April 06, 2005
Wednesday

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Tuesday afternoon that this year's Southeast Alaska Chinook harvest quota will be slightly higher than last year.  As a result, catch opportunities for Southeast Chinook harvesters will be somewhat better.

The Pacific Salmon Commission's Chinook Technical Committee recently determined that the 2005 Abundance Index for Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska is 2.05.  According to the June 30, 1999, Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, this translates into an all-gear catch for Southeast Alaska of 416,400 treaty Chinook salmon, up from last year by about 33,000 fish.  Most Chinook salmon produced in Alaska hatcheries are not factored into the Abundance Index, and may be caught by harvesters in addition to the Treaty limit. 

The continued strong returns of Chinook stocks to West Coast rivers from Oregon to Alaska, and stronger returns to West Coast Vancouver Island, have produced the high Abundance Index (2.05).  Most of the Chinook salmon stocks covered under the Pacific Salmon Treaty have benefited from a recent upturn in ocean survival, which created the strong returns. 

The treaty Chinook salmon harvest will be allocated to the sport, commercial troll, and commercial net fisheries according to the management plans specified by the Alaska Board of Fisheries.  

Source of News Release:

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Web Site

 

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