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Commercial Fishing

2013 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.

Final update: September 13, 2013
These are the final inseason summaries for the 2013 salmon season.

Southeast Alaska
Troll Fishery Regional power troll coho catch rates for last week were 116/day, with the highest catch rates in the Northern Outside and Central Outside areas, where power troll catch rates averaged 198/day and 120/day respectively. Catch rates continue to increase to record levels, with a mid-week catch-per-day average of 136 for the region as a whole. The current week coho weight average is 6.8 pounds, with the seasonal average weight at 5.4 pounds. The average price is currently $1.98/pound and the cumulative catch since July 1 is just over 2 million fish. Both price and average weight have increased steadily throughout the summer. A news release concerning the assessment of an extension of the troll season through September 30 will be issued September 13. The combined spring and summer troll chum harvest for 2013 is just over 1 million fish, with the majority harvested in three directed fishery areas. Trollers harvested approximately 463,000 chum salmon in the Sitka Sound area, 305,000 chum salmon in the Icy Strait area, and 184,000 chum salmon in the Neets Bay/ West Behm canal area during this spring and summer. The 2013 Summer Troll Management Plan can be found on the Southeast troll webpage. Inseason catch and effort data for summer is available on the same site. The winter troll fishery will begin October 11 to target Chinook salmon and is limited to inside waters of the region. The 2012–2013 Winter Troll Fishery Management Plan will be available in all ADF&G offices, as well as on the troll fishery webpage, by the first week of October. Purse Seine Fishery The SE Alaska purse seine fishery for pink salmon closed September 8. The current cumulative harvest estimate compiled Thursday, September 12 is around 85.5 million pink salmon which is a new record for Southeast Alaska Region. The previous record was 72 million in 1999. Drift Gillnet Fishery Traditional area drift gillnet fisheries occur in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15. Tree Point/Section 1-B The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery was open for four days initially starting on Sunday, September 8, 2013. During the four day period it is estimated 30 vessels will harvest 14,000 coho, 2,000 pink, and 4,000 chum salmon. The total harvest of coho was well above average for this week. The effort and total harvest of pink salmon was average while pink and chum salmon harvest was below average. The Tree Point gillnet fishery is now being managed on the strength of wild stock fall coho and chum salmon, therefore Tree Point will be open for four days beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, September 15, 2013. The upcoming week is typically the peak week for coho salmon with a steep decline after that. It is estimated the fishery will last through the last week of September based on strong coho returns. Stikine and Prince of Wales/Districts 6 and 8 Management focus of the District 6 and 8 gillnet fishery is based on wild coho salmon abundance for the remainder of the season. Both Districts 6 and 8 were open for 4 days in week 37 and will be open for 4 days next week. Catch rate information to date have remained above average indicating a harvestable surplus is available for commercial harvest. Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B Effort in this week’s gillnet fishery reflected coho catch rates; a bit spotty. Approximately 25 boats made landings with nearly all the effort concentrated in or just outside Taku Inlet. With the fishing grounds being such a short run out of the harbor, and temperatures falling with a change in seasons, many fishermen opted to increase their comfort level by getting off the water and into warm environs on a more consistent basis. Overall, coho catch rates were slightly above average although inflation due to a much smaller-than-average fleet size is probable. The coho were reported to be a “mixed bag” with blush fish starting to show up routinely (at least one local processor started grading this week) and the average coho salmon whole weight bumped up to over ten pounds. The Taku River coho run projection fell this week to 90,000 fish which is below an average run size. With a large amount of effort to the immediate north in Lynn Canal, a falling run estimate, and average catch rates, next week’s fishery will start with three days. Speel Arm will be closed for the season and Port Snettisham proper will open concurrently with the remainder of the district. This will be the last inseason update, so here are a few highlights of the gillnet season in District 11: 44 days were fished in the traditional fishery from week 25 through 37 – the most since 2007; approximately 140,000 sockeye were harvested in the traditional fishery to date – the most since 2004; approximately 68,000 sockeye were harvested in Speel Arm – the second highest on record; approximately 722,000 chum were harvested in the traditional fishery to date – the third highest on record. Not too shabby of a season overall, and there should be plenty of coho salmon action left for intrepid Fall fishermen. Lynn Canal/District 15 Harvests for the week are well above average for coho salmon and near average for chum salmon. Escapements have picked up dramatically as indicated by the lower Chilkat River fish wheels. Effort was well above average this week with approximately 89 boats fishing the district. This was the highest boat count for this week since 1995. Escapements as indicated by fish wheel catch and on the ground surveys are indicating near average escapements for both chum and coho salmon. High water from a flood event last weekend hampered fish wheel catches during the past week. Escapements for all species with the exception of Chilkat River Chinook salmon are within or above escapement goals or management targets. Pink salmon escapements to the district were good to very good in most streams although the pink salmon return to the Chilkoot River is below average. Commercial drift gillnet openings in statistical week 38 will focus effort on strong coho and fall chum salmon returns to the district. All of Section 15-C will open for 3-days as well as Section 15-A south of the north Kochu Island line in Chilkat Inlet and south of the Tanini Point to Taiya Point line in Chilkoot Inlet. Berners Bay will be closed. Yakutat Area Setnet Fishery Severe inclement weather and subsequent flooding events hampered commercial fishing operations in Yakutat this week. The Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet was the only area to be fished, and 55 permits harvested 20,000 coho salmon. The fishing period in the Inlet remained at five days this week. The Tsiu River has yet to be fished this week. The runway for moving product is under nine inches of water, and buying facilities remain closed. The Tsiu River may reopen on short notice if weather conditions stabilize. The same inclement weather prevented any coho salmon surveys this week. The Biological Escapement Goal (BEG) for the Situk River has been attained. An aerial survey of the Tsiu River on Thursday, September 5, prior to the inclement weather, revealed that coho salmon are now able to get up onto the spawning grounds. 6,000 fish were seen upstream of Duck Camp Island and there were another 12,000 fish being protected at that time between the old and new markers sets. It is anticipated that those 12,000 fish may also have moved up during the flood event. Escapement will continue to be monitored in the Tsiu River. Yakutat set gillnet fisheries will continue on into October, at least into the first week, and possibly into the second week of that month. It is likely that only the Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet and the Tsiu River will continue to be fished through the end of the season. Terminal Harvest Area Fisheries Terminal Harvest Area (THA) gillnet fisheries occur in Nakat Inlet, Neets Bay, Anita Bay, Deep Inlet, and Boat Harbor. THA seine fisheries occur in Neets Bay, Kendrick Bay, Anita Bay, Deep Inlet, and Hidden Falls. Nakat Inlet THA The forecasted return of Nakat Inlet summer chum salmon is 660,000 and for fall chum salmon is 100,000 fish. Nakat Inlet opened to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet and troll gear on Saturday, June 1, 2013. The total estimated harvest is 225,000 chum salmon, or 29% of the summer and fall combined forecast. Harvest includes 87,000 gillnet-harvested chum salmon inside the Nakat Inlet THA, plus approximately 119,000 gillnet-harvested and 19,000 purse seine-harvested chum salmon in traditional common property fisheries. For further information and updates on Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) contributions and updates visit the SSRAA website. Neets Bay THA The Neets Bay forecasted return for summer chum salmon is 1,593,000 fish, for fall chum salmon is 215,000 fish, for king salmon is 22,000 fish, and for coho salmon is 225,700 fish. Neets Bay opened to the harvest of salmon by troll, purse seine, and drift gillnet gear groups on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. The estimated harvest of chum salmon inside the Neets Bay THA is 18,000 fish by seine, 2,000 fish by gillnet and 38,000 fish by troll vessels. In the traditional common property fisheries, the estimated harvest of Neets Bay summer chum salmon is approximately 135,000 seine-harvested chums, 32,000 gillnet-harvested chum salmon and 138,000 harvested by the troll fleet. Cost recovery to date has harvested approximately 430,000 chum salmon with another 166,000 for broodstock needs. Total king salmon harvest is approximately 13,700 fish. Approximately 5,200 king salmon have been harvested by purse seine, 3,000 king salmon have been harvested by drift gillnet, and 2,000 king salmon by troll gear. 3,200 fish have been harvested for cost recovery. For further information and updates on Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) contributions and updates visit the SSRAA website. Kendrick Bay THA The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay summer chum salmon is 1,470,000 fish. Kendrick Bay opened to the harvest of salmon by purse seine gear on Saturday, June 15, 2013. The total harvest is estimated at 444,000 chum salmon, or 30% of the forecast. Of this harvest, approximately 78,000 fish have been harvested inside the Kendrick Bay THA, 350,000 fish have been harvested by seine and 16,000 fish by gillnet outside the THA in common property fisheries. For further information and updates on Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) contributions and updates visit the SSRAA website. Anita Bay THA The estimated gillnet harvest to date is 8,500 Chinook salmon, 58,000 chum salmon, and 400 coho salmon. The forecast of fall coho salmon returning to Anita Bay is 13,000 fish. The Anita Bay THA opened continuously to all gear groups on September 1. Deep Inlet THA The Deep Inlet THA rotational fishing schedule for seine and gillnet began on May 26 and will continue through September. Forecast returns for Deep Inlet THA and Medvejie Hatchery includes 1,370,000 chum salmon, 30,000 Chinook salmon, and 10,000 coho salmon. During the two-day period September 9-10, approximately 18 gillnetters harvested 11,000 chum salmon. As is typical late in the season, seiners are not participating in the Deep Inlet fishery due to low catch rates. Gillnetters will continue to participate through the month of September. The total common property harvest to date, including those caught in the adjacent traditional seine fishery and troll fishery, is estimated at 2,264,000 chum salmon for a total return of 2,335,000 fish, well above forecast. Hidden Falls THA Forecast returns for Hidden Falls THA includes 1,315,000 chum salmon, 12,300 Chinook salmon, and 154,000 coho salmon. The Hidden Falls chum salmon return is now complete. The total harvest by purse seiners was 1,249,000 for a total return of 1,383,000 fish, slightly above forecast.

Southeast Alaska

Troll Fishery
Regional power troll coho catch rates for last week were 116/day, with the highest catch rates in the Northern Outside and Central Outside areas, where power troll catch rates averaged 198/day and 120/day respectively. Catch rates continue to increase to record levels, with a mid-week catch-per-day average of 136 for the region as a whole. The current week coho weight average is 6.8 pounds, with the seasonal average weight at 5.4 pounds. The average price is currently $1.98/pound and the cumulative catch since July 1 is just over 2 million fish. Both price and average weight have increased steadily throughout the summer. A news release concerning the assessment of an extension of the troll season through September 30 will be issued September 13.

The combined spring and summer troll chum harvest for 2013 is just over 1 million fish, with the majority harvested in three directed fishery areas. Trollers harvested approximately 463,000 chum salmon in the Sitka Sound area, 305,000 chum salmon in the Icy Strait area, and 184,000 chum salmon in the Neets Bay/ West Behm canal area during this spring and summer.

The 2013 Summer Troll Management Plan can be found on the Southeast troll webpage. Inseason catch and effort data for summer is available on the same site.

The winter troll fishery will begin October 11 to target Chinook salmon and is limited to inside waters of the region. The 2012–2013 Winter Troll Fishery Management Plan will be available in all ADF&G offices, as well as on the troll fishery webpage, by the first week of October.

Purse Seine Fishery
The SE Alaska purse seine fishery for pink salmon closed September 8. The current cumulative harvest estimate compiled Thursday, September 12 is around 85.5 million pink salmon which is a new record for Southeast Alaska Region. The previous record was 72 million in 1999.

Drift Gillnet Fishery
Traditional area drift gillnet fisheries occur in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15.

Tree Point/Section 1-B
The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery was open for four days initially starting on Sunday, September 8, 2013. During the four day period it is estimated 30 vessels will harvest 14,000 coho, 2,000 pink, and 4,000 chum salmon. The total harvest of coho was well above average for this week. The effort and total harvest of pink salmon was average while pink and chum salmon harvest was below average. The Tree Point gillnet fishery is now being managed on the strength of wild stock fall coho and chum salmon, therefore Tree Point will be open for four days beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, September 15, 2013. The upcoming week is typically the peak week for coho salmon with a steep decline after that. It is estimated the fishery will last through the last week of September based on strong coho returns.

Stikine and Prince of Wales/Districts 6 and 8
Management focus of the District 6 and 8 gillnet fishery is based on wild coho salmon abundance for the remainder of the season. Both Districts 6 and 8 were open for 4 days in week 37 and will be open for 4 days next week. Catch rate information to date have remained above average indicating a harvestable surplus is available for commercial harvest.

Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B
Effort in this week’s gillnet fishery reflected coho catch rates; a bit spotty. Approximately 25 boats made landings with nearly all the effort concentrated in or just outside Taku Inlet. With the fishing grounds being such a short run out of the harbor, and temperatures falling with a change in seasons, many fishermen opted to increase their comfort level by getting off the water and into warm environs on a more consistent basis. Overall, coho catch rates were slightly above average although inflation due to a much smaller-than-average fleet size is probable. The coho were reported to be a “mixed bag” with blush fish starting to show up routinely (at least one local processor started grading this week) and the average coho salmon whole weight bumped up to over ten pounds.

The Taku River coho run projection fell this week to 90,000 fish which is below an average run size. With a large amount of effort to the immediate north in Lynn Canal, a falling run estimate, and average catch rates, next week’s fishery will start with three days. Speel Arm will be closed for the season and Port Snettisham proper will open concurrently with the remainder of the district.

This will be the last inseason update, so here are a few highlights of the gillnet season in District 11: 44 days were fished in the traditional fishery from week 25 through 37 – the most since 2007; approximately 140,000 sockeye were harvested in the traditional fishery to date – the most since 2004; approximately 68,000 sockeye were harvested in Speel Arm – the second highest on record; approximately 722,000 chum were harvested in the traditional fishery to date – the third highest on record.

Not too shabby of a season overall, and there should be plenty of coho salmon action left for intrepid Fall fishermen.

Lynn Canal/District 15
Harvests for the week are well above average for coho salmon and near average for chum salmon. Escapements have picked up dramatically as indicated by the lower Chilkat River fish wheels. Effort was well above average this week with approximately 89 boats fishing the district. This was the highest boat count for this week since 1995.

Escapements as indicated by fish wheel catch and on the ground surveys are indicating near average escapements for both chum and coho salmon. High water from a flood event last weekend hampered fish wheel catches during the past week.

Escapements for all species with the exception of Chilkat River Chinook salmon are within or above escapement goals or management targets. Pink salmon escapements to the district were good to very good in most streams although the pink salmon return to the Chilkoot River is below average.

Commercial drift gillnet openings in statistical week 38 will focus effort on strong coho and fall chum salmon returns to the district. All of Section 15-C will open for 3-days as well as Section 15-A south of the north Kochu Island line in Chilkat Inlet and south of the Tanini Point to Taiya Point line in Chilkoot Inlet. Berners Bay will be closed.

Yakutat Area Setnet Fishery
Severe inclement weather and subsequent flooding events hampered commercial fishing operations in Yakutat this week. The Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet was the only area to be fished, and 55 permits harvested 20,000 coho salmon. The fishing period in the Inlet remained at five days this week. The Tsiu River has yet to be fished this week. The runway for moving product is under nine inches of water, and buying facilities remain closed. The Tsiu River may reopen on short notice if weather conditions stabilize.

The same inclement weather prevented any coho salmon surveys this week. The Biological Escapement Goal (BEG) for the Situk River has been attained. An aerial survey of the Tsiu River on Thursday, September 5, prior to the inclement weather, revealed that coho salmon are now able to get up onto the spawning grounds. 6,000 fish were seen upstream of Duck Camp Island and there were another 12,000 fish being protected at that time between the old and new markers sets. It is anticipated that those 12,000 fish may also have moved up during the flood event. Escapement will continue to be monitored in the Tsiu River.

Yakutat set gillnet fisheries will continue on into October, at least into the first week, and possibly into the second week of that month. It is likely that only the Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet and the Tsiu River will continue to be fished through the end of the season.

Terminal Harvest Area Fisheries
Terminal Harvest Area (THA) gillnet fisheries occur in Nakat Inlet, Neets Bay, Anita Bay, Deep Inlet, and Boat Harbor. THA seine fisheries occur in Neets Bay, Kendrick Bay, Anita Bay, Deep Inlet, and Hidden Falls.

Nakat Inlet THA
The forecasted return of Nakat Inlet summer chum salmon is 660,000 and for fall chum salmon is 100,000 fish. Nakat Inlet opened to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet and troll gear on Saturday, June 1, 2013. The total estimated harvest is 225,000 chum salmon, or 29% of the summer and fall combined forecast. Harvest includes 87,000 gillnet-harvested chum salmon inside the Nakat Inlet THA, plus approximately 119,000 gillnet-harvested and 19,000 purse seine-harvested chum salmon in traditional common property fisheries.

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

Neets Bay THA
The Neets Bay forecasted return for summer chum salmon is 1,593,000 fish, for fall chum salmon is 215,000 fish, for king salmon is 22,000 fish, and for coho salmon is 225,700 fish. Neets Bay opened to the harvest of salmon by troll, purse seine, and drift gillnet gear groups on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. The estimated harvest of chum salmon inside the Neets Bay THA is 18,000 fish by seine, 2,000 fish by gillnet and 38,000 fish by troll vessels. In the traditional common property fisheries, the estimated harvest of Neets Bay summer chum salmon is approximately 135,000 seine-harvested chums, 32,000 gillnet-harvested chum salmon and 138,000 harvested by the troll fleet. Cost recovery to date has harvested approximately 430,000 chum salmon with another 166,000 for broodstock needs.

Total king salmon harvest is approximately 13,700 fish. Approximately 5,200 king salmon have been harvested by purse seine, 3,000 king salmon have been harvested by drift gillnet, and 2,000 king salmon by troll gear. 3,200 fish have been harvested for cost recovery.

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

Kendrick Bay THA
The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay summer chum salmon is 1,470,000 fish. Kendrick Bay opened to the harvest of salmon by purse seine gear on Saturday, June 15, 2013. The total harvest is estimated at 444,000 chum salmon, or 30% of the forecast. Of this harvest, approximately 78,000 fish have been harvested inside the Kendrick Bay THA, 350,000 fish have been harvested by seine and 16,000 fish by gillnet outside the THA in common property fisheries.

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

Anita Bay THA
The estimated gillnet harvest to date is 8,500 Chinook salmon, 58,000 chum salmon, and 400 coho salmon. The forecast of fall coho salmon returning to Anita Bay is 13,000 fish. The Anita Bay THA opened continuously to all gear groups on September 1.

Deep Inlet THA
The Deep Inlet THA rotational fishing schedule for seine and gillnet began on May 26 and will continue through September. Forecast returns for Deep Inlet THA and Medvejie Hatchery includes 1,370,000 chum salmon, 30,000 Chinook salmon, and 10,000 coho salmon. During the two-day period September 9-10, approximately 18 gillnetters harvested 11,000 chum salmon. As is typical late in the season, seiners are not participating in the Deep Inlet fishery due to low catch rates. Gillnetters will continue to participate through the month of September. The total common property harvest to date, including those caught in the adjacent traditional seine fishery and troll fishery, is estimated at 2,264,000 chum salmon for a total return of 2,335,000 fish, well above forecast.

Hidden Falls THA
Forecast returns for Hidden Falls THA includes 1,315,000 chum salmon, 12,300 Chinook salmon, and 154,000 coho salmon. The Hidden Falls chum salmon return is now complete. The total harvest by purse seiners was 1,249,000 for a total return of 1,383,000 fish, slightly above forecast.

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Prince William Sound
Copper River and PWS Drift Gillnet The Copper River District was opened to commercial fishing for a 24-hour period on Thursday, September 5; Monday, September 9; and Thursday, September 12. The Bering River District was only opened concurrently with the Copper River District. The Coghill District was opened to commercial fishing for a 60-hour period on Thursday, September 5; Monday, September 9 and Thursday, September 12. For the week ending September 7, the actual Copper River Delta survey index count was 24,895 coho salmon versus an anticipated range of 16,147–33,807 coho salmon. Copper River Delta escapement appears to be average. For the week ending September 7, the actual Bering River District survey index count was 11,320 coho salmon versus an anticipated range of 8,732–22,165 coho salmon. Bering River District escapement appears to be below average. Currently there are an estimated 65 permits participating in the Copper River and Bering River district fisheries and 4 permits participating in western PWS gillnet fisheries. The preliminary harvest estimate for the Copper River District fishing period that closed Tuesday, September 10 was 11,000 coho salmon with 113 deliveries reported. Cumulative coho salmon harvest in the Coghill District is 53,000 fish to date and may meet the preseason harvest projection of 60,700 fish. Participation in drift gillnet fisheries on the Copper River, Bering River and within the Coghill district are decreasing as coho salmon fishing season declines from the peak of the run. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G PWS webpage. PWS Purse Seine Large portions of all Prince William Sound purse seine fishing districts were opened to commercial fishing for daily 12-hour periods from Friday, September 6 through Thursday, September 12. Pink salmon escapement throughout Prince William Sound was stronger than anticipated for the 2013 season. It is estimated that there were zero permit holders participating in the 2013 Prince William Sound purse seine fishery on September 12. The cumulative Prince William Sound common property pink salmon purse seine harvest through September 11 is 89.3 million fish, which is a record cumulative harvest. Harvest reporting indicates that fewer than 100,000 pink salmon have been harvested in PWS since August 28. Wild pink salmon returns throughout all of PWS were strong for the season. Enhanced pink salmon returns to Solomon Gulch Hatchery and PWSAC facilities were all stronger than forecast. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G PWS webpage.

Prince William Sound

Copper River and PWS Drift Gillnet
The Copper River District was opened to commercial fishing for a 24-hour period on Thursday, September 5; Monday, September 9; and Thursday, September 12. The Bering River District was only opened concurrently with the Copper River District. The Coghill District was opened to commercial fishing for a 60-hour period on Thursday, September 5; Monday, September 9 and Thursday, September 12.

For the week ending September 7, the actual Copper River Delta survey index count was 24,895 coho salmon versus an anticipated range of 16,147–33,807 coho salmon. Copper River Delta escapement appears to be average. For the week ending September 7, the actual Bering River District survey index count was 11,320 coho salmon versus an anticipated range of 8,732–22,165 coho salmon. Bering River District escapement appears to be below average.

Currently there are an estimated 65 permits participating in the Copper River and Bering River district fisheries and 4 permits participating in western PWS gillnet fisheries.

The preliminary harvest estimate for the Copper River District fishing period that closed Tuesday, September 10 was 11,000 coho salmon with 113 deliveries reported. Cumulative coho salmon harvest in the Coghill District is 53,000 fish to date and may meet the preseason harvest projection of 60,700 fish.

Participation in drift gillnet fisheries on the Copper River, Bering River and within the Coghill district are decreasing as coho salmon fishing season declines from the peak of the run.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G PWS webpage.

PWS Purse Seine
Large portions of all Prince William Sound purse seine fishing districts were opened to commercial fishing for daily 12-hour periods from Friday, September 6 through Thursday, September 12.

Pink salmon escapement throughout Prince William Sound was stronger than anticipated for the 2013 season.

It is estimated that there were zero permit holders participating in the 2013 Prince William Sound purse seine fishery on September 12.

The cumulative Prince William Sound common property pink salmon purse seine harvest through September 11 is 89.3 million fish, which is a record cumulative harvest. Harvest reporting indicates that fewer than 100,000 pink salmon have been harvested in PWS since August 28.

Wild pink salmon returns throughout all of PWS were strong for the season. Enhanced pink salmon returns to Solomon Gulch Hatchery and PWSAC facilities were all stronger than forecast.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G PWS webpage.

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Bristol Bay
Ugashik District Through July 18 cumulative catch was 2.2 million fish. Cumulative escapement was 816,000 fish and within the escapement goal range. Allocation is 9.6% set gillnet and 90.4% drift gillnet. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage. Egegik District Through July 18 cumulative catch was 4.8 million fish. Cumulative escapement was 1.13 million fish and within the escapement goal range. Allocation is 14.5% set gillnet and 85.5% drift gillnet. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage. Naknek-Kvichak District The fall schedule of 9:00 am Monday to 9:00 am Friday is in effect until September 30. Total catch was approximately 5.0 million sockeye salmon. Total harvest was 10% less than forecast. Escapement goals were met in both the Naknek and Kvichak Rivers. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage. Nushagak District Fishing remains open but there are no buyers, as the last buyer has ceased operations, the season is over for all intents and purposes. Escapement enumeration is done. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage. Togiak District The one remaining buyer in Togiak closed for the season after fishing on 8/29. The last day of counting at the Togiak River counting towers was 8/5. The final escapement was 128,000 sockeye salmon, within the escapement goal range (120,000 – 270,000 fish). The run was 4 days early and appears to have ended early as well. Harvest in Togiak District was 474,000 sockeye salmon. The total run was 602,000 fish, just above the preseason forecast of 590,000. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage.

Bristol Bay

Ugashik District
Through July 18 cumulative catch was 2.2 million fish. Cumulative escapement was 816,000 fish and within the escapement goal range. Allocation is 9.6% set gillnet and 90.4% drift gillnet. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage.

Egegik District
Through July 18 cumulative catch was 4.8 million fish. Cumulative escapement was 1.13 million fish and within the escapement goal range. Allocation is 14.5% set gillnet and 85.5% drift gillnet. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage.

Naknek-Kvichak District
The fall schedule of 9:00 am Monday to 9:00 am Friday is in effect until September 30. Total catch was approximately 5.0 million sockeye salmon. Total harvest was 10% less than forecast. Escapement goals were met in both the Naknek and Kvichak Rivers. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage.

Nushagak District
Fishing remains open but there are no buyers, as the last buyer has ceased operations, the season is over for all intents and purposes. Escapement enumeration is done. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage.

Togiak District
The one remaining buyer in Togiak closed for the season after fishing on 8/29.

The last day of counting at the Togiak River counting towers was 8/5. The final escapement was 128,000 sockeye salmon, within the escapement goal range (120,000 – 270,000 fish). The run was 4 days early and appears to have ended early as well.

Harvest in Togiak District was 474,000 sockeye salmon. The total run was 602,000 fish, just above the preseason forecast of 590,000.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Bristol Bay webpage.

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Cook Inlet:
Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) Currently in Upper Cook Inlet there are five commercial fisheries underway: Central District drift gillnet fishery; Kalgin Island and Kustatan subdistrict set gillnet fishery; Western Subdistrict salmon fishery; Northern District set gillnet fishery; and Chinitna Bay set gillnet and drift gillnet fishery. The Kasilof River sockeye salmon enumeration project ended on August 8th. The cumulative sockeye salmon passage in the Kasilof River through August 8th is approximately 489,262. The upper end of the Optimal Escapement Goal (OEG) (390,000 fish) has been exceeded in the Kasilof River. The Kenai River sockeye salmon enumeration project also ended on August 8th. The cumulative sockeye salmon passage in the Kenai River through August 8th is approximately 1,355,000 fish. The upper end of the Kenai River inriver goal of 1,200,000 fish was exceeded on July 29th. There are three lake based sockeye salmon sustainable escapement goals (SEGs) in the Susitna River drainage. Sockeye salmon are enumerated at Judd Lake, Chelatna Lake, and Larson Lake. In 2013, approximately 14,000 sockeye salmon were counted at Judd Lake (SEG is 25,000-50,000 fish); 70,500 sockeye salmon were counted at Chelatna Lake (SEG is 20,000-65,000 fish); and 21,800 sockeye salmon were counted at Larson Lake (SEG is 15,000-50,000). Currently there are less than 10 participants in the Upper Cook Inlet commercial salmon fishery. The drop in participants is normal for this time of year and typically commercial fishing activity ceases by the second week of September. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G UCI webpage. Harvest through September 2nd in the Central District drift gillnet fishery is approximately 1,648,000 sockeye salmon and 426 king salmon. The coho salmon harvest in this fishery is approximately 180,000 fish. The Upper Subdistrict Set Gillnet Fishery (ESSN) opened on Thursday, June 27 in the Kasilof Section and fishing in the Kenai and East Forelands Sections opened by regulation on July 8th. The ESSN has not fished since July 23rd. Harvest through July 23rd is approximately 872,000 sockeye salmon and 2,500 king salmon. The ESSN fishery was closed by regulation on August 15. The Northern District Set Gillnet Fishery opened on Thursday, June 27. Harvest through September 2nd is 20,800 sockeye salmon and 170 king salmon. Approximately 39,000 coho salmon have been harvested in this fishery. Sockeye salmon harvest in the Western Subdistrict as of September 2nd is approximately 26,000 fish. Chinook salmon harvest in this fishery is approximately 100 fish. The Kasilof River Special Harvest Area was open for set and drift gillnetting for 12 days since July 17. The total harvest from this area is 60,959 sockeye salmon and 285 Chinook salmon. Lower Cook Inlet (LCI) The Outer, Eastern, Southern and Kamishak Bay districts will close to purse seine harvest for the 2013 season at 12:01 AM on Sunday, September 15. The set gillnet fishery in the Southern District remains open through September 30 as per 5AAC 21.310. There have been no commercial deliveries reported since August 31 for purse seine, and Aug 20 for set gillnet. Subsistence harvest in the Port Chatham and Windy Bay subdistricts closed on August 1, however subsistence harvest remains open through September 30 in the Port Graham and Dogfish Bay (Koyuktolik) subdistricts as per 5AAC 01.560. The preliminary estimate of the 2013 Lower Cook Inlet Area commercial salmon harvest based on current fish ticket data is 2.5 million salmon. The harvest was composed of 2.2 million pink, 184,000 sockeye, 54,000 chum, 5,600 coho, and 391 Chinook salmon. The harvest was comprised of 2.2 million (89%) commercial common property fishery (CPF) fish, and 266,000 (11%) hatchery cost recovery and broodstock fish. Southern District The 2013 preseason commercial common property harvest forecast for natural production in the Southern District was 1,100 sockeye and 40,000 pink salmon. As a result of cost recovery requirements, hatchery releases from previous years at Leisure Lake, Hazel Lake, Tutka Bay, Port Graham and English Bay were not anticipated to contribute to the 2013 commercial common property harvest. The commercial salmon fishing season in the Southern District began on Monday, June 3. Purse seine harvest for the 2013 season was 140 Chinook, 28,032 sockeye, 1,902 coho, 21,488 pink and 265 chum salmon. This compares to a previous 10-year harvest average of 103 Chinook, 83,869 sockeye, 913 coho, 34,681 pink, and 263 chum salmon. The set gillnet harvest was 250 Chinook, 38,393 sockeye, 3,616 coho, 2,698 chum and 1,813 pink. The previous 10-year harvest average for this gear type is 427 Chinook, 26,941 sockeye, 1,128 coho, 4,086 pink and 1,906 chum salmon. Preliminary estimates show that pink salmon escapement in index streams was above the midpoint of the cumulative sustainable escapement goal (SEG) range of 59,700–178,500 fish. The weir at the English Bay River passed 12,644 sockeye salmon. This was within the SEG of 6,000–13,500 for this system. Outer District The 2013 preseason commercial harvest forecast for the Outer District was 10,200 sockeye and 63,000 pink salmon. The commercial salmon fishing season began in this district on Monday, July 22. Overall harvest from 11 permit holders was 119 sockeye, 2.0 million pink and 49,062 chum salmon. This harvest compares to previous 10-year averages of 12,451 sockeye, 372,368 pink and 28,899 chum salmon and is the largest on record for pink salmon from this district. The next largest occurred in 1979 where 62 permit holders harvested 1.9 million pink salmon. Preliminary escapement survey indices for chum salmon were above the midpoint of the SEG range of 12,850–34,600 fish. Pink salmon were in the upper end of their SEG range of 54,500–237,200 fish. Aerial surveys of Desire Lake documented 8,400 sockeye salmon. This is below the SEG range of 8,800–15,200 fish for Desire Lake. The Delight Lake weir counted 5,961 sockeye salmon. This is below the SEG range of 7,500–17,650 fish for this system. Eastern District Due to minimal returns in the last 10 years, no wild stock sockeye or pink salmon were forecast to be available for commercial common property harvest from the Eastern District in 2013. Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA) forecasted a total return of 70,666 sockeye salmon to Resurrection Bay facilities. Total saltwater harvest from this district was 41,410 sockeye salmon with all of these fish harvested by CIAA for cost recovery purposes. This compares to a previous 10-year average commercial harvest of 71,019 sockeye salmon for common property and cost recovery harvests combined from Resurrection Bay. Escapement through the weir at Bear Creek (12,605 fish) was sufficient to meet the “desired inriver return” of 5,620-13,220 sockeye salmon. This goal is the combination of the SEG (700–8,300 fish) as well as the estimated 4,920 sockeye salmon required for broodstock for the CIAA sockeye salmon program at Trail Lakes Hatchery. In addition, 3,530 sockeye salmon were documented during aerial surveys of Aialik Lake escapement. This is 170 salmon below the SEG range of 3,700–8,000 fish for this system. Kamishak Bay District The 2013 preseason commercial forecast for the Kamishak Bay District was 77,000 sockeye and 37,400 chum salmon. CIAA forecasted a return of 21,675 sockeye salmon to the Kirschner Lake remote release site of which all would be required for cost recovery. Total common property harvest from this district was 33,154 sockeye, 314 pink and 2,357 chum salmon. In addition, 8,288 sockeye salmon were harvested by CIAA from the Kirschner Lake Special Harvest Area (SHA) for cost recovery purposes. This compares to a previous 10-year average of 70,343 sockeye, 26,947 pink and 53,445 pink salmon harvested in the common property fishery. Preliminary escapement survey indices for both chum and pink salmon show escapement levels in the lower end of their respective SEG ranges of 65,550–141,600 for chum, and 25,950–203,400 for pink salmon. Video enumeration at Chenik Lake documented 9,626 sockeye salmon. This is within the SEG range of 3,500-14,000 fish. Video documentation of returns to Mikfik Lake for this species counted 3,972 fish. This is below the SEG range of 6,300-12,150 sockeye salmon for this lake. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G LCI webpage.

Cook Inlet:

Upper Cook Inlet (UCI)
Currently in Upper Cook Inlet there are five commercial fisheries underway: Central District drift gillnet fishery; Kalgin Island and Kustatan subdistrict set gillnet fishery; Western Subdistrict salmon fishery; Northern District set gillnet fishery; and Chinitna Bay set gillnet and drift gillnet fishery.

The Kasilof River sockeye salmon enumeration project ended on August 8th. The cumulative sockeye salmon passage in the Kasilof River through August 8th is approximately 489,262. The upper end of the Optimal Escapement Goal (OEG) (390,000 fish) has been exceeded in the Kasilof River.

The Kenai River sockeye salmon enumeration project also ended on August 8th. The cumulative sockeye salmon passage in the Kenai River through August 8th is approximately 1,355,000 fish. The upper end of the Kenai River inriver goal of 1,200,000 fish was exceeded on July 29th.

There are three lake based sockeye salmon sustainable escapement goals (SEGs) in the Susitna River drainage. Sockeye salmon are enumerated at Judd Lake, Chelatna Lake, and Larson Lake. In 2013, approximately 14,000 sockeye salmon were counted at Judd Lake (SEG is 25,000-50,000 fish); 70,500 sockeye salmon were counted at Chelatna Lake (SEG is 20,000-65,000 fish); and 21,800 sockeye salmon were counted at Larson Lake (SEG is 15,000-50,000).

Currently there are less than 10 participants in the Upper Cook Inlet commercial salmon fishery. The drop in participants is normal for this time of year and typically commercial fishing activity ceases by the second week of September. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G UCI webpage.

Harvest through September 2nd in the Central District drift gillnet fishery is approximately 1,648,000 sockeye salmon and 426 king salmon. The coho salmon harvest in this fishery is approximately 180,000 fish.

The Upper Subdistrict Set Gillnet Fishery (ESSN) opened on Thursday, June 27 in the Kasilof Section and fishing in the Kenai and East Forelands Sections opened by regulation on July 8th. The ESSN has not fished since July 23rd. Harvest through July 23rd is approximately 872,000 sockeye salmon and 2,500 king salmon. The ESSN fishery was closed by regulation on August 15.

The Northern District Set Gillnet Fishery opened on Thursday, June 27. Harvest through September 2nd is 20,800 sockeye salmon and 170 king salmon. Approximately 39,000 coho salmon have been harvested in this fishery.

Sockeye salmon harvest in the Western Subdistrict as of September 2nd is approximately 26,000 fish. Chinook salmon harvest in this fishery is approximately 100 fish.

The Kasilof River Special Harvest Area was open for set and drift gillnetting for 12 days since July 17. The total harvest from this area is 60,959 sockeye salmon and 285 Chinook salmon.

Lower Cook Inlet (LCI)
The Outer, Eastern, Southern and Kamishak Bay districts will close to purse seine harvest for the 2013 season at 12:01 AM on Sunday, September 15. The set gillnet fishery in the Southern District remains open through September 30 as per 5AAC 21.310. There have been no commercial deliveries reported since August 31 for purse seine, and Aug 20 for set gillnet. Subsistence harvest in the Port Chatham and Windy Bay subdistricts closed on August 1, however subsistence harvest remains open through September 30 in the Port Graham and Dogfish Bay (Koyuktolik) subdistricts as per 5AAC 01.560.

The preliminary estimate of the 2013 Lower Cook Inlet Area commercial salmon harvest based on current fish ticket data is 2.5 million salmon. The harvest was composed of 2.2 million pink, 184,000 sockeye, 54,000 chum, 5,600 coho, and 391 Chinook salmon. The harvest was comprised of 2.2 million (89%) commercial common property fishery (CPF) fish, and 266,000 (11%) hatchery cost recovery and broodstock fish.

Southern District
The 2013 preseason commercial common property harvest forecast for natural production in the Southern District was 1,100 sockeye and 40,000 pink salmon. As a result of cost recovery requirements, hatchery releases from previous years at Leisure Lake, Hazel Lake, Tutka Bay, Port Graham and English Bay were not anticipated to contribute to the 2013 commercial common property harvest. The commercial salmon fishing season in the Southern District began on Monday, June 3. Purse seine harvest for the 2013 season was 140 Chinook, 28,032 sockeye, 1,902 coho, 21,488 pink and 265 chum salmon. This compares to a previous 10-year harvest average of 103 Chinook, 83,869 sockeye, 913 coho, 34,681 pink, and 263 chum salmon. The set gillnet harvest was 250 Chinook, 38,393 sockeye, 3,616 coho, 2,698 chum and 1,813 pink. The previous 10-year harvest average for this gear type is 427 Chinook, 26,941 sockeye, 1,128 coho, 4,086 pink and 1,906 chum salmon. Preliminary estimates show that pink salmon escapement in index streams was above the midpoint of the cumulative sustainable escapement goal (SEG) range of 59,700–178,500 fish. The weir at the English Bay River passed 12,644 sockeye salmon. This was within the SEG of 6,000–13,500 for this system.

Outer District
The 2013 preseason commercial harvest forecast for the Outer District was 10,200 sockeye and 63,000 pink salmon. The commercial salmon fishing season began in this district on Monday, July 22. Overall harvest from 11 permit holders was 119 sockeye, 2.0 million pink and 49,062 chum salmon. This harvest compares to previous 10-year averages of 12,451 sockeye, 372,368 pink and 28,899 chum salmon and is the largest on record for pink salmon from this district. The next largest occurred in 1979 where 62 permit holders harvested 1.9 million pink salmon. Preliminary escapement survey indices for chum salmon were above the midpoint of the SEG range of 12,850–34,600 fish. Pink salmon were in the upper end of their SEG range of 54,500–237,200 fish. Aerial surveys of Desire Lake documented 8,400 sockeye salmon. This is below the SEG range of 8,800–15,200 fish for Desire Lake. The Delight Lake weir counted 5,961 sockeye salmon. This is below the SEG range of 7,500–17,650 fish for this system.

Eastern District
Due to minimal returns in the last 10 years, no wild stock sockeye or pink salmon were forecast to be available for commercial common property harvest from the Eastern District in 2013. Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA) forecasted a total return of 70,666 sockeye salmon to Resurrection Bay facilities. Total saltwater harvest from this district was 41,410 sockeye salmon with all of these fish harvested by CIAA for cost recovery purposes. This compares to a previous 10-year average commercial harvest of 71,019 sockeye salmon for common property and cost recovery harvests combined from Resurrection Bay. Escapement through the weir at Bear Creek (12,605 fish) was sufficient to meet the “desired inriver return” of 5,620-13,220 sockeye salmon. This goal is the combination of the SEG (700–8,300 fish) as well as the estimated 4,920 sockeye salmon required for broodstock for the CIAA sockeye salmon program at Trail Lakes Hatchery. In addition, 3,530 sockeye salmon were documented during aerial surveys of Aialik Lake escapement. This is 170 salmon below the SEG range of 3,700–8,000 fish for this system.

Kamishak Bay District
The 2013 preseason commercial forecast for the Kamishak Bay District was 77,000 sockeye and 37,400 chum salmon. CIAA forecasted a return of 21,675 sockeye salmon to the Kirschner Lake remote release site of which all would be required for cost recovery. Total common property harvest from this district was 33,154 sockeye, 314 pink and 2,357 chum salmon. In addition, 8,288 sockeye salmon were harvested by CIAA from the Kirschner Lake Special Harvest Area (SHA) for cost recovery purposes. This compares to a previous 10-year average of 70,343 sockeye, 26,947 pink and 53,445 pink salmon harvested in the common property fishery. Preliminary escapement survey indices for both chum and pink salmon show escapement levels in the lower end of their respective SEG ranges of 65,550–141,600 for chum, and 25,950–203,400 for pink salmon. Video enumeration at Chenik Lake documented 9,626 sockeye salmon. This is within the SEG range of 3,500-14,000 fish. Video documentation of returns to Mikfik Lake for this species counted 3,972 fish. This is below the SEG range of 6,300-12,150 sockeye salmon for this lake.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G LCI webpage.

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Kodiak
The following areas are open until further notice; the majority of the Afognak District, Eastside Kodiak District, Northeast Kodiak District, Humpy-Deadman Section of the Alitak District, the Northwest Kodiak District, and the Southwest Kodiak District. Escapement through the Karluk Weir is strong with approximately 550,552 sockeye salmon counted through the weir on August 28. The Karluk River Chinook salmon return is weak and non-retention of Chinook salmon has been imposed on the seine fleet south of the latitude of Cape Kuliuk. In Alitak, sockeye salmon escapement into Upper Station is weak with only 151,841 sockeye salmon counted to date. The Dog Salmon weir was pulled on August 16, and had a final escapement of 129,369 sockeye salmon. Ayakulik sockeye is above average with approximately 282,164 sockeye counted through the weir to date. However, Ayakulik Chinook salmon appear weak with only 2,369 counted through the weir. The Buskin, Saltery, Afognak River, and Uganik sockeye salmon runs are all tracking above the desired escapement goals for this date. There is good escapement for the sockeye salmon runs at Kaflia, Swikshak, Saltery, Little River, Long Lagoon, Thorsheim, Pauls, Perenosa Bay, and other minor sockeye systems. Pink salmon runs appear to be strong in the Eastside Kodiak and Northeast Kodiak districts, the Humpy-Deadman section of the Alitak District, and the Kitoi Bay Hatchery. However, the Northwest Kodiak District pink runs appear average to date. Both purse seine and gillnet participation about normal for this date when compared to recent years. Kodiak Management Area (KMA) sockeye salmon commercial harvests is 2,552,070 salmon which is slightly below the projected harvest, but is above average for this date. 808,932 chum salmon have been harvested which is below average for this date. Approximately 28,220,563 pink salmon have been harvested, which is above average for this date. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Kodiak webpage.

Kodiak

The following areas are open until further notice; the majority of the Afognak District, Eastside Kodiak District, Northeast Kodiak District, Humpy-Deadman Section of the Alitak District, the Northwest Kodiak District, and the Southwest Kodiak District.

Escapement through the Karluk Weir is strong with approximately 550,552 sockeye salmon counted through the weir on August 28. The Karluk River Chinook salmon return is weak and non-retention of Chinook salmon has been imposed on the seine fleet south of the latitude of Cape Kuliuk.

In Alitak, sockeye salmon escapement into Upper Station is weak with only 151,841 sockeye salmon counted to date. The Dog Salmon weir was pulled on August 16, and had a final escapement of 129,369 sockeye salmon.

Ayakulik sockeye is above average with approximately 282,164 sockeye counted through the weir to date. However, Ayakulik Chinook salmon appear weak with only 2,369 counted through the weir.

The Buskin, Saltery, Afognak River, and Uganik sockeye salmon runs are all tracking above the desired escapement goals for this date. There is good escapement for the sockeye salmon runs at Kaflia, Swikshak, Saltery, Little River, Long Lagoon, Thorsheim, Pauls, Perenosa Bay, and other minor sockeye systems.

Pink salmon runs appear to be strong in the Eastside Kodiak and Northeast Kodiak districts, the Humpy-Deadman section of the Alitak District, and the Kitoi Bay Hatchery. However, the Northwest Kodiak District pink runs appear average to date.

Both purse seine and gillnet participation about normal for this date when compared to recent years.

Kodiak Management Area (KMA) sockeye salmon commercial harvests is 2,552,070 salmon which is slightly below the projected harvest, but is above average for this date. 808,932 chum salmon have been harvested which is below average for this date. Approximately 28,220,563 pink salmon have been harvested, which is above average for this date. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Kodiak webpage.

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Alaska Peninsula
North Peninsula Ilnik River weir was removed for the season as scheduled and was tracking escapement objectives and passed about 28,400 fish through July 14 with the July 15 escapement objective of 28,000-40,000 sockeye salmon. An aerial survey of the Ocean River showed 20,000 sockeye salmon, and combined with the weir count makes the total Ilnik River system escapement about 48,000 sockeye salmon meeting the goal of 40,000-60,000 sockeye salmon. Through July 31 Bear River passed a total of 226,000 sockeye salmon through the weir meeting the Bear River early run escapement goal of 176,000-293,000 fish. From August 1 to August 25, 163,000 sockeye salmon passed the weir during the late-Bear River sockeye salmon run, meeting the August 25 escapement goal of 87,000-165,000 fish. The Bear River weir was removed for the season as scheduled and no more weir counts will be available. The Sandy River weir was removed for the season as scheduled on July 21 and passed about 39,000 sockeye salmon through July 20, meeting the season ending escapement goal of 34,000-74,000 fish. Nelson River weir was removed as scheduled on July 22 and passed 246,000 sockeye salmon and exceeded the season ending escapement goal of 97,000-219,000 fish. Sockeye salmon harvests for the entire North Peninsula combined are well below average for this date. The Ocean River, a tributary of the Ilnik River, is flowing directly into the Bering Sea. Aerial surveys conducted on August 5 indicate 20,000 sockeye salmon in Ocean River systems meeting the upper escapement goal. An aerial survey of Meshik River on August 16 indicated about 74,000 sockeye salmon on the spawning grounds meeting the escapement goal of 25,000-100,000 fish. South Peninsula A commercial salmon fishing period in the Southwestern, South Central, and Southeastern districts began at 9:00 AM Monday, September 9, was extended for 48 hours, and will now close at 8:00 PM Friday, September 13. The final count of the season at the Orzinski Lake weir occurred on August 4. The season cumulative total sockeye salmon escapement was 17,386 fish, which is near the midpoint of the escapement goal range (15,000–20,000). The final aerial surveys of the season have been completed in the South Alaska Peninsula. The lower bound of the area wide aggregate pink salmon Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) for odd years (1.6–3.2M) has been met. The lower bounds of the chum salmon SEGs for Southwestern, South Central, and Southeastern districts have been met. This season participation has been consistent with previous years. Direct comparisons to past seasons are difficult as the June and July scheduled were modified at the 2013 Board of Fisheries meeting, but area wide harvest is in line with previous years. Through September 11, a total of 6,047 Chinook, 2,199,674 sockeye, 275,693 coho, and 7,760,639 pink, and 942,942 chum salmon have been harvested in the South Alaska Peninsula during the 2013 commercial salmon fishing season. Bering Pacific Seafoods in False Pass and Peter Pan Seafoods in King Cove and Sand Point have announced that they have suspended buying salmon at this time.

Alaska Peninsula

North Peninsula
Ilnik River weir was removed for the season as scheduled and was tracking escapement objectives and passed about 28,400 fish through July 14 with the July 15 escapement objective of 28,000-40,000 sockeye salmon. An aerial survey of the Ocean River showed 20,000 sockeye salmon, and combined with the weir count makes the total Ilnik River system escapement about 48,000 sockeye salmon meeting the goal of 40,000-60,000 sockeye salmon. Through July 31 Bear River passed a total of 226,000 sockeye salmon through the weir meeting the Bear River early run escapement goal of 176,000-293,000 fish. From August 1 to August 25, 163,000 sockeye salmon passed the weir during the late-Bear River sockeye salmon run, meeting the August 25 escapement goal of 87,000-165,000 fish. The Bear River weir was removed for the season as scheduled and no more weir counts will be available. The Sandy River weir was removed for the season as scheduled on July 21 and passed about 39,000 sockeye salmon through July 20, meeting the season ending escapement goal of 34,000-74,000 fish. Nelson River weir was removed as scheduled on July 22 and passed 246,000 sockeye salmon and exceeded the season ending escapement goal of 97,000-219,000 fish.

Sockeye salmon harvests for the entire North Peninsula combined are well below average for this date.

The Ocean River, a tributary of the Ilnik River, is flowing directly into the Bering Sea. Aerial surveys conducted on August 5 indicate 20,000 sockeye salmon in Ocean River systems meeting the upper escapement goal. An aerial survey of Meshik River on August 16 indicated about 74,000 sockeye salmon on the spawning grounds meeting the escapement goal of 25,000-100,000 fish.

South Peninsula
A commercial salmon fishing period in the Southwestern, South Central, and Southeastern districts began at 9:00 AM Monday, September 9, was extended for 48 hours, and will now close at 8:00 PM Friday, September 13.

The final count of the season at the Orzinski Lake weir occurred on August 4. The season cumulative total sockeye salmon escapement was 17,386 fish, which is near the midpoint of the escapement goal range (15,000–20,000).

The final aerial surveys of the season have been completed in the South Alaska Peninsula. The lower bound of the area wide aggregate pink salmon Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) for odd years (1.6–3.2M) has been met. The lower bounds of the chum salmon SEGs for Southwestern, South Central, and Southeastern districts have been met.

This season participation has been consistent with previous years.

Direct comparisons to past seasons are difficult as the June and July scheduled were modified at the 2013 Board of Fisheries meeting, but area wide harvest is in line with previous years. Through September 11, a total of 6,047 Chinook, 2,199,674 sockeye, 275,693 coho, and 7,760,639 pink, and 942,942 chum salmon have been harvested in the South Alaska Peninsula during the 2013 commercial salmon fishing season.

Bering Pacific Seafoods in False Pass and Peter Pan Seafoods in King Cove and Sand Point have announced that they have suspended buying salmon at this time.

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Chignik
The Chignik Bay, Central, Eastern, Western, and Perryville districts of the Chignik Management Area (CMA) closed to commercial salmon fishing on Tuesday, August 27. Fisherman with a secure market for their catch that are interested in additional fishing periods in 2013 should contact Chignik management staff at the Chignik weir (845-2243) until September 15 after which staff can be contacted in Kodiak (486-1830). Chignik River daily escapement estimates were completed on September 2 and the removal of the Chignik River weir began the following day. Through September 2, an estimated total of 308,611 late-run sockeye salmon passed the Chignik River weir which is within late-run sockeye salmon escapement goal range of 250,000-400,000 fish. Additionally, the 2013 early-run sockeye salmon estimated escapement of 386,782 fish was within the early-run escapement goal range of 350,000-400,000 fish. Coho salmon escapement into the Chignik River was increasing in the days prior to the weir removal. An estimated total of 16,783 coho salmon passed the weir through September 2. Aerial surveys of other CMA streams and rivers have indicated healthy returns of local pink and chum salmon stocks. The area-wide pink salmon (500,000 to 800,000 fish) sustainable escapement goal has been met and the chum salmon (57,400 fish) sustainable escapement goal threshold has been met. Processor stopped buying fish on the 27th of August. No harvest occurred after August 26th. The total Chignik-bound sockeye salmon run for the 2013 season is projected to top 3.6 million fish which would make it the 4th largest run since 1970. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Chignik webpage.

Chignik

The Chignik Bay, Central, Eastern, Western, and Perryville districts of the Chignik Management Area (CMA) closed to commercial salmon fishing on Tuesday, August 27.

Fisherman with a secure market for their catch that are interested in additional fishing periods in 2013 should contact Chignik management staff at the Chignik weir (845-2243) until September 15 after which staff can be contacted in Kodiak (486-1830).

Chignik River daily escapement estimates were completed on September 2 and the removal of the Chignik River weir began the following day. Through September 2, an estimated total of 308,611 late-run sockeye salmon passed the Chignik River weir which is within late-run sockeye salmon escapement goal range of 250,000-400,000 fish. Additionally, the 2013 early-run sockeye salmon estimated escapement of 386,782 fish was within the early-run escapement goal range of 350,000-400,000 fish.

Coho salmon escapement into the Chignik River was increasing in the days prior to the weir removal. An estimated total of 16,783 coho salmon passed the weir through September 2.

Aerial surveys of other CMA streams and rivers have indicated healthy returns of local pink and chum salmon stocks. The area-wide pink salmon (500,000 to 800,000 fish) sustainable escapement goal has been met and the chum salmon (57,400 fish) sustainable escapement goal threshold has been met.

Processor stopped buying fish on the 27th of August. No harvest occurred after August 26th.

The total Chignik-bound sockeye salmon run for the 2013 season is projected to top 3.6 million fish which would make it the 4th largest run since 1970. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Chignik webpage.

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Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim
Yukon River The fall chum salmon commercial fishing season in Districts 1 and 2 closed by regulation after August 31. A coho salmon directed commercial fishery in Districts 1 and 2 was not prosecuted because of below average passage of coho salmon past Pilot Station sonar. The preliminary cumulative commercial harvest in Districts 1 and 2 combined was 212,700 fall chum salmon and 58,740 coho salmon. The fall chum salmon directed commercial fishery is still ongoing in Districts 5 and 6 in the Upper Yukon. The preliminary commercial harvest in District 5 as of September 12 is approximately 1,040 fall chum salmon. In District 6 the preliminary cumulative harvest through September 12 is 1,750 fall chum and 50 coho salmon. The summer chum directed commercial fishery closed in all Yukon Districts by August 15. Utilizing regulations adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries in 2013, new gear types were employed in the Lower Yukon that allowed for commercial opportunities to harvest summer chum salmon during times of Chinook salmon conservation. Commercial periods using only dip nets and beach seines began in the Lower River on June 18. During these periods, fishermen were required to immediately release incidentally caught Chinook salmon back to the water alive. As in recent years, commercial opportunity using gillnets was delayed until after the midpoint of the Chinook salmon run in order to minimize the incidental harvest of Chinook salmon. The cumulative summer chum salmon harvest for Districts 1 and 2 combined was approximately 379,000 summer chum salmon with a reported 930 Chinook released and 480 Chinook caught but not sold. The 2013 summer chum salmon harvest in Districts 1 and 2 combined was the highest on record since 1989. In District 4 commercial fishing opportunity was restricted to the use of fish wheels only during the majority of the summer chum salmon season in 2013. Fish wheels were manned at all times during operation and all Chinook salmon caught in fish wheels were immediately released alive back to the water. Daily 24-hour commercial periods began on July 1 in District 4. Approximately 100,500 summer chum were harvested with a reported 100 Chinook caught and released. Commercial periods utilizing fish wheels began on July 19 in District 6. The 2013 summer chum harvest was approximately 5,940 summer chum with 100 Chinook salmon released and 1 Chinook salmon reported caught but not sold. Kuskokwim District 1B opened to commercial salmon fishing on August 23, 2013. Preliminary harvest of coho salmon was 5,454 bringing the season total to 113,959 fish. Harvest and catch rates were below average for this date. This opening marked the last anticipated commercial salmon fishing period on the Kuskokwim River for 2013. District 4 opened to commercial salmon fishing on August 23, 2013. Preliminary harvest of coho salmon was 1,361 bringing the season total to 21,059 fish. Harvest and catch rates were below average for this date. This opening marked the last anticipated commercial salmon fishing period in Kuskokwim Bay for 2013. District 5 opened to commercial salmon fishing on August 23, 2013. Preliminary harvest of coho salmon was 3,159 bringing the season total to 24,521 fish. Harvest and catch rates were above average for this date. This opening marked the last anticipated commercial salmon fishing period in Kuskokwim Bay for 2013. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Kuskokwim webpage. Norton Sound Preliminary harvest totals for the season by species were 118,154 chum, 8,230 pink, 53,402 coho and 192 sockeye salmon by 118 permit holders. Effort was down slightly from the 123 permits fished in 2012. The chum salmon harvest is the best since 1986. This year’s chum salmon fishery was highlighted by a record harvest in Norton Bay Subdistrict and the third best harvest in Unalakleet Subdistrict. Coho salmon harvest ranked 15th best in 53 years of commercial harvests and was 41% above the long-term average harvest of 37,796 coho salmon, but well below the recent 5-year average of 73,080 coho salmon. Preliminary estimated exvessel value of the fishery in Norton Sound is $1,169,872.67. This amount is up 54% from the 2012 exvessel value of $758,908. Exvessel value has been in excess of $1 million in 3 of the previous 4 seasons. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Norton Sound webpage. Kotzebue The Kotzebue Sound commercial salmon season wrapped up on August 31. An estimated 312,271 chum salmon were harvested by 64 permit holders for an estimated exvessel value of $675,425. Exvessel value was 14% above the long-term average value of $597,000, but below the exvessel values of $860,000 and $867,000 in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Effort was down from the 83 permits fished in 2012, which may have resulted from the lower dock prices paid. However, the chum salmon harvest was the 10th best in 52 years of commercial harvests, and best since 1988. It was also 54% above the long-term average harvest of 198,000 chum salmon. A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Kotzebue webpage.

Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim

Yukon River
The fall chum salmon commercial fishing season in Districts 1 and 2 closed by regulation after August 31. A coho salmon directed commercial fishery in Districts 1 and 2 was not prosecuted because of below average passage of coho salmon past Pilot Station sonar. The preliminary cumulative commercial harvest in Districts 1 and 2 combined was 212,700 fall chum salmon and 58,740 coho salmon. The fall chum salmon directed commercial fishery is still ongoing in Districts 5 and 6 in the Upper Yukon. The preliminary commercial harvest in District 5 as of September 12 is approximately 1,040 fall chum salmon. In District 6 the preliminary cumulative harvest through September 12 is 1,750 fall chum and 50 coho salmon.

The summer chum directed commercial fishery closed in all Yukon Districts by August 15. Utilizing regulations adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries in 2013, new gear types were employed in the Lower Yukon that allowed for commercial opportunities to harvest summer chum salmon during times of Chinook salmon conservation. Commercial periods using only dip nets and beach seines began in the Lower River on June 18. During these periods, fishermen were required to immediately release incidentally caught Chinook salmon back to the water alive. As in recent years, commercial opportunity using gillnets was delayed until after the midpoint of the Chinook salmon run in order to minimize the incidental harvest of Chinook salmon. The cumulative summer chum salmon harvest for Districts 1 and 2 combined was approximately 379,000 summer chum salmon with a reported 930 Chinook released and 480 Chinook caught but not sold. The 2013 summer chum salmon harvest in Districts 1 and 2 combined was the highest on record since 1989.

In District 4 commercial fishing opportunity was restricted to the use of fish wheels only during the majority of the summer chum salmon season in 2013. Fish wheels were manned at all times during operation and all Chinook salmon caught in fish wheels were immediately released alive back to the water. Daily 24-hour commercial periods began on July 1 in District 4. Approximately 100,500 summer chum were harvested with a reported 100 Chinook caught and released.

Commercial periods utilizing fish wheels began on July 19 in District 6. The 2013 summer chum harvest was approximately 5,940 summer chum with 100 Chinook salmon released and 1 Chinook salmon reported caught but not sold.

Kuskokwim
District 1B opened to commercial salmon fishing on August 23, 2013. Preliminary harvest of coho salmon was 5,454 bringing the season total to 113,959 fish. Harvest and catch rates were below average for this date. This opening marked the last anticipated commercial salmon fishing period on the Kuskokwim River for 2013.

District 4 opened to commercial salmon fishing on August 23, 2013. Preliminary harvest of coho salmon was 1,361 bringing the season total to 21,059 fish. Harvest and catch rates were below average for this date. This opening marked the last anticipated commercial salmon fishing period in Kuskokwim Bay for 2013.

District 5 opened to commercial salmon fishing on August 23, 2013. Preliminary harvest of coho salmon was 3,159 bringing the season total to 24,521 fish. Harvest and catch rates were above average for this date. This opening marked the last anticipated commercial salmon fishing period in Kuskokwim Bay for 2013.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Kuskokwim webpage.

Norton Sound
Preliminary harvest totals for the season by species were 118,154 chum, 8,230 pink, 53,402 coho and 192 sockeye salmon by 118 permit holders. Effort was down slightly from the 123 permits fished in 2012. The chum salmon harvest is the best since 1986. This year’s chum salmon fishery was highlighted by a record harvest in Norton Bay Subdistrict and the third best harvest in Unalakleet Subdistrict. Coho salmon harvest ranked 15th best in 53 years of commercial harvests and was 41% above the long-term average harvest of 37,796 coho salmon, but well below the recent 5-year average of 73,080 coho salmon. Preliminary estimated exvessel value of the fishery in Norton Sound is $1,169,872.67. This amount is up 54% from the 2012 exvessel value of $758,908. Exvessel value has been in excess of $1 million in 3 of the previous 4 seasons.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Norton Sound webpage.

Kotzebue
The Kotzebue Sound commercial salmon season wrapped up on August 31. An estimated 312,271 chum salmon were harvested by 64 permit holders for an estimated exvessel value of $675,425. Exvessel value was 14% above the long-term average value of $597,000, but below the exvessel values of $860,000 and $867,000 in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Effort was down from the 83 permits fished in 2012, which may have resulted from the lower dock prices paid. However, the chum salmon harvest was the 10th best in 52 years of commercial harvests, and best since 1988. It was also 54% above the long-term average harvest of 198,000 chum salmon.

A post-season summary will be available later this fall on the ADF&G Kotzebue webpage.

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