Everybody's feeling the pain, finaddict-- the math below supports a 34% hit on quota--
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ADF&G Announces 2013 Southeast Alaska Chinook Salmon Harvest Quota
(Juneau) – Under provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announces that the preseason Chinook salmon all-gear harvest quota for Southeast Alaska in 2013 is 176,000 fish. This year’s quota is 90,000 fish lower than the 2012 allowable preseason Chinook all-gear harvest level of 266,800.
The annual all-gear quota for Southeast Alaska is determined by the Chinook Technical Committee of the Pacific Salmon Commission. The quota is based on the forecast of an aggregate abundance of Pacific Coast Chinook salmon stocks subject to management under the treaty. Most Chinook salmon produced in Alaska hatcheries may be harvested in addition to the annual treaty limit.
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I'm not so sure the decrease in ECVI and WCVI springs is purely a result of an Alaskan bushwack--- A number of years ago climatologists, oceanographers and fishery biologists were predicting that due to oceanographic temperature fluctuations, the next decade would see much larger chinook returns to California and Oregon at the expense of Alaska and Washington (and of course, BC)
California was awash in chinook last year. Prices went through the floorboards. And Alaska was singing the blues because nobody could get no 'nooky.
Don't take my word for it:
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September 14, 2012
How have low Chinook salmon returns affected Alaskans?
This year, many Alaskans in the Yukon, Kuskokwim and Cook Inlet regions are suffering from the effects of low returns of Chinook salmon. Fishery closures and restrictions necessary for conservation resulted in a great burden on Alaskans who rely on Chinook salmon for food and income. The State of Alaska recognizes the hardships that management restrictions have caused subsistence, sport, and commercial fishermen, as well as guides, local fish processors, and other local and regional businesses.
What areas of Alaska were affected by low Chinook returns?
Chinook salmon runs in a number of areas of the state fell well below expected levels. Strict fishery management actions were necessary in the efforts to meet escapement objectives and ensure sustained yield. Chinook salmon fisheries were curtailed and fisheries for other more abundant salmon species were limited in areas where their harvest could affect weakened Chinook runs.
Weak returns of Chinook salmon to the Yukon and Kuskokwim River resulted in extensive restrictive management actions in the subsistence and commercial fisheries. The commercial Chinook salmon fishery on the Yukon was closed and the subsistence fishery significantly restricted. On the Kuskokwim River, conservation of Chinook salmon required substantial restriction of commercial and subsistence fisheries for Chinook and other salmon species.
Emergency orders were issued restricting sport fisheries for Chinook salmon in Upper Cook Inlet fresh and salt waters. Commercial set gillnetting was closed for much of the season in the Kenai, Kasilof, and East Foreland sections of the Upper Subdistrict. In the Northern District, the commercial setnet fishery was restricted and in-river sport fisheries were tightly constrained to conserve Chinook salmon.
What are the economic impacts of low Chinook returns?
Commercial fishing for Chinook salmon on the Yukon and Kuskokwim, which is an important source of income in those regions, was closed. While the Chinook fishery on the Yukon generated an average annual harvest value of $1.5 million over the preceding ten years, this year the fishery was closed and the revenue from the fishery was $0. In order to conserve Chinook salmon, commercial harvest of available chum salmon was restricted on the Yukon. On the Kuskokwim, both chum and sockeye salmon harvests were restricted and the overall value generated by the commercial salmon fishery fell to less than 50% of the average seen in the preceding five years. Subsistence fisheries on both the Yukon and the Kuskokwim Rivers were restricted such that the amounts of Chinook necessary for subsistence may not have been met.
Poor returns of Chinook salmon to the Kenai River lead to closures of the Kenai River Chinook salmon sport fishery and the East side set gillnet commercial fishery. The $1.1 million exvessel value of the harvest in the set gillnet fishery was about 10% of the recent five-year average. The sport fishery harvest of Chinook salmon was 103 fish which was 99% below the recent five-year average. A study commissioned by ADF&G showed that sport angler expenditures for sport fishing in Cook Inlet totaled $732 million dollars in 2007.
Northern Cook Inlet area Chinook salmon runs were well below average leading to significant restriction of the Northern District set gillnet fishery and the in-river Chinook sport fisheries. Restriction of the sport and commercial fisheries had significant economic impact on commercial fishers, processors, guides, lodges and other businesses that depend on these fisheries.
What is causing low returns of Chinook salmon in Alaska?
Numerous physical and biological factors can influence production and survival of Chinook salmon. Changes in survival during the transition of Chinook salmon smolt from fresh water to salt water can significantly alter run strengths at local, regional, and statewide scales. Chinook salmon run strength can be significantly affected by environmental conditions in the saltwater rearing habitats. Colder ocean temperatures can affect both Chinook food source availability and distribution and the abundance of predators that feed on rearing salmon.
What is the Alaska Department of Fish and Game doing in response to low Chinook returns?
On July 20, Governor Parnell and Commissioner Campbell announced that a team of fisheries scientists are working on a comprehensive research plan to better understand Chinook salmon abundance and productivity and increase understanding behind this unexpected widespread decline. ADF&G members working on the gap analysis and research plan include Bob Clark, Eric Volk, Andrew Munro, Steve Fleischman, Jim Fall, Bill Templin, and Ed Jones. The science team will hold a Chinook salmon symposium on October 22 and 23 at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage that will include fishery experts and scientists.
Consistent with the state's constitutional and statutory mandate to manage renewable resources to provide sustained yield, ADF&G plans to work closely with the Alaska Board of Fisheries (Board) in the upcoming Board cycle to ensure that Chinook salmon are conserved while providing for opportunities on the more abundant species of salmon where possible.
ADF&G is engaged in efforts in collaboration with constituents to evaluate fishing gear and management strategies that conserve Chinook while allowing selective harvest of more abundant species.
What are the State of Alaska and Federal Government doing to help affected Alaskans?
Governor Parnell requested fishery disaster determinations from the Secretary of Commerce for:
Chinook fisheries on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers in response to dramatically depressed Chinook salmon runs that resulted in severe restriction of the commercial and subsistence fisheries in 2011 and 2012.
Governor Parnell's July 14, 2012 Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers Chinook fisheries disaster request. (LARGE PDF - 3MB)
Commercial fisheries in Cook Inlet affecting poor runs of Chinook salmon to the Kenai River and the streams of Upper Cook Inlet in 2012, which lead to extensive closures of commercial and sport fisheries. The requests for Cook Inlet included the Eastside commercial setnet fishery and the Northern District set net fishery and the in-river Chinook sport fisheries on the Kenai River and the streams of North Cook Inlet
Governor Parnell’s Aug. 16, 2012 Cook Inlet Area Chinook fisheries disaster request. (PDF 339 kB)
Chinook Fisheries Disaster Request Letter and Secretary of Commerce Response
Governor Parnell's Chinook fisheries disaster request letter (LARGE PDF - 3 MB)
On September 12, 2012, the Secretary of Commerce, after reviewing information from the State of Alaska, determined that a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster exists for three regions of the Alaska Chinook salmon fishery. The determination gives Congress the authority to appropriate funds for fishery disaster relief under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The fishery may also qualify for other forms of federal assistance.
Secretary of Commerce Chinook fishery disaster declaration letter (PDF 752 kB)
In both letters, from the Governor and Secretary of Commerce, hardship is acknowledged for commercial, sport, and subsistence users as a result of Chinook salmon fishery failures in certain areas of Alaska.
Governor Parnell's administration is actively working with the Alaska Congressional Delegation toward a Congressional appropriation for relief.
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