Tree Point will have five days of fishing time in statistical week 38, beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, September 17.

For updates on SSRAA contributions visit their website at http://www.ssraa.org/.  

 

For further details concerning this fishery, please see the 2022 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (PDF 3,507 kB)

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Stikine and Prince of Wales/Districts 6 and 8

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The District 6 and 8 gillnet fishery was managed for wild coho salmon abundance during the statistical week 37 opening. Both districts were opened for four days beginning Sunday, September 10 with a preliminary harvest estimate of 1,600 coho and 2,800 chum salmon from 12 boats fishing in District 6 and 10 Chinook, 8,000 coho, 10 pink, and 3,000 chum salmon from 25 boats in District 8. Overall, this week’s wild coho salmon harvest decreased in District 6 and the harvest of hatchery fish increased substantially in District 8. Effort was mostly concentrated in the southern portion of District 8 with boats targeting hatchery returns to the Anita Bay THA located just south of the district.  

Coho salmon fishery performance has been near or above average in adjacent fisheries; however, this has yet to translate into good wild coho salmon harvest in the District 6 gillnet fishery. Historically, the wild coho salmon harvest tends to peak this time of year with the hatchery component peaking a week or two later.  For statistical week 38, both districts will open for three days starting September 17.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B

Last updated: Friday, September 15

District 11 was open for 5 days this week with an estimated fleet of just 12 boats setting nets, which was less than half of average. Coho salmon fishing was seemingly hit-or-miss for most folks this week with pulses of fish hitting nets and long lulls in between. Fishing conditions on the grounds were reported as not exactly stellar and fishermen reported slime and “tobacco juice” hampering catches early in the opening. A significant number of fish were reported to have been caught in the very bottom meshes of fishermen’s nets and presumably many fish were simply staying deep and avoiding any chance of harvest by the fleet. Marine weather conditions in the latter half of the opening certainly affected the effort on the grounds with a significant proportion of the fleet heading in by Wednesday afternoon with an impending storm and gale winds on the horizon.

Coho salmon catches were about half of the recent 10-year average for the week and catch per unit effort was about 60% of average. Code wire tag (CWT) samples obtained from the fishing grounds this week showed a nice jump in Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) hatchery coho salmon harvested, which—along with the inriver run size estimate—bodes well for the District 11 drift gillnet fishery having plenty of Allowable Catch (AC) remaining for continued coho salmon harvest within the bounds of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Up in the Taku River at the Canyon Island research camp, project fish wheel catches have remained consistent through mid-September and tagging efforts have continued as part of a mark-recapture experiment to estimate inriver fish abundance. Upriver of the international border in the Canadian inriver gillnet fishery, coho salmon harvest took small a step down from above average catches last week, to near average this week. However, effort was low with only three permits making landings during this week’s opening. The fourth inriver Taku River inriver run size estimate was produced this week which yielded a terminal run estimate of 89,500 above-border origin coho salmon, which is below the preseason forecast of 102,000 fish, but within the biological escapement goal (EG) range of 50,000 to 90,000 fish.

Some fall chum have been trickling though the fishery with an average catch for the week.

District 11 will open for 5 days again next week to give ample opportunity for the anticipated small fleet to target coho salmon as well as giving fishermen the ability to fish around the fall weather when conditions deteriorate.

 

The 2022 SEAK Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan can be found on the Southeast Management Plans webpage.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Lynn Canal/District 15

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The District 15 drift gillnet fishery was open for four days with a below average fleet size of 35 vessels. Fishing effort was similar to last week, but only half of the recent 10-year average of 60 permits. All sub-districts were open to commercial fishing except for Lutak Inlet. Fishing started out slow and as the weather worsened, fishing picked up to a sizable chum and coho salmon harvest for those who toughed out the storm. Harvest rates for both chum and coho salmon were above the 10-year average for SW 37. The estimated weekly harvest was 300 sockeye, 10,000 coho, 16,000 chum salmon, and no pink salmon. Coho and chum salmon harvests were above average and sockeye and pink salmon harvests were below average.

The preliminary inriver run estimate for large Chilkat River Chinook salmon is 2,241 fish, which meets the lower bound of the escapement goal range of 1,750—3,500 fish.

The final Chilkoot River sockeye salmon escapement estimate is 69,506 fish, within the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) range of 38,000-86,000 fish.

The lower bound of the Chilkat Lake sockeye salmon escapement goal range was achieved on August 6, 2023, and the current escapement estimate is 80,000 fish. This project will operate through the first week of October, and final escapement estimates will follow.

The current Chilkat River fish wheel chum salmon catch is approximately 6,000 fish. The expansion factor used to estimate chum salmon escapement in the Chilkat River drainage is currently equivalent to 240,000 fish, approaching the upper bound of the escapement goal range of 75,000-250,000 chum salmon.

Commercial drift gillnet fishing in District 15 will continue as long as there is interest and processors continue to buy fish. Next week (statistical week 38), District 15 drift gillnet fishery will open for four days. More area will be given in Chilkat Inlet, with the northern line moved up to the latitude of Letnikof Cove Light. 

 

 

 

 

The 2022 SEAK Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan can be found on the Southeast Management Plans webpage.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Yakutat Area Set Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The Yakutat set gillnet fisheries opened in June, with openings for the various systems staggered according to run timing and regulation. The Southeast Alaska (SEAK) Transboundary Rivers Chinook salmon stocks are experiencing unprecedented levels of poor production; record low runs were observed for many of these stocks in 2022, and 2023 forecasts indicate continued poor levels of production. In an effort to bolster spawning escapements, Alaska and Canada are coordinating fisheries management per treaty obligations to minimize harvest of depressed Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon stocks. Management actions to conserve Alsek River Chinook salmon stocks will be observing harvest during the early part of the season and adjusting fishing time as needed to reduce harvest. Management actions for sockeye salmon conservation will be based on fishery performance.

In the Yakutat and Yakataga Districts, all systems are under coho salmon management. The Alsek River set gillnet fishery opened on September 10, for 72-hours and was not fished. The East Alsek River was opened on September 10, for 72-hours and was not fished. Akwe River was opened on September 10, for 72-hours and was not fished. The Yakutat Bay fishery was opened on September 10, for 72-hours and was not fished. The Situk-Ahrnklin estuary fishery was opened on September 10, for 72-hours and then extended another 12-hours; 37 permits were fished. There was a harvest of 12,174 coho, and 2 chum salmon. Harvest was below the 10-year average and fleet participation was average for this statistical week. Manby Shore Ocean fishery and Manby Inside Waters were not fished for this statistical week.

In the Yakataga District, the Tsiu and Seal Rivers were open for 72-hours but not fished. Kaliakh River was open this week but less than three permits were fished and harvest information is confidential.

Fishing times may be adjusted based on escapement and survey information for statistical week 38. The Italio River will open by emergency order when adequate levels of escapement can be documented.  

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Terminal Harvest Area (THA) Fisheries

Last updated: Friday, May 19

Terminal Harvest Area (THA) drift gillnet fisheries occur in Nakat Inlet, Carroll Inlet, Anita Bay, Southeast Cove, Deep Inlet, and Boat Harbor. THA seine fisheries occur in Carroll Inlet, Kendrick Bay, Anita Bay, Thomas Bay, Southeast Cove, Hidden Falls, Crawfish Inlet, and Deep Inlet.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Nakat Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The forecasted Nakat Inlet return is 271,000 summer chum, 73,000 fall chum, and 18,600 coho salmon. The Nakat Inlet Terminal Harvest Area (THA) opened by regulation to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet gear Thursday, June 1, and will close Friday, November 10, 2023. The current harvest is 626,000 summer chum salmon or 231% of the summer chum salmon forecasted return. The current harvest of fall chum salmon is 89,000 or 122% of the forecasted return. The overall total includes 226,000 summer and fall chum salmon harvested by drift gillnet gear and 154,000 summer and fall chum salmon harvested by purse seine gear in the traditional fishery, and 335,000 chum salmon harvested in the THA. A total of 1,600 coho salmon have been harvested in the THA to date. 

 

For further information please refer to the 2022 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (PDF 3,507 kB) and for updates on Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) contributions visit the SSRAA website.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Neets Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The forecasted Neets Bay return is 792,000 summer chum, 65,000 fall chum, 4,800 Chinook, and 80,300 coho salmon. The Neets Bay Terminal Harvest Area (THA) opened to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Thursday, June 15, 2023, and to a rotational fishery between drift gillnet and purse seine on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Neets Bay closed to the harvest of salmon by all gear groups at 11:59 p.m., Thursday, July 6, 2023, to allow for Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) cost recovery operations. Neets Bay reopened to the harvest of salmon on Thursday, August 17, continuously to troll gear and by rotation to net gear through Sunday, August 27, 2023. The current summer chum salmon harvest is 1,295,000 chum salmon or 163% of the forecasted return. The current fall chum salmon harvest is 30,000 or 46% of the forecasted return. The overall total includes 118,000 salmon harvested by troll gear, 76,000 salmon harvested by drift gillnet gear, and 616,000 salmon harvested by purse seine gear in the traditional fishery, 100,000 salmon harvested for broodstock, 138,000 salmon harvested for cost recovery, and 20,000 salmon harvested by purse seine gear in the THA. 

 

For further information please refer to the ADF&G advisory announcement for Neets Bay and for updates on SSRAA contributions visit the SSRAA website.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Kendrick Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay is 732,000 summer chum salmon. The Kendrick Bay Terminal Harvest Area (THA) opened by regulation to the harvest of salmon by purse seine gear Thursday, June 15, and will close on Saturday, September 30, 2023. The current harvest is 1,540,000 chum salmon or 211% of the summer chum salmon forecasted return. This total includes 78,000 salmon harvested by drift gillnet gear and 1,207,000 salmon harvested by purse seine gear in the traditional fishery, and 245,000 salmon harvested in the THA. 

 

For further information please refer to the 2021 Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Fishery Management Plan (PDF 1,379 kB)  and for updates on SSRAA contributions visit the SSRAA website.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Caroll Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, July 21

The forecasted return for Carroll Inlet is 10,100 Chinook salmon. The Carroll Inlet THA opened to the harvest of salmon by troll gear continuously and by a rotational fishery between purse seine and drift gillnet on Thursday, June 15. The Carroll Inlet THA closed to all gear groups on Friday, June 30. The current estimated harvest is 4,000 Chinook salmon by purse seine and 2,800 Chinook salmon by drift gillnet.

 

For further information please refer to the ADF&G advisory announcement for Carroll Inlet and for updates on SSRAA contributions visit the SSRAA website.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Anita Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, September 15

For 2023, the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) forecasted total runs of 7,700 Chinook, 275,000 summer chum, and 10,100 coho salmon from releases at Anita Bay. A total of 6,200 Chinook, 112,300 summer chum, and 4,800 coho salmon are expected to be available for harvest in the Terminal Harvest Area (THA). The common property commercial harvest to date is 2,100 Chinook and 400 chum salmon by purse seine, 4,700 Chinook, 17,000 chum, and 800 coho salmon by drift gillnet, and 175 Chinook salmon by troll gear. The Anita Bay THA is currently open to all gear groups continuously until it closes for the season in November. 

 

For further information and updates on Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) contributions and updates visit the SSRAA website.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Deep Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, September 01

The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) expects runs of 951,000 chum, 13,000 Chinook, and 38,000 coho salmon to the Deep Inlet remote release site and the Medvejie Hatchery in 2023. This season, NSRAA does not anticipate cost recovery operations in the Deep Inlet Terminal Harvest Area (THA). Additionally, NSRAA will need approximately 122,500 chum salmon for broodstock. Most of the common property harvest can be expected to take place in the Deep Inlet THA by drift gillnet and purse seine gear, but some harvest is likely to occur outside the THA by troll and purse seine gear as well.

Beginning Sunday, September 3, the Deep Inlet THA will be open to the harvest of salmon by purse seine, drift gillnet, and troll gear concurrently from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. each day through Saturday, September 23. Through August 31, Deep Inlet purse seine harvest is approximately 1,300 Chinook and 644,000 chum salmon, while gillnet harvest is 1,400 Chinook salmon and 294,000 chum salmon. 

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Hidden Falls THA

Last updated: Friday, August 18

Common property fisheries targeting hatchery produced chum salmon within the Hidden Falls THA have concluded for the season. The Hidden Falls Hatchery, operated by the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA), expected a run of 806,000 chum salmon in 2023. While still preliminary, the actual 2023 chum salmon run has exceeded 1.1 million chum salmon. NSRAA has successfully completed broodstock collections.

The 2023 purse seine harvest in the Hidden Falls THA is approximately 856,000 chum salmon.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Crawfish Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, September 01

A run of 867,000 chum salmon is forecasted to return to the Crawfish Inlet remote release site in 2023. The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) is currently conducting cost recovery in Crawfish Inlet with a goal of 740,000 chum salmon. No chum salmon are needed for broodstock this year.

Common property purse seine openings occurred on August 29 and August 31. Harvest from these openings is confidential. Beginning on Thursday, August 31, a small portion of West Crawfish will be open to to purse seine gear from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday of each. The Crawfish Inlet THA will be open to purse seining from 6:00 a.m. Monday, September 4, through 9:00 p.m., Saturday, September 23.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Thomas Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, May 19

The Thomas Bay THA will be open to common property purse seine and troll fisheries beginning Sunday, June 18. No cost recovery operations are planned in 2023. Purse seine openings will occur on Sundays and Thursdays and troll openings will occur on days not open to purse seining through Saturday, August 5. Details of the 2023 Thomas Bay THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 12.

The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) is expecting a total run of 97,000 chum salmon. A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Southeast Cove THA

Last updated: Friday, May 19

The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) is forecasting a run of 570,000 summer chum salmon to the Southeast Cove THA. However, NSRAA is planning on conducting cost recovery operations before allowing common property fishing in the THA. Once cost recovery goals are reached, common property openings will be permitted and an advisory announcement will be issued with the rotational schedule; the fishing rotation will be similar to 2022. Purse seine openings will occur on Sundays and Thursdays, drift gillnet openings will occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and troll openings will occur on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The THA will close to all fisheries on Tuesday, August 1. A portion of the run could be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

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Southeast Alaska & Yakutat | Central Region | Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Region | Westward Region

Central Region

Bristol Bay

The commercial salmon season in Bristol Bay opens June 1 by regulation. Fishing in eastside districts and the Togiak District will be allowed using a weekly schedule that varies by section. The schedules are in place to balance fishing opportunity with escapement in the early part of the season, particularly for king salmon. As each run develops and sockeye salmon run characteristics become defined within individual districts, fishing time will be adjusted accordingly. In the Nushagak District, management will focus on king salmon in the early part of the season, and switch to sockeye salmon management as abundance dictates.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Bristol Bay Management Area

Togiak District

Last updated: Friday, August 11

Final Togiak River sockeye salmon escapement is 268,218 fish, which is within the escapement goal range. The fishing schedule in the Togiak River Section has been extended for the 48-hour maximum this weekend for the last time. Harvest is about 437,000 sockeye salmon through August 10. Things are winding down with today, August 11 being the last day for one of the buyers. Effort has dropped off and the season is essentially over. This is the last update for the Togiak District for 2023. The season summary will be published mid-September.

 

Nushagak District

Last updated: Friday, August 04

Harvest in the Nushagak District is at 11.78 million sockeye salmon, ranking as the 6th largest harvest since 1893. Although the season remains open fishing is basically done except for one or two small operations. All sockeye salmon escapement goals were exceeded in the Nushagak District and the Nushagak River Chinook salmon escapement goal was not met. This will be the last update for the Nushagak District for 2023. The season summary for the 2023 Bristol Bay salmon fishery will be released in September.

 

Naknek-Kvichak District

Last updated: Friday, August 04

Naknek River sockeye salmon escapement is 1.2 million fish; Kvichak River escapement is 3.8 million sockeye sockeye salmon; Alagnak River escapement 1.1 million fish. Sockeye salmon escapement goals for the Naknek, Kvichak, and Alagnak Rivers have been met or exceeded. Harvest to date is 12.7 million fish. The harvest through the allocation period was 81% drift, 10% Naknek set, and 9% Kvichak set.

The Naknek-Kvichak District is open to continuous fishing for both drift and set gillnet gear until 9:00 a.m. Sunday, August 6. 

 

Egegik District

Last updated: Friday, August 04

Egegik River sockeye salmon escapement is 1.6 million fish, which is within the escapement goal range. Sockeye salmon harvest to date is 11.9 million fish, which is above long-term average.

 

Ugashik District

Last updated: Friday, August 04

Ugashik River sockeye salmon escapement is 1.1 million fish, which is within the escapement goal range. Sockeye salmon harvest to date is 2.3 million fish, which is similar to the long term average.

 

Copper River and PWS Drift Gillnet

Last updated: Friday, September 15

The 2023 commercial harvest forecasts for the Copper River District are 987,000 sockeye and 213,000 coho salmon. The Copper River Chinook salmon total run forecast (53,000 fish) is 15% above the 10-year (2013–2022) average (46,000 fish). The 2023 sockeye salmon harvest forecast is 9% below the 10-year (2013–2022) average of 1.09 million fish.

The Copper River District opened to commercial fishing for 12-hour fishing periods on May 15, 18, 22, 25, and 29, and June 1, 5, and 12; for a 24-hour fishing period starting on June 22 and August 14, 21, and 28, and September 4, 11, and 14; 36-hour periods starting on June 26 and 29 and August 7 and 10; 48-hour periods starting July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; and 60-hour periods starting July 6, 13, 20, 27 and August 3. Waters inside of the barrier islands from Steamboat through the eastern end of the district have been open during all fishing periods since June 22. The cumulative Copper River District harvest to date is 91,200 coho and 855,000 sockeye salmon. The anticipated commercial sockeye and coho salmon harvest to-date is 987,000 and 196,000 fish, respectively.

For the week ending September 9, the actual Copper River Delta survey count was 17,300 coho salmon versus an anticipated range 21,447 – 44,904 fish. Observational conditions during this survey were fair and some survey reaches were unsurveyable due to high water. The Miles Lake field camp was deployed on Sunday, May 7 and the last day of sonar operation was July 28. The cumulative count to-date is 987,450 salmon versus an anticipated cumulative count of 581,174 salmon. Break-up of the Copper River was late and river water levels are above average for this date.

The recent 10-year average (2013–2022) commercial harvests for the Bering River District are 4,500 sockeye and 60,000 coho salmon. Cumulative Bering River District harvest to-date is 11,400 sockeye, 17,400 coho, and 43 Chinook salmon. For the week ending September 9, the actual Bering River District survey count was 12,200 coho salmon versus an anticipated range 6,969 – 17,691 fish. Observational conditions during this survey were fair and some survey reaches were unsurveyable due to high water conditions.

The drift gillnet gear group had exclusive access to the Port Chalmers Subdistrict chum salmon fishery in 2023. The commercial fishery in Port Chalmers began on June 1 and ended on July 30 with a weekly fishing schedule of two periods, 60 and 84 hours. The harvest forecast is 650,000 chum salmon. There were 17 fishing periods, and the cumulative harvest was 1.23 million chum, 63,000 pink, and 25,600 sockeye salmon.

The 2023 sockeye salmon run to Main Bay Hatchery (MBH) is forecast to be 934,000 fish. Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) is finished with cost recovery fishing and brood collection at MBH. Eshamy District opened for the 2023 season on June 1 and is currently on a one 24-hour period per week schedule. Harvest reporting is available for 22 fishing periods, and the cumulative harvest is 117,000 chum, 115,000 pink, and 505,000 sockeye salmon. The Eshamy River weir has passed 11,194 sockeye salmon through August 31 with a cumulative target range of 11,597–24,978 fish for the date.

The 2023 Coghill Lake sockeye salmon total run forecast is 453,000 fish with a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) range of 20,000–75,000 fish. The chum salmon run to Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH) is forecast to be 2.21 million fish. PWSAC is finished with cost recovery fishing at WNH. The Coghill District opened to drift gillnet fishing for the 2023 season on June 1 and transitioned to purse seine pink salmon management on July 21. Per 5 AAC 24.370(5)(B), beginning July 21 when harvestable surplus is predominantly pink salmon, purse seine gear may be operated in the district during periods established by emergency order. Harvest reporting is available for 36 fishing periods, and the cumulative harvest is 1.5 million chum, 1.5 million pink, 6,540 coho, and 232,000 sockeye salmon. Coghill River weir was fish tight on June 13 and pulled for the season on July 27 with a cumulative passage for the season of 64,212 sockeye salmon versus an anticipated cumulative of 19,865 74,503 fish.

The 10-year average (2013-2022) Unakwik District sockeye salmon harvest is 6,100 fish. The Unakwik District opened for the season on June 15 and closed for the season on July 21 with eleven 36-hour fishing periods total. The cumulative harvest for the season was 18,900 sockeye salmon.   

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Prince William Sound and Copper River Management Area.

Prince William Sound Purse Seine

Last updated: Friday, September 15

There has been no reported purse seine harvest in Prince William Sound (PWS) since August 26 and the season closed effective 8:00 pm on Wednesday, September 13.

The 2023 pink salmon total run forecast for PWS is 64.81 million fish, with a potential commercial harvest of 55.34 million fish. This pink salmon total run forecast includes 20.32 million wild stock fish, 20.38 million Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) fish, and 24.20 million Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) hatchery fish. Approximately 3.74 million (18%) of the projected VFDA pink salmon return will be needed for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 16.65 million fish available for commercial harvest. Approximately 3.92 million (16%) of the projected pink salmon run to the PWSAC hatcheries will be needed for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 20.28 million fish available for commercial harvest. The department will manage each district’s aerial index escapement goal for a cumulative Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) range of 575,000–992,000 pink salmon. Using the overall midpoint of the SEG, 783,500 fish, there will be approximately 18.39 million wild fish available for commercial harvest.

Cumulative pink salmon harvest to date is 54.80 million fish. Of this total, 46 million fish are commercial common property with the remaining 10.10 million fish being harvested for hatchery cost recovery operations. Pink salmon harvest contributions, which were last compiled on August 21, yielded the following proportions: 41% Solomon Gulch Hatchery (SGH), 15% Armin F. Koernig Hatchery (AFK), 14% Cannery Creek Hatchery (CCH), 4% Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH), and 26% wild salmon.

VDFA completed their SGH pink salmon cost recovery revenue goal on July 21 and they are complete with their egg-take. PWSAC started their cost recovery program on July 25 at AFK and was completed on August 16. Egg-take at PWSAC facilities were completed on September 12.

Aerial surveys of wild stock districts are complete for the 2023 season and final escapement estimates will be available post season.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Prince William Sound and Copper River Management Area.

Upper Cook Inlet

Last updated: Friday, September 08

There are multiple commercial fisheries currently underway in Upper Cook Inlet (UCI):

  1. The Western, Kustatan, Kalgin Island, and Chinitna Bay subdistricts are open to commercial fishing with set gillnets with regulatory periods on Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additional commercial fishing periods for drift and set gillnet gear were opened in the Chinitna Bay Subdistrict from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday’s and Friday’s until closed by emergency order. Participation has decreased to near zero during this statistical week.
  • Harvest from the westside set gillnet fisheries of the Central District commercial fisheries was above average for sockeye salmon harvest and below average for Chinook salmon harvest. Cumulative harvest to date is 360 Chinook, 145,794 sockeye, and 13,091 coho salmon. The 10-year average total harvest is approximately 478 Chinook, 83,466 sockeye, 25,349 coho salmon. The 5-year average harvest is approximately 459 Chinook, 82,785 sockeye, and 27,428 coho salmon.
  1. The Northern District set gillnet fishery was closed the last three statistical weeks to conserve coho salmon migrating to Northern Cook Inlet Streams.
  • Harvest from the Northern District set gillnet commercial fishery is above average for sockeye salmon, above average for Chinook salmon, and below average for coho salmon. Cumulative harvest to date is 287 Chinook, 61,216 sockeye, and 27,653 coho salmon.
  1. The Central District drift gillnet fishery was open to commercial fishing on the regulatory Monday and Thursday periods from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Drift Gillnet Areas 3 and 4 only until the end of the commercial salmon fishing season. Participation has decreased to near zero during this statistical week.
  • Harvest from the drift gillnet commercial fishery was above average for sockeye salmon harvest, below average for Chinook salmon harvest, and below average for coho salmon harvest. Cumulative harvest to date is 98 Chinook salmon, 1,359,888 sockeye salmon, and 56,211 coho salmon. The 10-year average total harvest is approximately 355 Chinook salmon, 950,165 sockeye salmon, and 102,851 coho salmon. The 5-year average harvest is approximately 249 Chinook salmon, 635,695 sockeye salmon, 74,149 coho salmon.
  1. Upper Subdistrict Set Gillnet Fishery: Closed. In response to the preseason forecast of the Kenai River large late-run Chinook salmon run is less than the lower bound of the optimal escapement goal, ADF&G released an emergency order closing the eastside set net fishery for the season.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The UCI commercial fisheries information line will again be available by calling 262-9611.  The most recent Emergency Order (EO) announcement is always available on the recorded message line; catch, escapement and test fishing information is included whenever possible.  The same recording may be accessed at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareauci.main and clicking on the UCI Commercial Fisheries Information Recording player.

All EO announcements are also faxed or emailed to processors as quickly as possible and posted online at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareauci.salmon.

For very general information, we invite you to visit the Commercial Fisheries page on the department website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingCommercial.main.

 

Please see the 2022 Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Fishing Outlook (PDF 589 kB) for more information on fishing strategies.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Upper Cook Inlet Management Area.

Lower Cook Inlet

Last updated: Friday, September 08

Through September 7, a total of 111,296 sockeye, 688,328 pink, 33,483 chum, 212 coho, and 136 Chinook salmon have been harvested by 11 commercial purse seine permit holders in Lower Cook Inlet. This excludes the Eastern and Kamishak districts where fewer than three permit holders have reported deliveries. Approximately 15 set gillnet permit holders (5 dual permits) have harvested 18,928 sockeye, 5,824 pink, 2,502 chum, 343 coho, and 187 Chinook salmon. Through August 31, Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA) has harvested 146,500 sockeye salmon, and approximately 1.8 million pink salmon for cost recovery purposes.

Southern District

Escapement- Through August 5, approximately 24,287 sockeye salmon have passed through the English Bay River weir. This is above the 6,000-13,500 fish sustainable escapement goal (SEG) range for this system.

Cost recovery harvest- Through August 31 CIAA has harvested 3,841 sockeye salmon and approximately 1,803,206 pink salmon from the Tutka Bay Lagoon special harvest area (SHA) for cost recovery. Anticipated number of salmon to be harvested from the Tutka SHA for cost recovery is 28,700 sockeye and 1.3 million pink salmon. An additional 27,697 sockeye salmon have been harvested for cost recovery from the China Poot SHA versus an anticipated 30,600 fish.

Common property purse seine- Through August 31, total commercial common property seine harvest from the Southern District is 44 Chinook, 68,349 sockeye, 206 coho, 531,683 pink, and 373 chum salmon with 10 permit holders delivering. The Southern District will close to commercial common property purse seine salmon harvest for the 2023 fishing season at 10:00 PM on September 8.

Common property set gillnet- Cumulative harvest through August 22 is 187 Chinook, 18,928 sockeye, 343 coho, 5,824 pink, and 2,502 chum salmon. Cumulative harvest last year from the first 22 periods was 26,677 sockeye, 182 Chinook, 8,661 pink, and 2,974 chum salmon. The previous 5-year harvest average from these periods combined was 19,427 sockeye, 277 Chinook, 24,618 pink, and 3,122 chum salmon. The Southern District will close to commercial common property set gillnet salmon harvest for the 2023 fishing season at 6:00 AM on September 30.

Eastern District

Escapement- Through July 16 a total of 10,004 sockeye salmon have passed through the Bear Lake weir. This is within the 5,160 - 12,760 fish escapement goal range for Bear Lake. This goal is the summation of the SEG range (700 – 8,300 fish) added to the CIAA sockeye salmon broodstock goal (4,460 fish) for this stock.

Cost recovery harvest- Through August 3, CIAA has harvested 72,230 sockeye salmon for cost recovery from cost recovery seiners fishing in Resurrection Bay. An additional 11,401 sockeye have been harvested at the Bear Lake weir. CIAA's preseason estimate was for a total return of 89,900 sockeye salmon to Resurrection Bay release sites in 2023, with 62,200 of those fish harvested for cost recovery. Saltwater cost recovery efforts ended on June 23 with Resurrection Bay commercial common property seine harvest opening on Monday, June 26.

Common property purse seine- Harvest from the commercial common property fishery in Resurrection Bay is confidential as fewer than three permit holders reported deliveries. This fishery closed for the 2023 season at 10:00 PM on July 14.

Outer District

Escapement- An aerial survey of Delight and Desire lakes in the East Nuka Subdistrict on June 13th documented 5,190 sockeye salmon in Delight Lake and 13,010 in Desire Lake. The sustainable escapement goal range for Delight Lake is 5,100 – 10,600 fish, and 4,800 – 11,900 fish for Desire Lake.

Common property harvest- Through August 31 a total of 92 Chinook, 42,947 sockeye, 6 coho, 156,645 pink, and 33,110 chum salmon have been harvested with five permit holders having delivered. The Outer District will close to commercial common property purse seine salmon harvest for the 2023 fishing season at 10:00 PM on September 8.

Kamishak District

Escapement- Through August 19 a total of 7,500 sockeye salmon have been counted in Chenik Lake. This is within the SEG range of 2,900 – 13,700 fish. Many chum salmon index streams in the Kamishak District are in the upper end of their sustainable escapement goal ranges, or have exceeded those ranges due to fewer commercial purse seine permit holders participating in those fisheries.

Common property harvest- Harvest from the Kamishak District is confidential due to fewer than three permit holders reporting deliveries. The Kamishak District will close to commercial common property purse seine salmon harvest for the 2023 fishing season at 10:00 PM on September 8.

Cost recovery harvest- Through July 26, CIAA has harvested 31,348 sockeye salmon from the Kirschner Lake SHA for cost recovery. Anticipated number of sockeye salmon to be harvested from the Kirschner SHA for cost recovery is 28,800 fish.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Lower Cook Inlet Management Area.

 

 

 

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Lower Cook Inlet Management Area.

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Westward Region

Kodiak

Last updated: Friday, August 25

Most of the Afognak District, most of the Alitak District, and the Mainland District reopened this week for 54 hours targeting local pink and silver salmon stocks.

 

Parts of the Afognak District, most of the Southwest Kodiak District, the Northeast Kodiak District, and the Eastside Kodiak District were extended until further notice targeting local late-run sockeye and pink salmon stocks.

 

The Duck Bay, Izhut Bay, and Outer Kitoi Bay Sections of the Afognak District opened this week targeting local and hatchery pink salmon.

In the Southwest Kodiak District, the cumulative Karluk River overall sockeye salmon escapement through August 24 is 434,803 fish. The Karluk late-run sockeye salmon escapement through August 25 is 252,631 fish, which is above the desired escapement range for this date. The cumulative Ayakulik River overall sockeye salmon escapement through August 25 is 316,802 fish. The Ayakulik late-run sockeye salmon escapement through August 25 is 116,659 fish, which is above the desired escapement range for this date.

 

In the Alitak District, the cumulative Upper Station overall sockeye salmon escapement through August 25 is 137,464 fish. The Upper Station late-run sockeye salmon escapement through August 25 is 74,335 fish, which is within the desired escapement range for this date.  

So far this season, 162 seiners and 116 set gillnet fishermen have made deliveries.

As of August 24, approximately 1,900,000 sockeye salmon have been harvested in the Kodiak Area, which is below average. Approximately 800,000 chum salmon have been harvested in the Kodiak Area, which is above average. Approximately 19,500,000 pink salmon have been harvested in the Kodiak Area, which is below average.

No significant developments.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Kodiak Management Area.

North Peninsula

Last updated: Friday, August 25

Commercial fishing ceased on Monday, August 21 in the Northern District. The total Northern District sockeye salmon harvest is 1.1 million fish, which is about half the ten year average. 

The final sockeye salmon spawning ground surveys occurred on the Meshik and Cinder River systems on August 14. A total of 80,000 sockeye salmon were observed in the Meshik River, which met the season ending escapement goal of 48,000 to 86,000 sockeye salmon. In the Cinder River system, a total of 50,000 sockeye salmon were observed, which met exceeded season ending escapement goal of 36,000-94,000 sockeye salmon. Coho salmon surveys are expected to occur in the coming week for the Nelson River, Ilnik River, and all other major northern district coho salmon systems.

The Sandy River weir washed out on July 22. At the time of the washout, only 36,200 sockeye salmon had been passed, but based on an aerial survey of the Sandy River and Sandy Lake, approximately 45,000 salmon escaped meeting the season-ending minimum escapement goal of 37,000 sockeye salmon was achieved. Ilnik River sockeye salmon escapement was 99,000 fish, meeting the season-ending minimum of 28,000 fish. At Nelson River, 230,000 sockeye salmon passed the weir, exceeding the escapement goal range of 97,000-219,000 sockeye salmon. At the Bear River, the early-run and late-run escapement goals were achieved with 280,606 and 123,723 sockeye salmon passed respectively. 

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Alaska Peninsula Management Area webpage.

South Peninsula

Last updated: Friday, September 01

The current fishing period that began on August 17 was extended on August 23 until further notice in the Unimak, Southwestern, South Central, and Shumagin Islands Section of the Southeastern District. However, August 30 was the final day that any processor would purchase salmon for 2023.

Aerial surveys for salmon escapement have been flown over the past week and pink and chum salmon are escaping throughout the South Alaska Peninsula and continue to be present in bays and along beaches. We have estimated approximately 4,938,300 pink salmon have escaped throughout the South Alaska Peninsula, which is above the escapement goal range of 1.75 to 4.0 million fish. Approximately 566,810 chum salmon, which is within the area wide escapement goal range of 330,400 to 660,800 fish. The pink and chum salmon escapements are likely a conservative estimate because only one district has been surveyed over the last week due to weather. Reports from the local fleet and other vessels are that there is still a large volume of fish seen jumping in bays.

Participation in the South Alaska Peninsula has concluded this week with all processors no longer purchasing salmon.

Sockeye salmon harvest is below the recent 10-year average and below the 5-year average, with 1,723,657 fish harvested through August 30. The 10-year average sockeye salmon harvest to date is 2,561,031 fish and the 5-year average is 2,603,076 fish.

Pink salmon harvest of 15,433,015 fish is above the recent 10-year average of 9,876,084 fish and the most recent 5-year average of 9,753,433 fish. However, it is below the most recent five odd-year average of 16,693,031 fish.

The to date chum salmon harvest of 955,159 fish is below with the 10-year average of 1,068,916 fish and the 5-year average of 1,232,272 fish.

Chinook salmon harvest is approximately 7,166 fish, which is below the 10-year average of 18,353 fish and the 5-year average of 17,937 fish.

Coho salmon harvest is approximately 174,602 fish, which is below the 10-year average of 274,845 fish and the 5-year average of 268,579 fish.

The salmon season in the South Alaska Peninsula has concluded for 2023! 

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Alaska Peninsula Management Area webpage.

Chignik

Last updated: Friday, September 01

Apart from shorter regulatory closures, all districts were continuously extended after the first opening on on June 29. The fishing period closed at 10:00 p.m August 25 by regulation in the Chignik Bay District, Central District, and Inner Castle Cape Subsection. The current fishing period in the Eastern District, Western District excluding the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, and Perryville is open until further notice, however there is no fishing activity due to no processors purchasing at this time.  

Through 11:59 p.m. August 26, approximately 851,000 sockeye salmon have passed the weir. Sockeye salmon escapement is above the most recent 10-year average. Based off of historical timing approximately 422,000 early run sockeye and 429,000 late run sockeye have passed the weir. Due to the late timings however, it is likely the early run numbers are underestimated and late run are over estimated. Escapement of early run sockeye salmon has surpassed the early run upper goal for the season of 400,000 fish. Late run escapement is has also surpassed the late run upper escapement objective. The optimal escapement objective (OEG) is 300,000-400,000 fish for the early run and 240,000-360,000 fish for the late run. The early run was significantly late, and the late run appears to have been approximately five days late. The Chignik weir was pulled on August 27.

The 2023 Chignik River combined sockeye salmon run was forecasted to be 1.52 million fish with an estimated harvest of 889,000 sockeye salmon. The combined run has been stronger than forecasted, currently at a run size of approximately 1.9 million fish.

A survey of the Western and Perryville District on August 27 showed high numbers of chum salmon and pink salmon in streams and bays. Survey of the Eastern and Central Districts on August 18 also showed high numbers of chum and pink salmon in streams and bays. Pink salmon appeared to be late compared to most odd years. Escapement has been made in all districts for both pink and chum salmon. A final survey of the Eastern District is expected to occur within the next week weather permitting.

Approximately 35 of the 94 registered permits in the Chignik Management Area have actively participated in this season’s fishery.

From June 1 until July 25 sockeye salmon harvested in areas adjacent to the CMA are considered bound for Chignik. The Cape Igvak Section of Area K did not have any fishing periods during their allocative period of June 1 through July 5. The Southeastern District Mainland (SEDM) of Area M also did not have any fishing periods during their allocative period.

The majority of fishing effort occurred in the Chignik Bay District and Western District. Preliminary final non confidential harvest for the season is 1,605 Chinook, 1,070,347 sockeye, 38,177 coho, 2,087,026 pink and 82,479 chum salmon. Sockeye salmon harvest levels were about average for the year compared to historical amounts, and much higher than any other year post 2017.

Low fisherman participation has caused continual extension of the fishery. Due to only having one processor, harvest summaries are given out weekly. No processors were purchasing salmon after August 25.    

 

For Advisory Announcements detailing the specific information related to the fishery visit the Advisory Announcements webpage.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Chignik Management Area webpage.

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Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) Region

Yukon River

Last updated: Friday, September 08

The 2023 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size less than 300,000 fish, compared to a historical run size of 1 million fish. The coho salmon run is projecting to be less than 50,000 fish, the second lowest on record (average is 222,000 fish).

Fall season commercial salmon fisheries in the Yukon Area are unlikely to be prosecuted due to the low returns of fall chum salmon and coho salmon. The inseason run projection for fall chum salmon indicates the threshold of 550,000 fish needed to allow commercial fishing for fall chum salmon will not be achieved. Subsistence fishing for nonsalmon is open. Subsistence fishing for fall chum and coho salmon is closed.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Yukon Management Area.

Kuskokwim River

Last updated: Friday, September 15

Subsistence fishing closures for Chinook salmon went into effect on June 1, in the lower Kuskokwim River and proceeded upstream through the subsistence fishing sections until June 11. The Middle and Upper Kuskokwim River opened to subsistence fishing on June 12. The Lower Kuskokwim River opened to subsistence fishing continuously on August 14.

The Kuskokwim River has a single registered catcher/seller for the 2023 season. Eight commercial fishing periods were announced starting on August 16, ending on August 30. Commercial fishery data is confidential.

Escapement data is still being collected at tributary weir locations. Final escapement data will be available in November.  

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Kuskokwim Management Area.

Norton Sound

Last updated: Friday, September 15

Escapement projects in Norton Sound have ceased operations for the 2023 season. Here are the escapements:

  • Pilgrim River – NSEDC

    Weir operations began on July 6, which is about a week later than average. Aerial surveys were conducted above the weir to gauge missed escapement prior to weir installation and no fish were seen. The weir operated consistently throughout the 2023 season with only two days of partial counts due to high murky water. The weir ceased operations on August 16. There was a total of 12 kings, 7,140 chums, 669 pink, 1,656 sockeye, and 24 coho salmon counted passed the weir. Sockeye salmon did not meet the escapement goal for the Pilgrim River in 2023.

    Snake River – NSEDC

    The Snake River weir started operations on July 24 and operated through August 19 in 2023. The weir generally starts counting operations in late June/early July but was delayed by two weeks due to the wet spring and heavy snow melt keeping the Snake River above working levels through most of July. An aerial survey was conducted on the Snake River to assess missed passage prior to weir installation and some missed passage was confirmed in July. The weir was operational except for four days when there were partial counts due to high murky water. There was a total of 2 kings, 1,227 chum, 3,430 pinks, 7 sockeye, and 94 coho salmon counted in 2023.

    Nome River Weir – ADF&G

    Nome River weir became operational on July 28, which is three weeks later than the weir is usually installed due to high water from our wet spring and heavy snow melt. The weir operated continuously in 2023 with no missed passage while the weir was operational until high water ceased operations on September 3, which is 12 days before the target date for ceasing operations at the weir. The crew will be pulling the weir out this week and preliminary escapements are 1 king, 1,548 chum, 365 coho, 2,822 pinks, and 2 sockeye salmon. Due to the late installation and early removal of the weir these total escapement numbers should be viewed as minimal escapement, as the actual escapement is likely higher due to missed passage.

    Niukluk River – NSEDC

    The Niukluk River tower was plagued by the same water conditions as the Snake and Nome Rivers early in the 2023 season and got a late start beginning operations on July 25. The tower operated through August 20 with 15 days of missed or partial counts. The total escapement estimate for the tower was 63 kings, 6,045 chum, 5,715 pinks, 18 sockeye, and 714 coho salmon. These escapement numbers should be considered an minimum escapement due to the late start and the number of days that were missing or incomplete.

    Kwiniuk River Tower – ADF&G

    The Kwiniuk River tower began operations on July 5. The tower ceased operations on September 2 and had 13 days of missed or incomplete counts. The total escapement estimate is 18 kings, 3,600 chum, 18,701 pinks, 5,433 coho, and 18 sockeye salmon. Prior to the tower becoming operational the department flew aerial surveys of the Kwiniuk River and counted 2,000 chum salmon above the tower site.

    Inglutalik River Tower –NSEDC

    The tower became operational on June 28 and ceased operations on July 27 with 20 days of missed or partial counts. The estimated passage of 204 kings, 1,788 chum, and 192 pinks should be considered a minimal estimate based on the number of days the tower was inoperable.

    Ungalik River Tower  – NSEDC

    The tower became operational on Jun 28 and ceased operations on August 11 with 16 days of missed or partial counts. The estimated passage of 66 king, 4,803 chum, 372 coho, and 15,441 pinks should be considered a minimum escapement due to missed and partial passage days.

    Shaktoolik Tower  – NSEDC

    The tower began operations on June 26 and ceased operations on August 19 with 27 days of missed or incomplete passage estimates. The estimated escapement of 780 king, 5,031 chum, 29,349 pinks, 1,590 coho, and 78 sockeye salmon should be considered a minimum escapement due to the amount of time the tower was inoperable in 2023.

    North River Tower – NSEDC with assistance from ADF&G.

    The tower became operational on June 24 and operated until August 18 with 10 days of missed or partial escapement estimates. Total escapement estimates are 483 kings, 597 chum, 597 coho, and 11,162 pink salmon and represent minimal escapement estimates.

    Unalakleet River Weir  – ADF&G, Native Village of Unalakleet, United States BLM, and NSEDC with funding provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Office of Subsistence Management.

    The weir became operational on July 1 and ran through August 15 with 12 days of missed or incomplete passage. There were 40 kings, 13,358 chum, 4,599 coho, 7,208 pinks, and 164 sockeye salmon. The weir was installed approximately two weeks after the target installation date causing the weir to miss the first part of the king salmon return in 2023. The late installation and days of missed or incomplete counts make escapement counts a minimal estimate of actual escapement.

Commercial Salmon Fishing

Commercial salmon fishing in Norton Sound closed by regulation on September 7 in 2023. Escapements in northern Norton Sound were stronger than escapements in southern Norton Sound and allowed for more liberal fishing time in Subdistricts 1 through 3 early in the 2023 season. Pink salmon returns were weak in Norton Sound and resulted in limited commercial openings directed at pink salmon. Coho salmon were below average throughout Norton Sound with the exception of the Kwiniuk River. Commercial fishing was suspended in Subdistricts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 when coho salmon escapements and catch rates did not meet expectations. Total commercial harvest for Norton Sound are as follows:

Subdistrict 1 (Nome): 4 permits caught 1,696 chum weighing 11,364 pounds, 65 sockeye weighting 258 pounds, 738 coho weighing 4,567 pounds, and 18 pink salmon weighing 93 pounds in 12 commercial fishing periods.

Subdistrict 2 (Golovin): 14 permits harvested 13,536 chum weighing 88,723 pounds, 207 sockeye weighing 1,237 pounds, 574 coho weighing 3,340 pounds, and 447 pink salmon weighing 1,362 pounds during 9 commercial fishing periods.

Subdistrict 3 (Elim): 11 permits harvested 1,104 chum weighing 7,236 pounds, 40 sockeye weighing 166 pounds, 1,216 coho weighing 6,923 pounds, and 21 pink salmon weighing 55 pounds during 10 commercial periods.

Subdistrict 4 (Norton Bay): 4 permits harvested 23 chum weighing 123 pounds, 1 sockeye weighing 7 pounds, 57 coho weighing 340 pounds, and 8 pink salmon weighing 17 pounds from 6 commercial periods.

Subdistrict 5 (Shaktoolik): 10 permits harvested 954 chum weighing 5,955 pounds, 59 sockeye weighing 341 pounds, 954 coho weighing 5,393 pounds, and 477 pink salmon weighing 1,113 pounds during 5 commercial periods.

Subdistrict 6 (Unalakleet): 27 permits harvested 1,034 chum weighing 6,362 pounds, 69 sockeye weighing 386 pounds, 1,924 coho weighing 11,064 pounds, and 2,730 pink salmon weighing 7,962 pounds from 6 commercial fishing periods.

Subsistence Fishing

Subsistence fishing schedules in Norton Sound have ended in both fresh and marine waters and the Norton Sound District is open to subsistence net fishing 7 days per week in designated subsistence areas. However, beach seining closed Wednesday, August 15, and is no longer a legal subsistence gear type.

Port Clarence

The Pilgrim River remained closed to subsistence net fishing in 2023. Escapement of sockeye salmon to the Pilgrim River has been weak and did not meet escapement goals. 

 

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Norton Sound & Kotzebue Management Area.

Kotzebue

Last updated: Friday, August 25

Commercial salmon fishing started by regulation on July 10. Currently there are no buyers for the Kotzebue Sound commercial salmon fishery as the two registered buyers have ceased operations for the season. To date, there have been 37 commercial fishing periods from 8 to 9 hours in duration scheduled with a total harvest of 122,620 chum salmon. Effort for the season has been below average.

 

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Norton Sound & Kotzebue Management Area.

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