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.

Statewide Summary

Last updated: Friday, May 16, 2025

Area-specific fishery announcements, harvest, and escapement data can be found on the Commercial Fisheries homepage.

Inseason fish counts are posted on the Fish Count Data Search homepage.

Inseason harvest timing can be tracked here: Inseason Commercial Salmon Harvest Timing.

Southeast Alaska & Yakutat

Troll Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

A fourth Chinook salmon retention opened as a limited harvest fishery (LHF) from September 11 through September 20 to target approximately 5,400 treaty Chinook salmon remaining on the annual all-gear commercial fisheries allocation. A total of 15 fish were allocated to each troll permit holder, with no registration required for this fishery. Preliminary harvest reported on fish tickets indicate 6 permits have landed 24 Chinook in the LHF.

Preliminary fish ticket data reported through September 11 indicates a total of 571 troll permits have landed 55,700 Chinook salmon during the summer troll season. Harvest reported on fish tickets for other species include 882,100 coho and 458,800 chum salmon. Average prices are $8.19/lb for Chinook, $2.15/lb for coho and $0.70 /lb for chum salmon. Current average weights are 10.9 lb for Chinook, 5.4 lb for coho, and 6.7 lb for chum salmon. Chinook salmon average weight is above the 2024 average by 0.3 lb but below the 5-year average of 11.0 lb, while coho salmon average weight is below 2024 by 0.2 lb and above the 5-year average by 0.1 lb. Chum salmon average weight is below the 2024 and the 5-year average by 0.2 lb and 0.4 lb.

The current regional power troll coho salmon catch rate for this week (SW 37) is 77 coho/boat/day, with the highest catch rate in the Southern Outside area at 112/boat/day, followed by the Central Outside area at 90/boat/day, Central Inside area at 40/boat/day, and Southern Inside area at 31/boat/day.

Directed chum salmon fisheries in Sitka Sound/Deep Inlet, West Behm Canal/Neets Bay and Icy Strait are finished for the season. A total of 271,500 chum salmon have been reported from the directed troll fishery in Sitka Sound by 114 vessels at a rate of 338 fish/landing. Harvest reporting from Neets Bay indicates that 60 vessels took 174,100 chum salmon at a rate of 324 fish/landing. The District 14 fishery in Icy Strait reported a harvest of 4,900 chum salmon taken by 9 vessels from 23 landings, at a rate of 213 fish per landing.

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

Purse Seine Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Directed pink salmon common property purse seine fisheries closed on September 1 for the remainder of the 2025 season. Common property opportunity remains in select hatchery terminal harvest areas for coho and fall chum salmon. In addition, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will continue to monitor fall chum salmon runs to Cholmondeley Sound, Security Bay, Port Camden, Nakwasina Sound, Chaik Bay, and Excursion Inlet for additional opportunity.

The 2025 Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest forecast was predicted to be average with a point estimate of 29 million fish. Traditional common property purse seine openings directed at harvesting pink salmon began July 3 and concluded September 1. This year’s traditional common property purse seine harvest estimate is 19 million pink salmon, approximately 25.3 million less than the parent year harvest of 44.3 million pink salmon. The majority of the pink salmon harvest was from Northern Southeast, with District 13 harvesting 5.4 million pink salmon. The total southeast pink salmon harvest estimate, including harvest from the drift gillnet fishery and Annette Islands Reserve, is currently at 19.7 million fish. Pink salmon average weight was less than 3.3 pounds. Pink salmon escapement surveys are still being flown and escapements are being tabulated. Purse seine effort decreased from 2023 (210 permits) but was slightly higher than 2024 (197 permits) with 200 permits making landings.

Hatchery produced chum salmon runs were expected to be average to above average in 2025. With the exception of Deep and Crawfish Inlets, hatchery produced chum salmon runs have concluded. The estimated common property purse seine THA harvest is 1.5 million chum salmon, below the 2015–2024 average harvest of 2.1 million chum salmon.

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

Drift Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Friday, June 20, 2025

A detailed management plan for the 2025 season will be posted at:

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmon#management

There are 5 traditional drift gillnet fishing areas in SEAK: Tree Point and Portland Canal (District 1); Prince of Wales (District 6); Stikine (District 8); Taku/Snettisham (District 11); and Lynn Canal (District 15). In addition, drift gillnet fisheries occur in several terminal harvest areas (THA) adjacent to hatchery facilities and at remote release sites throughout the region. The Pacific Salmon Treaty PST directly influences management of Districts 1, 6, 8, and 11 drift gillnet fisheries (5 AAC 33.361).

The drift gillnet fishery primarily targets sockeye, pink, and chum salmon during the summer season and coho and chum salmon during the fall season. Directed commercial fisheries harvesting Stikine and Taku Rivers stocks of Chinook salmon began in 2005 after ceasing in the 1970s. District 8 was opened to directed fisheries on Stikine River Chinook salmon from 2005 through 2008, and limited fisheries occurred in 2012 and 2016. In District 11, directed fisheries on Taku River Chinook salmon occurred in 2005, 2006, and 2009, and two 12-hour openings occurred in 2012.

Traditional common property fisheries began on June 15. For details on various drift gillnet fisheries, see the following sections by gillnet area.

The ADF&G interactive map where districts, sections, closed waters as well as other features used in the management of commercial salmon fisheries can be viewed, has been updated with recent changes from the Alaska Board of Fisheries and descriptions of THAs have been added. This map is available on the ADF&G website at: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmon#maps. Geographic information system data used to make the map is also available for download at: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main.

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

Tree Point/Section 1-B

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery opened at 12:01 p.m., on Sunday, September 7, for a 4-day fishing period. In comparison to the 10-year average, the harvests of all salmon species were below average. The effort level of 22 vessels was below the 10-year average of 30 vessels. The estimated weekly harvest for statistical week 37 was 3,200 coho salmon, 150 pink salmon and 2,000 chum salmon. The Section 1-B drift gillnet fishery is now being managed based on fall coho salmon returns. For SW 38, the Section 1-B drift gillnet fishery will receive four days of fishing time, beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, September 14, 2025.

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: Friday, September 12, 2025

The Districts 6 and 8 gillnet fishery opened on September 7 for 3 days with management based on wild coho salmon abundance. The number of participants remained well below average at ~60% of the recent 10-year average. Harvest and catch per unit effort (CPUE) also remained below average again for both districts this week. The proportion of clipped fish last week continued its increasing trend, reaching approximately 35%, and is in line with historical timing. The preliminary harvest estimate for this week is 20 Chinook, 10 sockeye, 4,500 coho, 150 pink, and 2,900 chum salmon from 34 boats in District 6. The District 8 harvest includes 10 Chinook, 10 sockeye, 2,000 coho, 0 pink, and 200 chum salmon from 18 boats. With a continued weakness apparent in the wild coho salmon run and expected low effort, both districts will open for 3 days starting September 7.

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

Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Coho salmon harvest in the District 11 drift gillnet fishery took a sharp decline this week, and the estimated harvest of 1,600 fish was 34% of the recent 10-year average and catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 53% of average. Effort this week was 75% of average with an estimated 18 boats taking part in the opening.

Coho salmon catches appeared to be driven primarily by returning Douglas Island Pink and Chum hatchery coho again this week, and Coded Wire Tags recovered from the fishery were over 90% hatchery fish. The Taku River wild coho salmon terminal run estimate dropped again this week, and generated a projected terminal run estimate of 90,000 fish which is below the pre-season terminal run forecast of 121,000 fish and the 10-year average terminal run of 92,000 fish. The current inriver run estimate is 46,000 fish at 64% of the 10-year average run timing. The Taku River biological escapement goal (BEG) range is 50,000 to 90,000 coho salmon with a management objective of 70,000 fish.

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

Lynn Canal/District 15

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Gillnet fishing activity in District 15 began with a solid start during the initial 24-hour opening but declined noticeably by Tuesday. Although gale-force winds of up to 40 knots were forecasted earlier in the week, these conditions did not materialize until Wednesday.

Encouraged by early signs of above-average catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and a reduced fleet size, fishery managers authorized a 24-hour extension to improve harvest opportunities. However, only a limited number of vessels participated in the extended opening.

Fishing effort continued to decline this week, with just 38 boats participating— below the seasonal average of 53 vessels. Despite the lower effort, chum salmon harvests saw a significant increase, with an estimated 10,000 fish landed—127% of the weekly average. Coho catch rates improved slightly over previous weeks, though they remained below expectations. The estimated coho harvest of 6,000 fish represents 78% of the weekly average.

The Chilkoot Lake weir project has concluded for the season, with a final sockeye escapement estimate of 32,000 fish—below the escapement goal range of 38,000 to 86,000. This marks the first time the goal has not been met since 2009.

Meanwhile, the Chilkat Lake DIDSON project remains active and will continue operations through the second week of October. The current cumulative escapement estimate of over 101,000 sockeye salmon remains well within the established escapement goal range.

The opening of the Haines subsistence moose hunt on Monday (September 15) is expected to further reduce fishing effort during Statistical Week 38. The department will continue monitoring the abundance of wild coho and chum salmon through fishery performance data. Aerial surveys to assess chum and coho salmon escapements in the Chilkat River drainage will begin in October.

District 15 will open next week (SW 38) for three days, with the same areas open as in recent weeks.

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

Yakutat Area Set Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The East Alsek River, Alsek River, Akwe River, Dangerous River, Yakutat Bay, Manby Shore Outside and Manby Shore inside waters were open for this statistical week but were not fished. This participation in these systems matches recent trends.

The Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet set gillnet fishery opened on September 7, for 105-hours. A total of 49 permits harvested 14,434 coho, 38 pink and 1 chum salmon. Fleet participation was near average, and coho harvest was near average for this statistical week.

In the Yakataga District the Tsiu and Kaliakh Rivers are being fished this week and deliveries have not been completed yet for this week.

Escapement monitoring at the Situk River weir for sockeye and Chinook salmon started on June 1st and the weir was pulled on August 7th. Numbers have been verified, and model has been run for the days missed in June. Still have to run a model for the last three days of the season, but right now we are at 140,199 sockeye, 1,353 large Chinook, 644 medium Chinook and 759 small Chinook salmon have been enumerated at the weir.

The 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

Last updated: Friday, July 25, 2025

For the 2025 season, Terminal Harvest Area (THA) fisheries to harvest fish returning to Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) hatchery release sites will occur at Nakat Inlet, Carroll Inlet, Port Saint Nicholas, and Anita Bay. Fisheries to harvest fish returning to Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) hatchery release sites will occur at Southeast Cove, Thomas Bay, Hidden Falls, Crawfish Inlet, and Deep Inlet. Fisheries to harvest fish returning to Douglas Island Pink and Chum release sites will occur at Boat Harbor. THA fisheries may occur at other release sites depending on cost-recovery operations. THA fisheries are managed in accordance with regulatory management plans, stock of concern action plans, and in consultation with the hatchery operators. Details regarding the open fishing periods by gear type in each THA will be announced via commercial fishery advisory announcements.

For inseason updates see hatchery organization website for SSRAA at http://www.ssraa.org/; NSRAA at https://www.nsraa.org/ and DIPAC at https://www.dipac.net/.

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

Nakat Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The forecasted Nakat Inlet return is 516,000 summer chum, 6,000 fall chum, and 22,000 coho salmon. The Nakat Inlet THA will be open by regulation to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet gear from Sunday, June 1, through Monday, November 10, 2025. The current estimated harvest is 400,000 chum and 800 coho salmon.

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

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

Neets Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, August 01, 2025

The forecast for the Neets Bay return is 1,375,000 summer chum salmon and 98,000 coho salmon. There are no forecasted returns of fall chum or Chinook salmon this season. The Neets Bay THA opens to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Friday, June 27, 2025. The Neets Bay THA expands to Chin Point on July 1. Chinook salmon may not be retained in the Neets Bay THA this season. There will be no initial rotational fisheries between drift gillnet and purse seine in the Neets Bay THA to allow for the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) to conduct cost recovery fishing and for broodstock collection. If chum abundance exceeds cost recovery and broodstock needs, a rotational net fishery may open and would be announced later this summer. Neets Bay will close to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

For further information please refer to the April 15, 2025, ADF&G announcement for Neets Bay THA and updates on the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.

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

Kendrick Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, August 22, 2025

The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay is 1,431,000 summer chum salmon. The Kendrick Bay THA remained closed to the common property fishery on June 15, 2025, to allow SSRAA to conduct cost recovery operations. SSRAA harvested their cost recovery goal of 1.5 million pounds of chum salmon in Kendrick Bay THA, and it opened to common property fishing on July 10. The current estimated harvest is 335,000 chum salmon.

For further information please refer to the April 16, 2025, ADF&G announcement for the Kendrick Bay THA. Updates on SSRAA contribution can be found on their website at http://www.ssraa.org/.

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

Caroll Inlet THA

Last updated: Thursday, July 03, 2025

The forecasted return for Carroll Inlet is 11,100 Chinook salmon. The Carroll Inlet THA will be open to troll gear from Sunday, June 1, through Monday, June 30, 2025. The Carroll Inlet THA will be open in the waters of Carroll Inlet north of the latitude of 55°34.83′ N lat, approximately 1.3 nautical miles north of Nigelius Point, to the harvest of salmon by net gear groups from Sunday, June 1, through Saturday June 7, 2025. The entire THA will open to drift gillnet and purse seine concurrently Sunday, June 8 through noon, Thursday, June 12, 2025. The Carroll Inlet THA will open to a rotational fishery between purse seine and drift gillnet on Sunday, June 15, 2025. The 500-yard stream closure (5 AAC 39.290) will not be in effect in the Carroll Inlet THA. The Carroll Inlet THA will close to all gear groups on Monday, June 30, 2025. . The current estimated harvest is 2,600 Chinook salmon by purse seine gear and 1,100 Chinook salmon by drift gillnet gear.

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

Anita Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

SSRAA is forecasting total runs of 8,900 Chinook, 395,000 summer chum, and 13,600 coho salmon from releases at Anita Bay. A total of 7,900 Chinook, 158,000 summer chum, and 6,100 coho salmon are expected to be available for harvest in the THA. The total reported gillnet harvest to date is 4,500 Chinook, 55,000 chum, and 700 coho salmon. The seine harvest to date is 5,900 Chinook, 135,000 chum, and 100 coho salmon. Trolling efforts have harvested an additional 185 Chinook salmon. The Anita Bay common property fishery is governed as described in the District 7: Anita Bay Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.383). Further details of the 2025 season fishing schedule and open area within the Anita Bay THA can be found in an ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 16.

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: Friday, September 12, 2025

Deep Inlet THA reopened to all common property commercial fisheries on August 26. The purse seine fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, August 30. From August 31 through September 20, the purse seine fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Thursday, and Friday of each week.

The drift gillnet fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m, Friday, August 29. From August 31 through September 20, the drift gillnet fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each week.

Harvest from drift gillnet openings to date is approximately 2,100 Chinook salmon and 130,500 chum salmon. Harvest from seine openings to date is approximately 2,100 Chinook salmon and 467,000 chum salmon.

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

Hidden Falls THA

Last updated: Friday, July 11, 2025

The Hidden Falls THA has been closed to common property harvest since July 7 to aid in cost-recovery harvest. Depending on the progress of the cost recovery fishery, portions of the Hidden Falls THA may reopen to common property harvest later in the season. Harvest from the seine openings to date is 340 Chinook salmon and 316,000 chum salmon.

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

Crawfish Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

NSRAA expects a run of 454,000 chum salmon to the Crawfish Inlet remote release site. NSRAA plans on conducting a cost-recovery fishery this season in Crawfish Inlet. The number of chum salmon available for common property harvest will depend entirely on the progress of the cost-recovery fishery. No chum salmon are needed for broodstock in Crawfish Inlet.

The Crawfish Inlet THA closed to all common property fishing on July 27 to aid in cost recovery operations. To date there has been no recorded harvest within Crawfish Inlet THA.

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

Thomas Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

NSRAA is forecasting a total run of 379,000 chum salmon to the Thomas Bay THA. The reported harvest to date is confidential. A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound. Cost recovery efforts are not planned for 2025. The Thomas Bay THA closed to common property purse seine and troll fisheries on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Details of the 2025 Thomas Bay THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 16.

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

Southeast Cove THA

Last updated: Friday, July 25, 2025

NSRAA is forecasting a total run of 587,000 summer chum and 550 Chinook salmon to the Southeast Cove THA. The total reported harvest to date is confidential. The THA closed to all common property fisheries on July 6 for cost recovery operations and will remain closed until cost recovery has been completed. However, common property openings did occur this week due to the buildup of hatchery chum salmon within the THA. If closures or additional openings are warranted, they will be announced by advisory announcement. A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait. Details of the 2025 Southeast Cove THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 29.

In 2025, cost recovery will occur in the Southeast Cove THA beginning Monday, July 7.

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

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Central Region

Bristol Bay

Inseason Harvest Information

The 2025 Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run is forecasted to be approximately 51.4 million fish. Based on the forecast and using the mid-points of the lower or upper portion of escapement goal ranges, depending on forecasted run size, 34.8 million fish are potentially available for commercial inshore harvest. The department manages fisheries based on inseason information regarding abundance. The inseason management approach uses a suite of assessment tools to provide information on abundance in each district as each run develops. This information is then used by the department to determine fishing opportunity.

The commercial salmon season in Bristol Bay opens June 1 by regulation.

Bristol Bay Fisheries Collaborative (BBFC)

Togiak District

Last updated: Friday, August 15, 2025

The Togiak District commercial fishing has concluded for the season. Final escapement in the Togiak River is 315,000 sockeye salmon which is above the upper end of the escapement goal range. The crew did their last counts at 11:00 p.m. August 7. Harvest is 522,000 sockeye salmon for the season. The last buyer in Togiak ceased operations on Sunday August 10. That is a wrap for the 2025 season.

Nushagak District

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

The Nushagak District commercial fishing has concluded for the season. Harvest in the district is at 16.1 million, the 4th largest harvest for the Nushagak District ever, but harvest has slowed and fishermen are pulling boats and ending their seasons. The total sockeye salmon run now exceeds 22 million. The season is basically over and there are no indications of interest in fishing for coho salmon.

Nushagak River sockeye salmon escapement was 3.26 million, exceeding the 2.5 million upper end of the OEG range. Wood River sockeye salmon escapement is at 2.65 million and still within the 700,000 to 3 million OEG range. Igushik River sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the 400,000 upper end of the escapement goal range and the final total is 668,268 fish. Nushagak River king salmon escapement was 34,137 fish, which is below the escapement goal of 55,000-120,000.

Naknek-Kvichak District

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

The Naknek-Kvichak District commercial fishing has concluded for the season. The Naknek River final escapement was 1,042,152 sockeye salmon. The Alagnak River final escapement was 2,157,828 and the Kvichak River final escapement was 2,968,128. All sockeye salmon escapement goals have been met. Total harvest through July 27 was 11,729,828 salmon. Total harvest exceeded the forecast by 4 million fish.

Egegik District

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

The Egegik District commercial fishing has concluded for the season. The Egegik District cumulative harvest to date (7.5 million) is below the recent 5- and 10-year averages, but higher than the historical average. Egegik River escapement for the season was 1.4 million sockeye, which is the midpoint of its SEG. The counting tower ended operations on July 23rd. The total run to the district exceeded the preseason forecast by 2.5 million fish.

Ugashik District

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

The Ugashik District commercial fishing has concluded for the season. Ugashik District harvest to date (5.0 million) is well above the 5-year, 10-year, and historical averages. Ugashik River escapement for the season was 1.0 million sockeye, which is within the SEG. The counting tower ended operations on July 29th. The inseason run was below the preseason forecast of 6.7 million.

Copper River and PWS Drift Gillnet

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

This is the fourth week for Copper River and Bering River coho gillnet management. There were two 24-hour commercial drift gillnet openings on Monday, September 8 and Thursday, September 11.

The Miles Lake field camp was deployed on Wednesday, May 7. Sonar monitoring of Copper River sockeye and king salmon passage at the outlet of Mile Lake ended for the season on July 28. A season total of 895,515 salmon were enumerated through July 28 versus a cumulative management objective of 601,562 salmon. The last day of the season at the Coghill River weir was 7/27 and the season total cumulative sockeye salmon count was 82,019 fish versus a target escapement range of 19,994–74,883 for the date. The Eshamy River weir passed 7,443 sockeye salmon through 9/2 with a cumulative target of 11,597–24,978 fish for the date.

Based on the recent poor Chinook salmon production, a conservative management approach was implemented through early July. The drift gillnet gear group has exclusive access to the Port Chalmers Subdistrict chum salmon fishery in 2025.

This week there were two 24-hour openings, staying with the standard management strategy. Participation in the September 8 period was better than expected, with 287 deliveries in the Copper River and Bering River districts. Information on the September 11 opening is not yet available.

The 2025 Copper River District sockeye salmon commercial harvest forecast is 1.92 million fish, and the coho salmon commercial harvest 10-year average (2015–2024) is 182,000. The Copper River Chinook salmon total run forecast (36,000 fish) is 25% below the 10-year (2015–2024) average (48,000 fish). The 2025 sockeye salmon harvest forecast is 2.3 times the 10-year (2015–2024) average of 824,000 fish. The recent 10-year average (2015–2024) commercial harvests for the Bering River District are 11,100 sockeye and 52,300 coho salmon. The commercial fishery in Port Chalmers has a harvest forecast of 780,000 chum salmon. The 2025 sockeye salmon run to Main Bay Hatchery (MBH) is forecast to be 1.00 million fish. PWSAC anticipates utilizing 275,000 (27%) sockeye salmon for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 728,000 (73%) fish available for harvest. The chum salmon run to Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH) is forecast to be 1.45 million fish. PWSAC anticipates utilizing 948,000 (65%) chum salmon for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 502,000 (35%) fish available for harvest. PWSAC projects the 2025 run to WNH to be 6,000 coho salmon, requiring 2,400 fish for broodstock, with all remaining fish (3,600) available for harvest. The wild stock sockeye salmon commercial harvest 10-year average (2015–2025) in Unakwik Inlet is 7,600 fish.

The harvest of coho in the Copper River District for the period starting Monday, September 8 was 40,900 coho for a cumulative harvest of 124,000 fish. The harvest of coho in the Bering River District for the period starting Monday, September 8 was 12,400 coho for a cumulative harvest of 26,800 fish.

For the week ending September 6, the actual Copper River Delta survey count was 16,030 coho salmon versus an anticipated range of 21,447 – 44,904. High water and associated turbidity resulted in poor survey conditions in some index reaches. The Eyak Lake drainage, which historically represents approximately 22% of Copper River Delta coho salmon escapement indices, was largely unsurveyable.

For the week ending September 12, there were no survey flights as poor weather conditions resulted in turbid water and tenuous flying conditions.

The weather in Cordova changed with rain and high winds, however expected number of boats participating has remained higher than expected.

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

Prince William Sound Purse Seine

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

All seine districts were open for 12-hour purse seine periods from September 4 through September 12. Fishing effort has dropped off significantly, and fishermen should confirm their market before fishing.

The 2025 pink salmon total run forecast for PWS is 66.70 million fish, with a potential commercial harvest of 56.12 million. Chum salmon is expected to make up a smaller proportion of the purse seine harvest, and the forecast is composed of a forecasted AFK hatchery return of 210,000 fish and a wild stock forecast of 443,000 fish.

The total pink salmon harvest for the year is 36.2 million, below the 10-year, odd-year average of 63.9 million for this date.

The cumulative harvest in the Eastern District is 28.1 million pink salmon. From September 4 to 8 the harvest averaged 1,400 pink salmon and 7,700 coho salmon with 5 deliveries. No harvest was reported since September 8.

In the Northern District, harvest from September 4 to 8 averaged 49,000 pinks and 3 deliveries. The cumulative harvest in the district is 2.3 million pink salmon. No harvest was reported since September 8.

In the Northwestern District, no harvest has been reported since August 22.

In the Southwestern District, no harvest has been reported since August 30.

In the Montague District, no harvest has been reported since August 26.

In the Southeastern District, no harvest has been reported since August 18.

This past week, PWSAC reached their egg take goals at all of their pink salmon facilities.

Processors have quit purchasing purse seine-harvested fish, and the 2025 purse seine season will close on September 12.

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

Upper Cook Inlet

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

There are three commercial fisheries currently underway this week in Upper Cook Inlet (UCI). The last commercial salmon harvest report in UCI was on September 5th.

  1. Central District (Western, Kustatan and Kalgin Island subdistricts) Set Gillnet Fishery: Monday/Thursday –12-hour periods; 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  2. Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery: Monday/Thursday –12-hour periods; 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  3. Chinitna Bay Subdistrict Drift Gillnet Fishery: Tuesday/Friday –12-hour periods; 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Total harvest from the Central District (Western, Kustatan and Kalgin Island subdistricts) set gillnet commercial fishery is below average for sockeye salmon and significantly below average for king salmon. The cumulative harvest for the Central District set gillnet fishery is 82,811 sockeye and 17 king salmon. The 10-year average total harvest through September 11 is approximately 314 king salmon and 89,005 sockeye salmon. The 5-year average harvest is approximately 264 king salmon and 89,809 sockeye salmon.

The Central District drift gillnet fleet began fishing July 19th in State of Alaska waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of UCI. Total harvest from both drift gillnet commercial fisheries is significantly above average for sockeye salmon and significantly below average for king salmon. Cumulative harvest from both fisheries to date is 100 king salmon and 3,494,927 sockeye salmon. The 10-year average total harvest through September 11 is approximately 286 king salmon and 938,778 sockeye salmon. The 5-year average harvest is approximately 150 king salmon and 1,015,745 sockeye salmon.

The Chinitna Bay Subdistrict was opened on Friday, August 15th, to drift gillnet gear. Participation has been low in this fishery, the harvest information is confidential due to confidentiality rules (less than 3 vessels, deliveries, permit holders, or processors).

The Northern District set gillnet fishery was closed, by EO, for the 2025 commercial fishing season, due to coho salmon conservation.

In 2025, a run of approximately 6.9 million sockeye salmon is forecast to return to Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) with an estimate of 4.9 million available for harvest (commercial, sport, personal use, and subsistence).

The Kenai River sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 4.2 million fish. The 2025 Kenai River forecast is 302,400 (7.5%) fish more than the historical (1986–2024) average run of 3.9 million, but 968,000 (26%) fish more than the recent 10-year (2015–2024) average run of 3.2 million. For sockeye salmon runs 2.3–4.6 million fish, the Kenai River Late-Run Sockeye Salmon Management Plan (KRLSSMP) stipulates ADF&G manage to the SEG range of 750,000–1,300,000 and achieve an inriver goal of 1.1 to 1.4 million fish. The department will formally reassess the UCI sockeye salmon run after July 20.

The Kasilof River sockeye salmon run forecast is approximately 1.2 million fish. The 2025 forecast is 311,000 fish (29%) greater than the historical (1986– 2024) average run of 930,000 fish and 261,000 fish (24%) greater than the recent 10- year (2015–2023) average run of 978,000.

Approximately 404,000 and 105,000 sockeye salmon are forecast to return to the Susitna River and Fish Creek respectively in 2025. The 2025 Susitna River sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 22,600 fish (6%) below the historical (2002–2024) average run of 430,000 fish but approximately 29,500 fish (7.5%) greater the recent 10- year (2015–2024) average run of 380,000 fish. The 2025 Fish Creek sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 2,600 fish greater than the recent 10-year average run size (2.5%) of 102,400.

General Information

The UCI commercial fisheries information line will again be available by calling 262-9611. The most recent EO announcement is always available on the recorded message line and catch, escapement and test fishing information is included whenever possible. The same recording may be accessed at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareauci.main and clicking on the UCI Commercial Fisheries Information Recording player.

All EO announcements are also faxed or emailed to processors as quickly as possible and posted at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareauci.salmon. For very general information, we invite you to visit the Commercial Fisheries web page on the Internet at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingCommercial.main.

Please see the 2022 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

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

EasternDistrict

The waters of the Eastern District, including Aialik Bay closed to commercial salmon harvest on September 5.

Outer District

The waters of the Outer District closed to commercial salmon harvest on September 5.

Southern District

The waters of the Southern District closed to commercial purse seine salmon harvest on September 5. Portions of the Southern District described in 5AAC 21.330(b) remain open to commercial set gillnet salmon harvest until 10:00 PM on September 26 when the season closes by regulation. The most recent commercial set gillnet salmon delivery occurred in early August.

Kamishak District

The waters of the Kamishak District closed to commercial salmon harvest on September 5.

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

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Westward Region

Kodiak

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The current commercial salmon fishing period in the following areas is open until September 14, targeting local coho salmon across multiple Kodiak Districts:

  • The Southwest Afognak, Southeast Afognak, Raspberry Strait, Northwest Afognak, Northeast Afognak, Perenosa Bay, Pauls Bay, and Shuyak Island Sections of the Afognak District.
  • 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.
  • The Outer Ayakulik Section of the Southwest Kodiak District:
  • The Mainland District.

The current commercial salmon fishing period in the following areas is open until September 16, targeting various salmon species across multiple Kodiak Districts:

  • The Cape Alitak, Humpy-Deadman, Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections of the Alitak District: Commercial salmon fishing will focus on sockeye and coho salmon.
  • The Northeast Kodiak District and Eastside Kodiak District: Commercial salmon fishing will focus on local coho salmon.

The following hatchery areas are open to commercial salmon fishing until further notice:

  • The Outer Kitoi Bay, Duck Bay, and Izhut Bay Sections of the Afognak District.

In the Southwest Kodiak District, the cumulative Karluk River's sockeye salmon escapement through September 11 is 214,034 fish, which is below the target range for this date. The cumulative Karluk River late-run sockeye escapement is 149,565 fish.

In the Alitak District, the cumulative Upper Station sockeye salmon escapement through September 11 totals 243,411 fish, within with the target escapement range for this date. The cumulative Upper Station late-run sockeye salmon escapement is 162,325 fish.

So far this season 142 purse seine, 105 set gillnet, and 2 beach seine permit have participated in the Kodiak salmon fishery. 

As of September 11, approximately 1,523,810 sockeye salmon have been harvested in the Kodiak Area, which is below average. Approximately 34 million pink salmon have been harvested, which is above average. Approximately 744,000 chum salmon have been harvested in the Kodiak Area, which is above average. Approximately 319,000 coho salmon have been harvested in the Kodiak Area, which is above average.

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

North Peninsula

Last updated: Friday, August 29, 2025

The commercial fishing season has concluded on the North Peninsula as processors stopped buying on August 24. Fishing periods will remain open if there is further interest. Harvest in Nelson Lagoon Section is complete for the 2025 season. The total harvest in Nelson Lagoon stands at 226,000 sockeye. The OPH Section is closed by regulation for the rest of the 2025 season. The cumulative harvest is 416k sockeye, below the 10-year average of approximately 590,000 fish. The last reported harvests within the Bear River, Three Hills, and Ilnik Sections occurred on August 24. Overall, the harvest in these sections is significantly below the average for this date, with 489,000 fish, compared to the ten-year average of approximately 1.79 million fish.

The Bear River weir was removed on August 24. The early run sockeye escapement reached 212,000, meeting the escapement goal of 176,000 to 293,000. The late run sockeye escapement was 107,401, also meeting the goal of 87,000 to 165,000. Both runs were weak and below average, with the cumulative Bear River sockeye escapement at 319,000, which is below the ten-year average of 532,000 fish. Aerial surveys will continue into September to monitor sockeye escapement post weir.

The Ilnik River weir was removed on July 21, and the season-ending escapement at the weir was below average, with only 40,810 sockeye passing. This escapement is just above the lower-bound escapement goal of 40,000 sockeye and far below the ten-year average of 106,000 fish for this date. The 2025 Ilnik run is the second lowest since 1995 (30 years), when Ocean River flows into Ilnik River.

The Nelson River weir was removed on July 20, and the season-ending escapement at the weir was 525,224 sockeye, surpassing the ten-year average of 224,000 fish for this date. The 2025 Nelson River sockeye return was strong and arrived approximately seven days early, with the upper bound of the escapement goal (219,000) exceeded on July 1. The 2025 sockeye return marks the second-largest sockeye return to the Nelson River in the last 20 years. Aerial surveys will be conducted on the Nelson River weir through the first week of August to track the strong tail of the Nelson River sockeye run.

Due to budget constraints, the Sandy River weir was not operational for the 2025 season.

Coho surveys are currently ongoing. Commercial harvests and aerial surveys have indicated an above average coho return to Northern District systems.

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

South Peninsula

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Commercial salmon fishing in the South Alaska Peninsula concluded on September 5 for the remainder of the season. Pink salmon escapement appears to be slightly earlier than previous odd years. We have observed approximately 4.36 million pink salmon, which is above our escapement goal of 1.75 million to 4 million pink salmon. We have also estimated from aerial surveys approximately 528,400 chum salmon, which is within the South Alaska Peninsula escapement goal of 330,400 to 660,800 fish.

Sockeye salmon harvest of 1,737,544 is below the recent 5-year average of 2,611,575 fish and the 10-year average of 2,489,353 fish.

Pink salmon harvest of 14,623,422 fish is below the recent 10-odd year average of 18,398,463 fish.

Chum salmon harvest of 1,271,801 fish is above the recent 5-year average of 1,132,584 fish and the 10-year average of 1,086,058 fish.

Chinook salmon harvest of 13,589 is below the recent 10-year average of 18,070 fish.

Coho salmon harvest of 209,678 is below the recent 10-year average of 239,646 fish.

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

Chignik

Last updated: Friday, September 05, 2025

The commercial fishing season concluded in Chignik on August 30 as processors stopped buying.

The first commercial opening started on June 20th. The Chignik Bay District was restricted to two 24-hour periods per week for the month of July. The Eastern, Central, Western, and Perryville Districts have were open throughout the entirety of July. The Chignik Bay and Central Districts were open each Monday through Friday for the month of August. The Eastern, Central, and Western Districts are currently open until further notice, though no commercial fishing is taking place after processors ceased operations on August 31.

The Chignik weir was operational May 27 through August 28. Through August 28, 1,007,247 sockeye salmon passed through the weir. Of that, an estimate of 478,870 are early run and 528,377 are late run. The early run has surpassed its optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 300,000 – 400,000 fish, and the late run has surpassed its OEG of 240,000 – 360,000. In addition to sockeye salmon, 1,391 Chinook, 260,769 pink, and 54 chum salmon passed through the weir. August 28 was the last day of operation of the Chignik weir, with weir take out beginning August 29. Post weir estimates of sockeye will be provided in the fall. Chignik early run sockeye were on time and weak, though run strength was the highest it has been since 2018. Late run sockeye also seemed to be on time and are of average strength. Both sockeye runs were better than forecasted. The Chignik Chinook salmon run was weak but met its escapement goal of 1,300 – 2,700 fish. Pink escapement through the Chignik weir is the highest on record. Surveys of the Eastern, Central, Western, and Perryville showed healthy numbers of pink and chum salmon, with most systems being well above their escapement goals.

Participation was low this season, with approximately 36 of 94 permit holders participating throughout the season. Non-Confidential harvest so far is 1,698 Chinook, 830,566 sockeye, 38,760 coho, 1,607,232 pink, and 74,737 chum salmon. The majority of sockeye salmon harvest has occurred in the Chignik Bay District with 520,895 sockeye salmon harvest, and the majority of pink salmon harvest has occurred in the Western District with 884,944. While sockeye salmon harvest is lower than historical amounts, harvest is well above the average since the run crash of 2018.

Beginning July 1 additional restrictions focused on protection of Chinook salmon went into effect. Fishing in the Chignik Bay District was limited to 48 hours per week in order to protect Chinook Salmon throughout July. Additionally, if more than 1,000 Chinook salmon are caught in the CMA within a 48-hour period, the districts primarily responsible will be closed for one week. Regulation also prevents the Chignik Bay and Central Districts from being open between 10:00 p.m. Friday until 6:00 a.m. Monday beginning in August. Apart from these restrictions, small fleet size has caused continual extension of the fishery.

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.

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Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) Region

Yukon River

Last updated: Friday, July 18, 2025

No commercial salmon fishing is anticipated in either the summer or fall seasons of the Yukon River in 2025. As of 7/17/25, about 59,000 Chinook salmon and 335,000 summer chum salmon have passed the Pilot Station sonar project. Both runs are well below average and are not expected to meet escapement goals. The fall season started in the Lower Yukon Area on July 16, and Lower Yukon assessment projects began transitioning to fall season counts this week. The 2025 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 200,000 fish, compared to the historic average of 950,000 fish and it is unlikely that any of the fall chum salmon escapement goals will be met. The 2025 coho salmon run is also anticipated to be below the average run of 216,000 fish, as the parent year escapement (2021) of 46,000 fish was a record low.

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

Kuskokwim River

Last updated: Friday, September 05, 2025

The commercial fishing season concluded in the Kuskokwim Management Area. There were no commercial salmon processors in the Kuskokwim River this week and fishermen needed to ensure they had a market prior fishing. Commercial fishery data is confidential due to low participation.

The 2025 Kuskokwim River Chinook salmon forecast was for a range of 136,000–217,000 fish. The drainage-wide Chinook salmon escapement goal is 65,000–120,000 fish. This year’s preliminary sonar passage estimates are 120,000 Chinook salmon, 158,000 chum salmon and 920,000 sockeye salmon. These numbers do not include the subsistence harvest below the sonar, which will be enumerated during the Subsistence Harvest Survey. The sonar assessment of the coho salmon run is currently 380,000 fish. Escapement goals are likely to be met.

In state waters, regulatory subsistence fishing closures for Chinook salmon went into effect on June 9, 2024 in the Kuskokwim River drainage above Aniak. The Upper Kuskokwim River opened to subsistence fishing on June 12, 2024. The Lower Kuskokwim River opened to unrestricted subsistence fishing on August 7, 2024.

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

Norton Sound

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The Norton Sound District commercial salmon fishing season has concluded. The first fishing period occurred on 6/24 in Subdistricts 1-3 and the final fishing period occurred on 9/7 in Subdistricts 5-6. The cumulative harvest was 653 sockeye, 6,005 chum, 52 pink, and 31,065 coho salmon. No king salmon were sold in 2025. The majority of the chum salmon harvest came from northern Norton Sound and most coho salmon were harvested in southern Norton Sound. Escapement goals for chum and pink salmon were not met in Norton Sound in 2025, and aerial surveys for coho salmon escapement are ongoing.

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

Kotzebue

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Kotzebue Sound commercial salmon fishing has concluded for the season. The fishery was opened by regulation on July 10 and the last scheduled commercial fishery was conducted on August 27. A total of 33 commercial permits fished during 24 scheduled commercial salmon periods for a total chum salmon harvest of 34,518 fish, falling short of the preseason harvest forecast of 50,000–150,000 fish.

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

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