Deepaaaar
Well-Known Member
On a whim, I looked into the 2023 salmon harvest in AK and... well... am I the only one who finds this somewhat shocking?
From AK fish and game (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyfisherysalmon.bluesheetsummary):
Dated Sept. 1:
"Most salmon fisheries statewide are winding down. Total commercial salmon harvest to date is 186,000 Chinook (1,000 fish harvest last week), 17.9 million chum (1.3 million fish harvest last week), 1.5 million coho (300,000 fish harvest last week), 145.3 million pink (12.1 million fish harvest last week), and 49.9 million sockeye salmon (300,000 fish last week) for a total harvest through September 1 of 215 million salmon.
Statewide salmon harvest has exceeded the preseason forecast by 26 million fish.
Harvest to date is well above last year (2022 harvest: 156.6 million fish), due to strong chum and odd-year pink salmon catches. Harvest to date also exceeds 2021 (213 million fish) and the most recent 5-year average (158 million fish)."
Given what we know about chinook range, wouldn't it be likely that the other species originating in BC spend time in AK waters, too? I know I ought to be looking at long term trends to get an understanding, but it's wild to me that 150-220 million fish are removed from the ecosystem every year.
From AK fish and game (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyfisherysalmon.bluesheetsummary):
Dated Sept. 1:
"Most salmon fisheries statewide are winding down. Total commercial salmon harvest to date is 186,000 Chinook (1,000 fish harvest last week), 17.9 million chum (1.3 million fish harvest last week), 1.5 million coho (300,000 fish harvest last week), 145.3 million pink (12.1 million fish harvest last week), and 49.9 million sockeye salmon (300,000 fish last week) for a total harvest through September 1 of 215 million salmon.
Statewide salmon harvest has exceeded the preseason forecast by 26 million fish.
Harvest to date is well above last year (2022 harvest: 156.6 million fish), due to strong chum and odd-year pink salmon catches. Harvest to date also exceeds 2021 (213 million fish) and the most recent 5-year average (158 million fish)."
Given what we know about chinook range, wouldn't it be likely that the other species originating in BC spend time in AK waters, too? I know I ought to be looking at long term trends to get an understanding, but it's wild to me that 150-220 million fish are removed from the ecosystem every year.