Southeast Alaska Chinook Fishery Mitigation Program
2020 Projects
In 2020, the State of Alaska received a grant of $1.39 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for hatchery enhancement and hatchery research projects and $4.7 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for hatchery salmon marking, tagging, and evaluation.
Salmon Enhancement Projects
ADF&G, in coordination with the Stakeholder Panel, solicited proposals from Southeast Alaska hatchery operators and stakeholders for Chinook and/or coho related enhancement project concepts. Proposals were evaluated based on their potential to put more fish in the water in the near term. An additional criterion was capital costs as NOAA funds support construction/infrastructure costs whereas Department of Interior funds do not. The Stakeholder Panel recommended four projects for federal funding under this grant during FY 2020 which were approved for funding by the ADF&G Commissioner. The overall objective of all four programs was to increase hatchery production in support of increased harvest opportunity to offset losses associated with harvest level reductions in the newly negotiated Treaty. The following salmon enhancement related projects were approved for funding for a total of $1,397,463:
| Recipient | Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Armstrong-Keta Inc. | Port Armstrong Hatchery Coho Production | $226,623 |
| Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Sawmill Creek Hatchery Expansion: Phase I | $451,600 |
| Sawmill Creek Hatchery Phase II | $204,240 | |
| Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Increased Hatchery Production at Whitman Lake and Neets Bay Hatcheries | $515,000 |
Marking, Tagging, and Evaluation Projects
The State of Alaska received $4.7 million from the enacted FY20 Department of Interior federal budget for implementation of Chinook salmon fishery mitigation pursuant to the Treaty. Per the authorization language in the federal bill, funds were to be used to expand the marking and tagging rate for Chinook salmon to reduce uncertainty in catch estimates of Alaska-origin hatchery fish and expand access to Alaska's hatchery production. The purchase and operation of automated tagging trailers and additional coded-wire tags is required to increase marking and tagging rates substantially; thus, this program can only be implemented in partnership with Southeast Alaska hatcheries. ADF&G notified the Stakeholder Panel and hatchery operators of the availability of these funds and two entities expressed interest. A package deal was subsequently negotiated with the supplier for the purchase of two automated tagging trailers. Additionally, the Stakeholder Panel recommended up to $10,000 be allocated to ADF&G to conduct project site visits for all mitigation grants to fulfill federal contractual obligations. A total of $2,690,328 was approved for these projects as follows:
| Recipient | Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. | Automated tagging trailer, associated equipment and supplies, and shipping | $1,300,000 |
| Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Automated tagging trailer, associated equipment and supplies, and shipping | $1,380,328 |
| Alaska Department of Fish and Game | Project site visits | $10,000 |