Inseason Alaska Commercial Salmon Summary

Troll Fishery

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The second Chinook salmon retention period of the Southeast Alaska/Yakutat commercial summer troll season closed on September 3. The department estimates that a total of 60,000 Chinook salmon were taken during the 22-day retention period. The summer troll fishery was extended through September 30 for coho, chum, pink and sockeye salmon; however, the areas of high Chinook salmon abundance remain closed [5 AAC 29.025].

Preliminary fish ticket data reported to date indicate a total of 775 troll permits have landed 132,000 Chinook, 823,000 coho, and 700,000 chum salmon in the summer fishery. Average prices are $6.77/lb for Chinook, $2.94/lb for coho and $1.15/lb for chum salmon. Current seasonal average weights are 11.2 lb for Chinook, 5.3 lb for coho, and 6.3 lb for chum salmon. Chinook salmon average weight is the below the 2020 and 5-year averages by 0.4 lb, while coho salmon average weight is below the 2020 and 5-year averages by 0.5 and 0.8 lb. Chum salmon average weight is down from 2020 by 1.6 lb and the 5-year average weight by 1.9 lb.

The regional power troll coho salmon catch rate for this week (Statistical Week 38) is 38 fish/boat/day, with the highest catch rates in Southern Outside (47 fish/boat/day) and Central Outside (43 fish/boat/day), followed by the Southern Inside (39 fish/boat/day) and Central Inside (28 fish/boat/day) areas.

Troll effort and harvest for vessels targeting hatchery chum salmon returning to the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) release sites in Crawfish Inlet and Deep Inlet Terminal Harvest Areas (THA) was high this season with 164 permit holders targeting chum salmon between Statistical Week 31 and 36. No directed chum salmon landings were reported for Statistical Week 37 or 38. The cumulative catch for the Sitka Sound/Deep Inlet area for Statistical Weeks 31–36 was 501,000 chum salmon, with an average catch/landing of 418 fish for the 157 permits participating in this fishery. The West Crawfish Inlet and Crawfish Inlet THA cumulative harvest of 170,000 chum salmon for Statistical Week 31–35 averaged 428 chum salmon/landing for 75 permits.

Average weights for directed chum salmon landings are 6.5 lb for West Crawfish Inlet/ Crawfish THA and 6.2 lb for Sitka Sound. The average price was $1.16/lb for these fisheries.

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

• Southeast Summer Troll webpage
• Southeast Management Plans webpage
• Commercial Fishery Advisory Announcements

Purse Seine Fishery

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

Southeast Alaska directed pink salmon fisheries are closed for the remainder of the 2021 season. The department will continue to monitor fall chum salmon runs to Cholmondeley Sound, Security Bay, Port Camden, Nakwasina Sound, Chaik Bay, and Excursion Inlet. Observations of fall chum salmon abundance to date have been better than summer chum salmon and fish excess to escapement were observed in Cholmondeley Sound. As a result, a 12-hour opening was scheduled for Thursday, September 16 in District 2.

The 2021 Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest forecast was predicted to be average with a point estimate of 28 million fish. Traditional common property purse seine openings directed at harvesting pink salmon began July 4 and concluded September 4. This year's common property purse seine harvest estimate at 42.8 million pink salmon is the 14th highest since statehood. Most of the pink salmon harvest was from Southern Southeast with the Ketchikan management area having its estimated 8th highest cumulative pink salmon harvest since statehood. Pink salmon average weight was low this season, with an average weight of approximately 2.8 pounds. Pink salmon escapement was generally good to excellent with at least 34 of 46 pink salmon stock groups meeting or exceeding target ranges. Purse seine effort increased slightly from 2020 with 207 permits making landings but was below the 2011–2020 average of 252 permits.

Hatchery produced chum salmon runs were expected to be below average in 2021. Except for Deep and Crawfish Inlets, hatchery produced chum salmon runs have concluded. The estimated common property purse seine terminal harvest area (THA) harvest is 1.3 million chum salmon, below the 2011–2020 average harvest of 2.0 million chum salmon.

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

Drift Gillnet Fishery

For further details concerning this fishery, please see the 2021 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (PDF 765 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: September 17th, 2021

The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery was open for four days starting on Sunday, September 12. In comparison to the 10-year average, harvest of all salmon species was below average. The effort level of 25 vessels was below the 10-year average of 33 vessels. The estimated weekly harvest for Statistical Week 38 was 20 sockeye salmon, 6,000 coho salmon, 20 pink salmon, and 2,000 chum salmon. Fall management is based on the strength of wild coho salmon returns. The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery will open for four days in Statistical Week 39, beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, September 19.

For further details concerning this fishery, please see the 2021 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (PDF 765 kB) which is also available at area offices.

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: September 17th, 2021

The Districts 6 and 8 gillnet fishery opened on September 12 for three days with management emphasis based on wild coho salmon abundance. The number of participants continued to decrease this week as it has for the past few weeks in District 6 and remained below average. In District 8, effort was unchanged from last week and was near average. The preliminary harvest estimates for this week included 5 Chinook salmon, 300 sockeye salmon, 8,500 coho salmon, 40 pink salmon, and 3,000 chum salmon from 48 boats fishing in District 6. The preliminary District 8 harvest estimate included 10 Chinook salmon, 10 sockeye salmon, 2,000 coho salmon, 10 pink salmon, and 200 chum salmon from 23 boats. Overall, coho salmon harvest rates were below average and consisted mostly of hatchery fish this week. Additionally, coho salmon harvest rates in adjacent fisheries, including the commercial troll fishery, continued to perform below average again this week as it has for most of this year, thus suggesting a below average abundance of coho salmon returning to Districts 6 and 8. Historical timing and current trends in harvests suggest timing is well past peak for wild fish and likely just past peak for the hatchery component. For next week, both districts will open for two days starting Sunday, September 19.

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

Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

Decreasing air temperature and daylight hours combined with generally increasing wave heights have made the District 11 drift gillnet grounds a substantially less desirable place to be than the fleet's warm houses in Juneau. Sub-average coho salmon catch rates did not provide a reason to tough it out this week and only three boats remained fishing on the last morning of the opening. There is still interest in further openings, however, and recent upticks in coho salmon catch rates in the troll fishery in Icy Strait and the District 15 drift gillnet fishery in lower Lynn Canal provide optimism for the near future.

The sixth inseason Taku River coho salmon above border run size estimate, produced this week, projects a terminal run size of 91,800 fish, which is a slight increase from last week and near the preseason forecast of 94,000 fish. The U.S. has an allowable catch of nearly 11,000 fish at this run size and has currently harvested an estimated 8,000 fish. The current inriver run size estimate of 61,500 fish minus the Canada harvest of approximately 9,500 fish has escapement sitting just above the lower end of the escapement goal range of 50,000 to 90,000 fish.

The District 11 drift gillnet fishery will again open for four days next week with the Speel Arm SHA closed for the season. Openings directed at coho salmon can occur through mid-October, and if there is interest from fishermen, a couple more weeks of fishing are likely.

The 2021 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: September 17th, 2021

The District 15 gillnet fishery opened Sunday, September 12 for three days with management emphasis based on fall chum and coho salmon in waters south of the latitude of Seduction Point. Waters north of the Katzehine River Flats Light to the Chilkoot River terminus was opened for five days with a management emphasis based on a late sockeye salmon returning to the Chilkoot River.

Effort remained below average this week with 46 permit holders actively fishing. Approximately 200 sockeye, 10,000 coho, and 4,000 chum salmon were harvested this week. Sockeye and coho salmon harvests were near the recent 10-year average and the chum salmon harvest was below average. The District 15 overall harvest to date is estimated to be 700 Chinook, 84,500 sockeye, 21,000 coho, 220,550 pink, and 528,600 chum salmon. Harvests for all species are below the 10-year average.

The Chilkoot River weir project is complete and no longer in operation. Final weir counts were 98,675 sockeye, 48,200 pink, 1,241 chum, and 20 Chinook salmon. Chilkoot River sockeye salmon exceeded the upper bound of the escapement goal range of 86,000 fish. Chilkat Lake sockeye salmon escapement estimates continue to track below average, and it is unlikely the escapement goal will be met. Chilkat River fish wheels will operate until the first week of October. Chum and coho salmon fish wheels catches have picked up recently indicating early run strength.

The District 15 gillnet fishery will open for three days next week. All waters of Section 15-A, excluding Lutak and Chilkat Inlets, and all waters of Section 15-C will be open.

The 2021 SEAK Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan can be found on the Southeast Management Plans webpage

For more information please see the Chilkat River and King Salmon River King Salmon Stock Status and Action Plan, 2018 (PDF 6,858 kB)

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

Yakutat Area Set Gillnet Fishery

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet was opened on September 12 for 3 days. A total of 52 permits harvested 12,588 coho, and 1 sockeye salmon. Fleet participation was above average, and salmon harvest was below average. The Kaliakh River had participation, but less than three permits fished, and harvest information is confidential. Yakutat Bay, Manby Outside Waters, Manby Inside Waters, Alsek River, East Alsek River and Akwe River were opened on September 12 for 3 days. There was no participation in the Yakutat Bay, Manby Outside Waters, Manby Shore Inside, Alsek River, East Alsek River and Akwe River fishery or other areas open in the district. The Kaliakh River was the only system to receive fishing effort for this statistical week in the Yakataga District.

Fishing times may be adjusted based on escapement surveys and harvest for Statistical Week 39. Italio River systems will open by emergency order when adequate levels of escapement can be documented.

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

Terminal Harvest Area (THA) Fisheries

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.

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

Nakat Inlet THA

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The forecasted return for Nakat Inlet is 321,000 summer chum salmon, 5,000 fall chum salmon, and 16,400 coho salmon. Nakat Inlet opened to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet and troll gear on Tuesday, June 1. The Nakat Inlet THA was closed to commercial salmon fishing from Sunday, July 11, through Saturday, July 24 for cost recovery fishing.

The cost recovery harvest for Nakat Inlet THA is 7,000 chum salmon. The current harvest is 180,000 chum salmon or 56% of the summer chum salmon forecasted return. This total includes 103,000 salmon harvested by drift gillnet gear and 15,000 salmon harvested by purse seine gear in the traditional fishery; and 56,000 salmon harvested in the THA. A total of 2,000 fall chum salmon have been harvested in the traditional gillnet fishery, 39% of the forecast. Within the Nakat Inlet THA a total of 3,000 coho salmon have been harvested.

For further information please refer to the 2021 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (PDF 765 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: September 10th, 2021

The Neets Bay forecasted return is 768,000 summer chum salmon, 31,000 fall chum salmon, 6,700 Chinook salmon, and 113,100 coho salmon. Neets Bay opened to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Tuesday, June 15, and by rotational fishery between drift gillnet and purse seine on Thursday, June 17. The Neets Bay THA closed to the harvest of salmon by all gear groups Tuesday, July 6 for cost recovery fishing and broodstock collection.

Cost recovery harvest is 400 Chinook salmon and 4,900 chum salmon. The current Neets Bay THA harvest is 4,000 Chinook salmon and 3,000 chum salmon by purse seine and 2,300 Chinook salmon and 100 chum salmon by drift gillnet gear. The harvest for Neets Bay chum salmon in traditional fisheries is 32,000 salmon for purse seine, and 11,000 chum salmon from drift gillnet. The total harvest is 51,000 chum salmon, or 6% of the forecasted return.

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: September 10th, 2021

The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay is 714,000 summer chum salmon. Kendrick Bay THA opened to the harvest of salmon by purse seine gear on Tuesday, June 15. The Kendrick Bay THA was closed to commercial salmon fishing from Sunday, July 11, through Saturday, July 24 for cost recovery fishing.

The cost recovery harvest for Kendrick THA is 26,000 chum salmon. Current harvest for Kendrick Bay THA is 6,000 chum salmon. The traditional harvest of Kendrick Bay is 310,000 chum salmon. A total harvest of Kendrick Bay summer chum salmon is 342,000 fish or 48% of the forecasted return.

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: September 3rd, 2021

The forecasted return for Carroll Inlet is 9,300 Chinook salmon. The Carroll Inlet THA opened in the waters of Carroll Inlet north of the latitude of 55°34.83′ N latitude to drift gillnet and purse seine gear concurrently Tuesday, June 1, and closed on Saturday, June 12. The lower portion of the Carroll Inlet THA was closed to net gear to provide the troll fleet with exclusive access from Tuesday, June 1, through Tuesday, June 15. A rotational net fishery began on Tuesday, June 15, in the waters of Carroll Inlet north of Nigelius Point at 55°33.50′ N latitude and will continue through Wednesday, June 30.

Current harvest for the Carroll Inlet THA is 1,700 Chinook salmon by purse seine and 1,700 Chinook salmon by drift gillnet gear. Cost recovery harvest in Carroll Inlet was 3,900 Chinook salmon. Total harvest of Carroll Inlet Chinook salmon is 7,900 fish, or 85% of the forecasted return.

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: September 17th, 2021

The 2021 Anita Bay THA forecast includes: 11,500 Chinook salmon, 474,000 summer chum, and 11,100 coho salmon. The common property commercial harvest to date is and 7,200 Chinook salmon by seine, gillnet, and troll gear, 3,000 chum salmon by purse seine, and 45,000 chum and 1,000 coho salmon by drift gillnet.

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: September 10th, 2021

The Deep Inlet THA opened on June 1 with an ongoing weekly schedule: seine openings on Sundays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and drift gillnet openings occurring on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Forecasted runs for Deep Inlet THA and Medvejie Hatchery includes 1,608,000 chum salmon, 17,600 king salmon, and 95,000 coho salmon. This season, 130,000 chum salmon are needed for broodstock. The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) does not anticipate cost recovery operations this season in the Deep Inlet THA.

Gillnet harvest to date is approximately 3,900 Chinook salmon and 342,600 chum salmon; seine harvest to date is approximately 2,750 Chinook salmon and 836,800 chum salmon.

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

Hidden Falls THA

The Hidden Falls Hatchery expects a run of 286,000 chum salmon. The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) needs 150,000 chum salmon for broodstock leaving 136,000 chum salmon available for common property harvests. NSRAA does not intend to use a tax assessment on the common property harvest of chum salmon to satisfy cost recovery needs as provided under AS 16.10.455.

There are no scheduled common property purse seine openings at Hidden Falls for 2021. Due to a low projected run of chum salmon, Hidden Falls will be managed for broodstock. NSRAA will assess the run through a weekly test fishery to determine run strength. In the event that surplus chum salmon are available, common property openings may be announced. Purse seiners are advised that openings at Hidden Falls during the 2021 season may be announced with a minimum 24-hour notice if necessary, in order to maximize fish quality.

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

Crawfish Inlet THA

Last Updated: September 10th, 2021

A run of 1,920,000 chum salmon is forecasted to return to the Crawfish Inlet remote release site in 2021. No chum salmon are needed for broodstock. Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) completed cost recovery this season in Crawfish Inlet, opening seine inside the boundaries of the THA on August 26. Seine openings are scheduled for Sundays, Thursdays, and Fridays through September 24. Seine harvest to date for Crawfish and West Crawfish Inlets is approximately 359,050 chum salmon.

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

Copper River and PWS Drift Gillnet

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The Copper River District was open to commercial fishing for a 24-hour fishing period on Monday, September 13. There have been 26 Copper River District fishing periods during the 2021 season. The Eshamy District is closed for the season. The Coghill District was open for daily 12-hour periods concurrent with purse seine harvest throughout the week.

The most recent aerial survey assessing sockeye salmon escapement in the Copper River Delta was conducted on September 8. A total of 22,520 coho salmon were counted in the Copper River Delta index reaches, which was within anticipated levels for this date. The Copper River District switched to coho salmon management starting August 16. Initial management strategies will be conservative (e.g., 24-hour openers) until run strength can be better determined.

Escapement enumeration at the Eshamy River weir ended on August 30. The sockeye salmon cumulative passage was below the escapement goal range. The Coghill District has moved to seine management for pink salmon.

Drift and set gill net harvest groups continue to follow an alternating schedule with respective period duration restrictions in the Main Bay Hatchery (MBH) Alternating Gear Zone. Coho salmon management began on Monday August 16 and the level of harvest from this first fishing period only supports a one period a week fishing schedule.

The recent 10-year average coho salmon harvest for the Copper River and Bering River districts is 218,000 fish and 61,000 coho salmon, respectively. The cumulative harvest to-date for the Copper River District is 132,500 coho salmon. The cumulative harvest to-date for the Bering River District is 37,900 coho salmon.

The 2021 sockeye salmon run to MBH is forecast to be 1.08 million fish. The historical harvest timing for these sockeye salmon is from June 1 – August 1. No harvest was reported in the Eshamy District this past week.

A glacial outburst flood that started two weeks ago, originating from Berg Lake in the Bering River District drainage complex, continues to impact the fishery with increased freshwater and debris influx into the district. Flood waters also continue to occlude many aerial survey index reaches in the district.

Prince William Sound Purse Seine

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

Prince William Sound (PWS) purse seine fishery had a final 168-hour period and closed for the season effective Thursday, September 16, at 8:01 am.

There has been no harvest reported in PWS purse fisheries since September 8.

A partial aerial survey of the Southeastern District was conducted on Saturday, September 11 and no salmon were found.

To date, approximately 62.34 million pink salmon (including cost recovery) have been harvested in PWS seine fisheries, marking the third-largest harvest of PWS pink salmon (odd-year stock) in the past decade, followed by 2013 and 2015, respectively.

Egg-take goals have been reached at all Valdez Fishery Development Association (VFDA) and Prince William Sound Aquaculture Association (PWSAC) facilities. This is the first time since 2015 that PWSAC has met all three of their egg take goals.

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

Bristol Bay

The 2021 Bristol Bay inshore sockeye salmon run is forecasted to be approximately 50.0 million fish. Based on the forecast, 36.4 million fish are potentially available for commercial inshore harvest.

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

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

• 2020 Bristol Bay Salmon Fisheries Outlook (PDF 538 kB)
• 2020 Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon Forecast (PDF 269 kB)

Togiak District

Last Updated: August 13th, 2021

The Statistical Week 33 summary is the final update for the Togiak District.

The Togiak District is open for the regular weekly schedule in Kulukak and out west. The Togiak River Section was extended to a 48-hour maximum until Sunday 9:00 a.m. Escapement enumeration projects are complete and the final escapement was 280,000 salmon, just over the top end of the escapement range (270,000 fish).

Effort is tailing off as sockeye salmon abundance wanes. There is still fishing going on, however coho salmon abundance is still low. Harvest is better than average at this point, with the total at 660,000 salmon. Things are winding down on an above average Togiak season.

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

Nushagak District

Last Update: August 13th, 2021

The Statistical Week 33 summary is the final update for the Togiak District.

All gears are fishing continuously district wide. There is very little effort left in the Nushagak District as the sockeye salmon run is essentially over. The district is switching to coho salmon management. Coho salmon fishing is slow with minimal effort; harvest is confidential. There are no enumeration projects for coho salmon, but the department will monitor catch and effort to make management decisions. The allocation period ended July 17 with the drift gillnet fleet at 80.6% of the harvest (74% target).

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

Naknek-Kvichak District

Last Update: July 30th, 2021

The Statistical Week 30 summary is the final update for the Naknek-Kvichak District.

The Naknek River tower ended operations on July 21 with a season total escapement of 2.8 million sockeye salmon. The Alagnak River tower cumulative escapement through July 21 was 2.9 million fish. The last day of counts will be July 28. The Kvichak River cumulative escapement through July 21 was 4.5 million fish. The last day of counts will be on July 26. All escapement goals have been met or exceeded. Cumulative harvest through June 21 was 8.6 million fish. Total run to the Naknek-Kvichak District is 18.8 million fish which is above the forecast of 17.0 million fish.

On July 20, the Bristol Bay total run broke the record of 63.0 million fish that was set in 2018.

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

Egegik District

Last Update: July 30th, 2021

The Statistical Week 31 summary is the final update for the Egegik District.

Cumulative escapement for the 2021 season is 1.8 million fish, which has achieved the established escapement goal. Total harvest to date is 7.9 million fish. The current total run is 9.8 million fish and appears to be slightly under the preseason forecast of 10.9 million fish. Commercial fishing is currently open until 9:00 a.m. Sunday, August 8.

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

Ugashik District

Last Update: July 30th, 2021

The Statistical Week 31 summary is the final update for the Ugashik District.

Cumulative escapement for the 2021 season is 2.8 million fish, which has exceeded the upper bound of the escapement goal of 1.4 million fish. The current total run is 7.8 million fish and is above the preseason forecast of 6.5 million fish. Commercial fishing is currently open until 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 9.

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

Upper Cook Inlet (UCI)

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The following commercial fisheries currently underway in Upper Cook Inlet (UCI):

• Northern District Set Gillnet fishery: Monday and Thursdays- 12-hour periods
• Western, Kustatan, and Kalgin Island Subdistrict Set Gillnet fisheries: Mondays and Thursdays – 12-hour periods
• Central District Drift Gillnet fishery: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays– 12-hour periods

Participation in all fisheries in winding down for the season. There has been no fishing effort recorded since September 7.

On July 27, UCI Commercial Fisheries staff estimated the total UCI sockeye salmon run through July 26 to be 2.7 million fish. The department projects the total UCI sockeye salmon run for 2021 to be 3.9 million fish. The estimated Kenai River sockeye salmon stock through July 26 is 1.4 million fish. The department projects the total Kenai River sockeye salmon run to be 2.1 million fish and will likely be 2 to 9 days late in run timing. The preseason forecast for the Kenai River sockeye salmon return was 2.33 million fish. With this inseason assessment, management of the Upper Subdistrict set gillnet and Central District drift gillnet commercial fisheries will change and fall under the regulations for run sizes less than 2.3 million Kenai River sockeye salmon. Based on this projected run size, the Kenai River sockeye salmon inriver goal range is 1.0 to 1.2 million fish.

The Northern District set gillnet fishery opened June 28. A total of 1,710 king salmon, 70,390 sockeye salmon, and 41,198 coho salmon have been harvested.

Total harvest for the Western Subdistrict season is 71 king salmon and 19,861 sockeye salmon.

In the Kustatan Subdistrict, a total of 9,900 sockeye and 62 king salmon have been harvested. In the Kalgin Island Subdistrict, a total of 50,221 sockeye and 403 king salmon have been harvested for the season.

The Upper Subdistrict set gillnet fishery opened in the Kasilof Section on June 22 for the season. The Kenai and East Foreland sections opened for the season on July 8. Due to low king salmon abundance and the closure of the inriver late-run king salmon fishery, the Upper Subdistrict set gillnet fishery was closed on July 21. The fishery closed for the season by regulation on August 15.

The drift fishery remains open in Drift Areas 3 and 4 on Mondays and Thursdays and in Chinitna Bay on Tuesday and Fridays. For the season, the combined drift harvest of 849,150 sockeye salmon was much less than the previous 10-year harvest, however participation remains lower than average.

The Kasilof River sonar began operations on June 15 and ended the season on August 16 after all fisheries closed on the east side. The final Kasilof River sockeye salmon passage estimate in the was 521,956 fish. The season total Kasilof River escapement falls well above the previous 10-year average of 389,000 fish passage and is the second highest escapement in the last 10 years. The Kenai River sonar became operational on July 1 and was finished for the season on August 24. The final sockeye salmon passage estimate in the Kenai River was 2,435,760 fish. The season end sockeye salmon escapement into the Kenai River was the highest since 1987. The Larson River weir began operations on July 8 and ended on August 25 with a cumulative sockeye salmon count of 21,987 fish. Judd Lake weir began operations on July 15 and ended on August 29. A total of 49,250 sockeye salmon were counted through Judd Lake for the 2021 season.

Please see the 2021 Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Fishing Outlook (PDF 589 kB) for more information on fishing strategies.

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

Lower Cook Inlet (LCI)

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

Cost recovery from saltwater of returning Trail Lakes Hatchery sockeye salmon in Resurrection Bay ended on Friday, June 18. Cost recovery from the Bear Creek weir ended in early July. Commercial common property purse seine harvest in Resurrection Bay began on Tuesday, June 22 and ended July 16. Portions of the Southern District are open to commercial purse seine and set gillnet salmon harvest. Set gillnet fishing periods in this area are 48 hours in length and begin at 6:00 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.

Effective Saturday, August 21, purse seine fishing periods in portions of the Outer and Southern districts increased from a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule of 16-hour openings from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., to a 7-day per week schedule of 16-hour fishing periods. These extended periods are ongoing. The commercial salmon season in Lower Cook Inlet for both seine and set gillnet gear will close for the 2021 season at midnight on September 30.

The weir at Delight Lake was installed on July 8 and was removed on August 6 by Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association staff. Through August 5, a total of 7,126 sockeye salmon were counted in the lake with 399 fish counted below the weir for a total of 7,525 fish. The weir-based goal for this system is 7,500-17,650 sockeye salmon. As of July 26, 15,550 sockeye salmon were counted at the Chenik Lake video monitoring station. The sustainable escapement goal range for this system is 2,900-13,700 fish. Salmon escapement in most rivers and streams in the Outer District is robust with nearly all sustainable escapement goals either attained or projected to be met. Video monitoring at the Paint River fish ladder in Kamishak Bay has been conducted in recent years. Through September 6, a total of 4,064 coho, 3 pink, and 1 chum salmon have been counted since monitoring began on July 14.

Participation levels for lower Cook Inlet commercial set gillnet and purse seine fisheries are anticipated to remain similar to recent years.

Purse seine fishing periods in portions of the Southern District began on June 14. Preliminary purse seine harvests through August 25 are as follows,

• From the Southern District, 14 permit holders harvested 73,795 sockeye salmon and 41,650 pink salmon with no harvest reported since August 4. Southern District purse seine harvest is comprised primarily of pink salmon and sockeye salmon returns to Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association release sites in Kachemak Bay. Harvest last year through this date was 68,698 sockeye salmon and 120,861 pink salmon.
• Harvest from the Kamishak District is 71,883 sockeye salmon, 62,598 pink salmon and 4,443 chum salmon with 5 permit holders reporting deliveries. Last year's Kamishak District sockeye salmon harvest remains confidential due to fewer than three permit holders reporting deliveries in that year.
• Outer District harvest is 6 million pink salmon and 20,334 chum salmon with 13 permit holders reporting deliveries. Harvest last year through this date was 1.6 million pink salmon, and 11,181 chum salmon.

The last commercial set gillnet delivery occurred on August 6. Total set gillnet harvest with 16 permit holders delivering is 231 Chinook, 13,004 sockeye, 981 coho, 3,461 pink, and 2,231 chum salmon. Of those 16 permit holders, five were dual permits. Last year's harvest for this gear was 405 Chinook, 12,463 sockeye, 2,680 coho, 35,133 pink, and 1,918 chum salmon.

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

Kodiak

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The following areas are open until 6:00 p.m. Saturday, September 18: The Outer Ayakulik Section of the Southwest Kodiak District, The Humpy-Deadman Section of the Alitak District, the Eastside Kodiak District, the Northeast Kodiak District, the Southeast Afognak, Raspberry Strait, Southwest Afognak, Northwest Afognak, Shuyak Island, Pauls Bay, Perenosa Bay, Northeast Afognak, and Duck Bay Sections of the Afognak District, the Mainland District, and the Anton Larsen Bay, Sharatin Bay, Kizhuyak Bay, Terror Bay, Inner Uganik Bay, Spiridon Bay, Zachar Bay, and Uyak Bay Sections of the Northwest Kodiak District.

The following areas are open until further notice: The Sturgeon, Halibut Bay and Outer Karluk Section of the Southwest Kodiak District; the Central and North Cape Sections of the Northwest Kodiak District; the Cape Alitak, Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections of the Alitak District; and the Izhut Bay and Outer Kitoi Bay Sections of the Afognak District.

The cumulative Karluk River early-run sockeye salmon escapement through July 15 was 128,373 fish, which was below the desired escapement range. The cumulative Karluk River late-run sockeye salmon escapement through September 14 (the day the weir was closed) is 379,611 fish, which was above the desired escapement range for this date.

In the Southwest Kodiak District, the Ayakulik River early-run sockeye salmon escapement through July 15 was 265,756 fish, which was within the desired escapement range. The Ayakulik River late-run sockeye salmon escapement through August 28 (the day the weir closed) is 118,418 fish, which was within the desired escapement range for this date.

In the Alitak District, the cumulative Upper Station early-run sockeye salmon escapement was 108,225 fish, which was above the upper bound of the early-run escapement goal (93,000 fish). The cumulative Upper Station late-run sockeye salmon escapement through September 14 (the day the weir was pulled) is 349,507 fish, which was above the upper bound of the late-run escapement goal (265,000 fish). The cumulative Frazer sockeye salmon escapement was 219,098 fish, which was above the desired escapement range. Sockeye salmon harvest in the areas managed based on Upper Station and Frazer sockeye salmon is above average.

There are currently 165 seine and 130 set gillnet permits fishing the Kodiak Area this season. Both of which are below average.

Approximately 3,223,570 sockeye salmon have been harvested through September 16 which is above average for this date and above forecast.

Approximately 26,185,185 pink salmon have been harvested through September 16 which is average and above the forecast.

Approximately 401,428 chum salmon and 292,822 coho salmon have been harvested through September 16 which are both below average.

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

North Peninsula

Last Update: September 10th, 2021

The Nelson Lagoon, Bear River, and Three Hills sections are open to commercial salmon fishing until further notice. The Ilnik Section was open from 6:00 a.m. Monday until 6:00 p.m. Friday with very little effort occurring in the section.

The Nelson Lagoon commercial coho salmon harvests were about 400 fish per day. Approximately 7-8 permit holders are fishing in Nelson Lagoon. The sockeye salmon catch in the Nelson Lagoon Section was 100,000 fish, well below the 10-year average.

Approximately 3,000 sockeye salmon are being caught per day in the Bear River, Three Hills, and Ilnik Sections.

The 2021 North Alaska Peninsula predicted harvest of 2.0 million sockeye salmon has been exceeded with 2.82 million fish harvested. Effort levels are decreasing as boats are calling it a season. There are still approximately 10-15 vessels fishing on the North Peninsula.

High winds and surf limited the participation in fisheries over the past week.

The Ilnik River weir was removed for the season on July 17 with over 69,000 sockeye salmon upriver and exceeding the escapement goal of 40,000-60,000 fish. High water and strong winds have hampered some counting this summer, but eventually water levels and tides cooperated. Approximately 52,600 sockeye salmon were enumerated at the Sandy River weir through July 23 with the season ending goal of 34,000-74,000 sockeye salmon met. The weir was pulled July 24. The Nelson River weir was removed on August 5; total escapement for the season was approximately 105,000 sockeye salmon, which meets the season ending escapement goal of 97,000-219,000 sockeye salmon. The Bear River weir was removed on August 25 with over 533,100 sockeye salmon enumerated for season. Approximately 387,000 fish passed the weir by July 31, exceeding the escapement goal of 176,000-293,000 fish. The sockeye salmon escapement since August 1 was 145,872 fish which met the late run escapement goal of 87,000-165,000 fish. The Chinook Salmon escapement goal of 2,400 fish at the Nelson River has been met through the weir with over 4,500 fished passed.

Coho salmon runs appear to be average and final surveys will be conducted on major coho salmon rivers shortly. Aerial surveys are being conducted on the Bear River, since the weir has been removed. Weekly surveys are being conducted on the Nelson and Ilnik Rivers where escapement objectives have been met.

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

South Peninsula

Last Update: September 3rd, 2021

Commercial salmon fishing in the South Alaska Peninsula is currently open until further notice in the following areas:

• For set gillnet and seine gear:
  • Unimak District
  • Southwestern District
  • South Central District
  • Shumagin Islands Section of the Southeastern District
• For drift gillnet gear:
  • Unimak District
  • Ikatan Bay Section of the Southwestern District

The above areas have been extended until further notice due to adequate escapement of local stocks.

The Southeastern District Mainland (SEDM) opened for 131 hours beginning at 9:00 a.m. Friday, August 27 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 1. The SEDM is closed per regulation for 36 hours and will re-open for an additional 35 hours beginning at 9:00 a.m. Friday, September 3 until 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 4. In September, management of the SEDM transitions to local coho salmon stocks, however late pink salmon and chum salmon escapement may be considered as well. Recent aerial surveys and harvest reports show adequate presence of coho salmon, as well as additional late pink salmon available in surplus to escapement.

The Bechevin Bay Section of the Northwestern District opened at 9:00 a.m. Friday, August 27 until further notice. Recent aerial surveys of this section show minimum escapement goals for this area have been met.

Aerial surveys have been flown in the streams of all South Alaska Peninsula districts. The escapement goal for the entire South Alaska Peninsula Area is 1.75 to 4 million pink salmon and 330,400 to 660,800 chum salmon. To date approximately 2.3 million pink salmon have been observed in South Alaska Peninsula streams, exceeding the lower end of the escapement goal. Also, approximately 350,000 chum salmon have been observed in South Alaska Peninsula streams, exceeding the minimum escapement goal for the entire South Alaska Peninsula.

There is one salmon enumeration weir operated in the South Alaska Peninsula Management Area, the Orzinski Weir. The weir was dismantled on August 5, an estimated 21,839 sockeye salmon passed the weir in 2021, exceeding the top end of the escapement goal of 20,000 sockeye salmon.

There is one management plan in the South Alaska Peninsula Management Area that has allocative ties to another area. The Southeastern District Mainland Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 09.360) is based off the Chignik Management Area (Area L) harvest. No commercial harvest in Chignik occurred during the 2021 allocation period, as of July 26 the allocation period has ended. The Southeastern District will now be managed on local pink, chum and coho salmon abundance.

Sockeye salmon harvest is well above the most recent 5- and 10-year averages, with 3,829,750 fish harvested through September 2 . The 10-year average sockeye salmon harvest as of September 2 is 2,057,843 fish and the 5-year average is 1,937,540 fish.

Pink salmon harvest of 10,184,660 fish is above the 10-year average of 8,047,914 fish and comparable to the 5-year average of 10,108,591 fish.

As of September 2, the chum salmon harvest of 1,680,791 fish is above all recent averages, the 10-year average is 909,870 fish and the 5-year average is 1,082,989 fish.

Chinook salmon and coho salmon catches are still relatively low compared to other species, Chinook salmon harvest for the South Peninsula stands at 11,250 fish and coho salmon harvest is 295,115 fish.

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

Chignik

Last Updated: September 3rd, 2021

Commercial salmon fishing in the Chignik Management Area closed on August 31. Additional harvest opportunity may occur during September if there is interest and permit holders have secured a market.

The final day of weir counts was August 16, at which time a total of 585,769 sockeye salmon had passed the weir, with a late run season cumulative of 321,154 sockeye salmon. The late run sockeye salmon sustainable escapement goal of 200,000 – 400,000 sockeye salmon was met. The August inriver run goal of 10,000 sockeye salmon (which is in addition to the sustainable escapement goal) was also met.

Escapements of pink and chum salmon into area streams peaked over the last two weeks of August. The area wide escapement goal for pink salmon is an index of 260,000 – 450,000 pink salmon observed in specific index streams. To date 461,000 pink salmon have been observed in area index streams. The area wide escapement goal for chum salmon is an index of 46,000 – 110,000 chum salmon observed in certain index streams. To date a total of 90,000 chum salmon have been observed in those index streams.

As of August 27, no processors remain in the Chignik Management Area to purchase commercially harvested salmon.

Sockeye salmon harvests have remained low throughout the season due to lack of participation, and a lack of harvest opportunity for the month of June and the majority of July due to the failure of the early run of Chignik sockeye salmon to develop. The late run of Chignik sockeye salmon has exceeded expectations, however few permit holders have remained in the area. It is not appropriate to compare sockeye salmon harvest this year to recent averages due to the low participation and lack of harvest opportunity in June and much of July.

Preliminary estimates of pink salmon harvests total roughly 1.25 million fish so far this season, comparable to the historical 10-year average of 1.4 million fish. Due to the low number of permit holders participating in the fishery, catch per unit of effort is high for those who attempted to harvest pink salmon. The 10-year historical average for permits participating in the commercial salmon fishery in the Chignik Management Area is 61 fish. Between 15 and 20 permit holders participated on a daily basis during the peak of the commercial salmon fishery in Chignik this season.

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

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

Yukon River

Last Updated: September 17th, 2021

The 2021 Yukon River fall chum and coho salmon runs were the lowest on record. The fall chum salmon run was approximately 99,000 fish compared to a historical run size of 868,000 fish based on median timing. The coho salmon run size was approximately 37,000 fish, compared to a historical average run index of 240,000 fish. The fall chum salmon run size did not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow any subsistence, personal use, sport or commercial fishing. The threshold to allow for any commercial fishing for fall chum salmon is 550,000 fish. Therefore, commercial fishing remained closed for the fall season. The drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000–600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals, and Canadian treaty objectives are not expected to be achieved. Assessment projects in the Lower Yukon are complete, while Upper Yukon projects are ongoing through September and October.

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

Kuskokwim River

Last Updated: September 3rd, 2021

The Kuskokwim has a single registered commercial fishery buyer for the 2021 season. The Kuskokwim River has a single registered catcher/seller who is also in possession of an interim use CFEC registration permitting the use of dipnets in the Kuskokwim River. On July 1, the first commercial fishing period occurred in the W-4 and W-5 districts. Regularly scheduled fishing periods have occurred in W-4 and W-5 since July 1. On July 15, the first fishing period occurred in district W-1 with dipnets.

The 2021 Kuskokwim River Chinook salmon forecast is for a range of 94,000–155,000 fish. The drainage-wide Chinook salmon escapement goal is 65,000–120,000 fish. Current assessment data indicates the run is coming in near the forecasted midpoint. Average to above average runs of sockeye and coho salmon are expected in 2021. The chum salmon run is currently the lowest on record. Both chum and sockeye salmon appear late. Coho salmon run abundance continues to build in the lower Kuskokwim River.

ADF&G operated five assessment projects in 2020 (3-weirs, sonar, and Bethel Test Fishery). The Bethel Test Fishery and Kuskokwim Sonar ended operations in August 24 and 26, respectively. Weir projects will end operations in late September.

As of August 26, Chinook salmon escapement at the George and Kogrukluk River weirs are within their respective escapement goals. Sockeye salmon escapement at the Kogrukluk weir is near the upper bound of the escapement goal and the chum salmon goal is not projected to be met. Coho salmon escapements are building at weirs.

Commercial fishery data is confidential. Subsistence fishing closures for Chinook salmon went into effect on June 1 in the lower Kuskokwim River and proceeded upstream through the subsistence fishing sections until June 11. There have been 10 subsistence fishing periods in the lower Kuskokwim River since June 1 and July 31. The middle and upper Kuskokwim River opened to subsistence fishing on June 19. The lower Kuskokwim River opened to subsistence fishing on July 31.

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

Norton Sound

Last Updated: September 10th, 2021

The statistical week 37 summary will be the final update for Norton Sound.

Commercial salmon harvest in 2021 was over 5 times higher than the 2020 harvest, likely due to the increased number of buyers for pink salmon. The total pink salmon harvest was the 5th highest on record. Coho salmon harvest in 2021 was less than half of the 2020 harvest. Extremely high water throughout the season resulted in limited escapement counting this year. One of two king salmon escapement goals was likely reached. One of five chum salmon goals was reached. All three pink salmon goals were reached. Neither of the two sockeye salmon goals were achieved.

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

Kotzebue

Last Updated: September 10th, 2021

The statistical week 37 summary will be the final update for Kotzebue.

Total harvest of commercial chum salmon was 96,500 fish. Flooding throughout the season created problems and the test net project on the Kobuk River was not effective at catching salmon this year.

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