Southeast Alaska Chinook Fishery Mitigation Program
2021 Projects
In 2021, the State of Alaska received a combined grant of $4.04 million from the Department of Interior and the Department of Commerce administered by NOAA Fisheries. The ADF&G in coordination with the Stakeholder Panel conducted two separate solicitations for proposals. The first request for proposals was distributed to Southeast Alaska stakeholders on January 22, 2021 for Fish Marking, Tagging, and Evaluation projects with approximately $2 million in remaining funds from the fiscal year 2020 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant. The second request for proposals was distributed on February 16, 2021 to Southeast Alaska stakeholders soliciting project concepts for Salmon Enhancement and Hatchery Research projects with $4.06 million available.
Salmon Enhancement Projects
Five proposals were received for Salmon Enhancement projects totaling $3.91 million. The Stakeholder Panel recommended four of the projects for funding totaling $3.61 million. The following salmon enhancement related projects were approved for funding:
| Recipient | Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Sawmill Creek Hatchery Expansion: Phases III–V | $1,804,000 |
| Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Maintain Chinook Rearing at Whitman Lake Hatchery | $146,849 |
| Whitman Lake Rearing Capacity Increase: Phase I & II | $1,693,260 | |
| Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. | Chinook Hatchery Releases at Two Shore-Side Rearing Sites | $110,000 |
Hatchery Research Projects
Six Hatchery Research proposals were received with a total funding request of $808,059. The Stakeholder Panel recommended two projects for funding totaling $486,326:
| Recipient | Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Chatham Predator Study | $140,000 |
| Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Baseline Plankton Sampling Study | $146,326 |
Marking, Tagging, and Evaluation Projects
The State of Alaska received $4.7 million from the enacted FY20 Department of Interior federal budget administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 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. In 2021, approximately $2 million remained unallocated under this grant.
Four proposals were received for a total funding request of $1,696,600. Of those, the Stakeholder Panel recommended two projects for funding and recommended that up to $20,000 be allocated to ADF&G for administrative support for a total of $1,088,100. The following were approved for funding:
| Recipient | Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. | Snettisham Central Incubation Facility Water Chiller Upgrade | $550,000 |
| Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association | Chinook Mass Marking | $518,000 |
| Alaska Department of Fish and Game | Chinook Mitigation Program Administrative Support | $20,000 |