JUNEAU -The Alaska Department of Fish and Game today announced it has received word from technical advisers to the Pacific Salmon Commission that the 1997 preseason forecast for abundance of treaty chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska is nearly double similar forecasts of one year ago.

In a letter dated June 17, the Chinook Technical Committee (CTC), which is comprised of fisheries scientists from the United States and Canada, announced the 1997 preseason abundance index is 1.33. At this level, 277,182 treaty chinook salmon are initially available for harvest in the Southeast Alaska/Yakutat Commercial and Sport Fisheries for the 1997 season. The corresponding harvest level is in accordance with the scientific model agreed to under the Letter of Agreement signed in June 1996 by Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Northwest Tribes to manage chinook fisheries based on abundance.

The Divisions of Commercial Fisheries Management and Development and Sport Fish are analyzing the implications for their respective fisheries. News releases on harvest levels for those fisheries are forthcoming. In addition to using preseason forecasts, the department will carefully monitor both abundance and harvest levels during the fishing season and adjust fishing time accordingly.

The department is now waiting for an Incidental Take Permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service for the fisheries.

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