April 09, 2006
Sunday

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Friday that this year's Southeast Alaska Chinook harvest quota will be substantially lower than last year. While the allowable harvest remains well above average, catch opportunities for Southeast Chinook harvesters will be reduced as compared to 2004 - 2005.

The Pacific Salmon Commission's Chinook Technical Committee recently determined that the 2006 Abundance Index for Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska is 1.69. According to the June 30, 1999, Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, this translates into an all-gear catch for Southeast Alaska of 346,800 treaty Chinook salmon, down from last year by about 70,000 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.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the returns of most Chinook stocks to West Coast rivers from Oregon to Alaska remain strong, but have declined from the very high levels seen from 2003 to 2005. Strong Chinook returns to West Coast Vancouver Island, have helped to produce high Abundance Indices for the Chinook fisheries in Southeast Alaska. Most of the Chinook salmon stocks covered under the Pacific Salmon Treaty have benefited from a recent upturn in ocean survival, which has created the strong returns.

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

On the Web:

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
www.adfg.state.ak.us

 

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