Sockeye salmon. (Photo: NOAA/USFWS)
Better sockeye salmon season forecast in Alaska
UNITED STATES
Tuesday, April 26, 2016, 03:10 (GMT + 9)
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) forecast a total run of Copper River natural and enhanced sockeye salmon of 2.56 million and a total run estimate of 64,000 chinook salmon for the 2016 mid-May season. These expectations deem this year's season in terms of fish abundance in the 10th ranking for sockeye salmon and in the 12th for the chinook one, considering the last 20 years.
Taking into account the last 36 years and if the forecasts turn true, the sockeye run into the Copper River would be the 11th highest recorded since 2980.
ADF&G scientists point out that returns of Copper River sockeye salmon that entered the ocean beginning in 2008 have had excellent survival so far, but the significantly warmer North Pacific waters in 2015 will increase the uncertainty in the 2016 run projection. Las year, Copper River sockeye salmon returns were the smallest in the 1966–2015 time series, and the continued warm ocean temperatures may affect growth and survival of the salmon returning this year.
Sustainably harvested according to the strict guidelines set forth by the State of Alaska, the Copper River’s wild salmon—king, sockeye, and coho—are renowned worldwide for good reason.
“Our harbor is starting to buzz with the excitement and anticipation of the season’s launch. We are so proud of the fish we catch here in the Copper River and we love to share it with others. Our fishermen navigate their way through the salmon life cycle each summer…catching kings in May, sockeye in June and July and then coho in August and September,” stressed Christa Hoover, the Executive Director of the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association.
“We really encourage people to enjoy our fish fresh while it is in season. Even though it can be found frozen in the off-season, it’s worth grabbing a fork and digging in to Copper River salmon while it’s fresh off the boat. The flavor is incomparable. It’s the essence of summer,” the director pointed out.
Copper River salmon return to the region’s massive Delta each year from May to September, making the long journey up the steep icy glacial fed waters.
The small Copper River fleet is made up of about 540 independent fishermen who operate their small boats, carefully catching and bleeding each fish by hand, ensuring that the highest quality wild salmon is sent to markets in a timely fashion.
Furthermore, the ADF&G also predicts that to Prince William Sound a total 110,000 sockeye salmon will return, which will turn it into the 14th largest run in 20 years, due to its abundance. For the pink salmon estimates amount to 3.8 million fish and for chum salmon it is 426,000 (15th and 17th positions in the last 20 years).
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