2018 and 2020 Copper River and 2020 Prince William Sound Chinook, sockeye, and chum salmon fisheries
Disaster Relief Distribution Status

On January 21, 2022, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce made a disaster determination for the 2018 and 2020 Copper River and 2020 Prince William Sound Chinook, sockeye and chem salmon fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in response to a March 8, 2021, request from Governor Dunleavy. On May 6, 2022, NOAA Fisheries allocated $34,326,265 to address losses to the affected management areas. The State of Alaska, in consultation with stakeholders and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, drafted a spend plan and forwarded the plan to Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), the administrator of the federal grant for the disaster funds. The application period began in November 2024, and distribution of direct payments to permit holders and processors was completed in July 2025. Crew member relief has not yet been finalized.

The spend plan allocated funds to help partially restore losses to fishery participants impacted by the 2018 and 2020 Upper Cook Inlet salmon fisheries disaster and for research. Research funds will be distributed to support run time modeling of sockeye salmon in the lower Copper River to improve fishery management as well as genetic stock identification projects.

Documents

2018 and 2020 Copper River and 2020 Prince William Sound Chinook, sockeye, and chum salmon disaster: