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.

Southeast Alaska & Yakutat

Troll Fishery

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

This summary has not yet been updated for the 2024 season.

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

Purse Seine Fishery

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

This summary has not yet been updated for the 2024 season.

 

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

Drift Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

This summary has not yet been updated for the 2024 season.

 

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: Thursday, May 16

The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery will open by regulation at 12:01 p.m., on Sunday, June 16, for an initial 4-day fishing period. The length of subsequent fishing periods will be based on effort levels and the strength of wild stock sockeye and chum salmon runs to Alaska and Canada waters until the start of the Pink Salmon Management Plan on Sunday, July 21.

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: Thursday, May 16

The 2024 preseason terminal run forecast for Stikine River large Chinook salmon is 12,900 fish. This forecast is well below the average of 15,400 fish and below the escapement goal range of 14,000 to 28,000 fish. This forecast does not allow for directed Chinook salmon fisheries in District 8. Recent trends of Stikine River Chinook salmon abundance and trends in Chinook salmon abundance throughout Southeast Alaska indicate very poor survival of Chinook salmon. As such, Chinook salmon conservation measures will be in place for the start of the sockeye salmon fishery.

The 2024 preseason forecast for Stikine River sockeye salmon is 130,000 fish, which is above the average of 102,000 fish. This forecast includes 99,000 Tahltan Lake and 30,000 mainstem sockeye salmon. For 2024, harvest shares will be 57.5% U.S./42.5% Canada. Based on the forecast, this results in a U.S. allowable catch of 49,100 Stikine River sockeye salmon and is comprised of approximately 43,900 Tahltan Lake fish and 5,200 mainstem bound sockeye salmon.

The sockeye salmon season could open by regulation as early as 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9 (statistical week 24). However, with an expected poor run of Stikine River Chinook salmon, and poor Chinook salmon runs throughout Southeast Alaska, conservation measures will be in place for the start of the sockeye salmon fishery. Conservation measures will include implementing a 6-inch maximum mesh size in both districts and delaying the start of the sockeye salmon fishery by 1 week in District 6 and by 2 weeks in District 8. During the first few weeks of the sockeye salmon fishery, any adjustments to fishing time will be based on the preseason forecasts, number of participants, harvest levels, expected harvest levels, and stock proportion data. Because of recent concerns for Stikine mainstem sockeye salmon, time and/or area may be limited starting in statistical week 29 in both districts. Openings in District 8 will be based on an evaluation of sockeye salmon abundance in District 6 and would likely include time and area restrictions. Beginning in statistical week 29, District 6 will be limited to 2 days a week through statistical week 31 for McDonald Lake sockeye salmon conservation.

 

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

Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

The Taku River terminal run of large Chinook salmon forecast of 17,000 fish is below the escapement goal range of 19,000 to 36,000 large fish. Due to conservation concerns for wild Chinook salmon, a conservative management approach will continue to be taken throughout the Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries this year. Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. (DIPAC) is forecasting returns of 1,176,000 summer chum salmon from hatchery releases in Gastineau Channel and Limestone Inlet. The forecasted return of enhanced sockeye salmon to Port Snettisham is 126,000 fish, and 46,000 enhanced coho salmon are forecasted to return to Gastineau Channel.

The 2024 Taku Inlet / Stephens Passage (Section 11-B) drift gillnet fishery will open to target sockeye salmon for two days beginning on Sunday, June 16 with the same initial restrictions in place as the previous season. Significant area closure will be implemented in Taku Inlet and waters east of a line from the latitude of Point Greely south to a point on the Admiralty Island shoreline north of Station Point. A six-inch maximum mesh size restriction and night closures will be in effect. Beginning in statistical week 26 (June 23), open areas will likely be liberalized with less area restriction in Taku Inlet but mesh size restriction and night closures are expected to stay in place for a couple more weeks. Management will be based on wild sockeye salmon abundance through mid-August, after which will shift to Taku River coho salmon abundance. Weekly opening times will be determined in-season based on data from Taku River stock assessment projects, fishery catch per unit effort (CPUE), and effort levels.

The terminal runs of Taku River wild sockeye and coho salmon are expected to be above their recent ten-year averages in 2024 with forecasts of 206,000 and 128,000 fish. The interim sockeye salmon harvest sharing arrangement between the U.S. and Canada established for the 2020 to 2024 seasons should provide more foundation to target weekly allowable catch (AC) and may result in additional time for District 11 gillnetters in Taku Inlet starting in statistical week 28 (July 7). The Taku River coho salmon forecast is at a level that provides the U.S. with an AC of 40,000 above border fish under the new harvest sharing agreement in the current Pacific Salmon Treaty Annex. If inseason estimates are like the forecast, additional time will likely be warranted during the coho salmon management period.

 

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: Thursday, May 16

This summary has not yet been updated for the 2024 season.

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: Thursday, May 16

This summary has not yet been updated for the 2024 season.

 

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

Terminal Harvest Area (THA) Fisheries

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

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: Thursday, May 16

The forecasted Nakat Inlet return is 415,000 summer chum, 20,000 fall chum, and 24,500 coho salmon. The Nakat Inlet THA will be open by regulation to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet gear from Saturday, June 1, through Sunday, November 10.

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

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: Thursday, May 16

The forecasted Neets Bay return is 1,540,000 summer chum salmon, 40,000 fall chum salmon, 100 Chinook salmon, and 109,700 coho salmon. The Neets Bay THA opens to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Thursday, June 27. The Neets Bay THA expands to Chin Point on July 1, and Chinook salmon may not be retained west of the easternmost tip of Bug Island. The rotational fishery between drift gillnet and purse seine begins on Saturday, June 29, in those waters east of the easternmost tip of Bug Island. Neets Bay will close to the harvest of salmon by the net gear groups at 12:00 noon, Saturday, July 6 to allow for Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) cost recovery operations.

 

For further information please refer to the April 19 ADF&G announcement for Neets Bay THA and updates on the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.

 

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: Thursday, May 16

The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay is 1,238,000 summer chum salmon. The Kendrick Bay THA will be open by regulation to the harvest of salmon by purse seine gear from Saturday, June 15, through Monday, September 30.

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

 

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: Thursday, May 16

The forecasted return for Carroll Inlet is 6,200 Chinook salmon. The Carroll Inlet THA will be open to troll gear from Saturday, June 1, through Sunday, June 30. The Carroll Inlet THA will be open in the waters of Carroll Inlet north of the latitude of 55°34.83′ N lat, approximately 1.3 nautical miles north of Nigelius Point, to the harvest of salmon by net gear groups from Saturday, June 1, through Wednesday June 12. The Carroll Inlet THA will open to a rotational fishery between purse seine and drift gillnet on Saturday, June 15. The 500-yard stream closure (5 AAC 39.290) will not be in effect in the Carroll Inlet THA. The Carroll Inlet THA will close to all gear groups on Sunday, June 30.  

For further information please refer to the April 19 ADF&G announcement for Carroll Inlet and for updates on SSRAA contributions visit their website at http://www.ssraa.org/.

 

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: Thursday, May 16

For 2024, the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) is forecasting total runs of 7,700 Chinook, 458,000 summer chum, and 14,300 coho salmon from releases at Anita Bay. A total of 5,400 Chinook, 118,200 summer chum, and 5,700 coho salmon are expected to be available for harvest in the THA. The Anita Bay common property fishery is governed as described in the District 7: Anita Bay Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.383). The initial opening of Anita Bay will be delayed until June 1 to mitigate potential harvest of wild Chinook salmon. Similar to last year, the mouth of the bay will be open exclusively to troll gear through June 12. A rotational fishery will be in place for drift gillnet and purse seine fleets from June 13 through August 31.

Further details of the 2024 season fishing schedule and open area within the Anita Bay THA can be found in an ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 18.

 

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: Thursday, May 16

The Deep Inlet THA is scheduled to open on June 1, 2024. Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) is projecting a total run of 10,000 Chinook, 28,000 coho, and 2,454,000 chum salmon to the Medvejie Hatchery and Deep Inlet THA in 2024. This season, 122,500 chum salmon are needed for broodstock; NSRAA anticipates conducting cost recovery operations in the Deep Inlet THA beginning June 1. To accommodate cost recovery operations, a portion of the Deep Inlet THA will be closed to all common property harvest beginning June 1. This area may reopen during the season based on the progression of the cost recovery fishery. Additionally, a portion of the Deep Inlet THA may be closed in late August to facilitate broodstock collection at Medvejie Hatchery.

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

Hidden Falls THA

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

The Hidden Falls Hatchery, operated by the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA), expects a run of 1,553,000 chum salmon. NSRAA needs 220,000 chum salmon for broodstock and as many as 150,000 chum salmon may be taken in a cost recovery fishery intended to assess run strength inseason. This potentially leaves 1,183,000 chum salmon available for common property harvest. NSRAA does not intend to use a tax assessment on any potential common property harvest of chum salmon to satisfy cost recovery needs as provided under AS 16.10.455.

Common property purse seine openings at Hidden Falls will occur on Sundays and Thursdays beginning Sunday, June 16. Following the initial fishing period on June 16, future openings will be dependent on inseason assessments of run strength and timely harvest reporting. A contraction of the offshore boundary of the Hidden Falls THA to within 1.0 nmi off the Baranof Island shoreline is likely for the 2024 season to conserve weak Chinook salmon and pink salmon runs destined for systems farther inland.

 

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

Crawfish Inlet THA

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) expects a run of 1,336,000 chum salmon to the Crawfish Inlet remote release site. NSRAA plans on conducting a cost recovery fishery this season in Crawfish Inlet. The number of chum salmon available for common property harvest will depend entirely on the progress of the cost recovery fishery. No chum salmon are needed for broodstock in Crawfish Inlet.

Purse seine openings at Crawfish Inlet will be conducted as needed following the cost recovery fishery to maintain fish quality and prevent large buildups of fish. Seine openings may occur inside the boundaries of the SHA depending on abundance of fish and balancing the troll priority. Should they occur, the purse seine openings will happen on Sundays and Thursdays. Purse seiners are advised that openings at Crawfish Inlet during the 2024 season may be announced with a minimum 24-hour notice, if necessary, to maximize fish quality.  

 

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

Thomas Bay THA

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) is forecasting a total run of 381,000 chum salmon to the Thomas Bay Terminal Harvest Area (THA). A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound. No cost recovery is planned for 2024. The Thomas Bay THA will be open to common property purse seine and troll fisheries from Sunday, June 16, through Saturday, August 3. Purse seine openings will occur on Sundays and Thursdays, and troll openings will occur on days closed to purse seining. Details of the 2024 Thomas Bay THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 18.

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

Southeast Cove THA

Last updated: Thursday, May 16

The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) is forecasting a total run of 215,000 summer chum salmon to the Southeast Cove Terminal Harvest Area (THA). A portion of the run could be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait. The Southeast Cove THA will be open to common property purse seine, drift gillnet and troll from Sunday, June 16, through Saturday, August 3. The 2024 gear rotation will be purse seine on Sundays and Thursdays, drift gillnet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and troll on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Details of the 2024 Southeast Cove THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 23.

In 2024, cost recovery will occur in the Southeast Cove THA with a harvest goal of roughly 60,000 chum salmon. If cost recovery goals cannot be met during days when the purse seine and drift gillnet fisheries are closed, then a brief closure may occur near the peak of the run.

 

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