1999 

 OUR LIVING OCEANS 



Landings 

 (X 1.000 t) 



Landings 

 (X 1 ,000,000 



individuals) 



- 10 



Landings by total individuals 



Landings by total weight 



Figure 13-6 



Alaska commercial landings 

 of coho salmon, 1970-97, by 

 metric tons (t) and indi- 

 vidual fish. 



Year 



Coho Salmon 



Commercial catches of coho salmon across 

 Alaska in 1997, totaling 2,90(),00() fish, were less 

 than half the recent 5-year average harvest levels 

 (Savikko, 1997) and similar to record low catches 

 in the 1970's (Figure 1 3-6). This decline was most 

 noticeable in the southeast region where marine 

 ■survivals From both wild and hatchery smolts 

 dropped significantly from recent trends. As re- 

 cently as 1995 over 3, .^00, 000 coho salmon were 

 caught in the southeastern fisheries alone. 



Coho salmon in Alaska are caught commer- 

 cially by purse seines in the southeast and 

 southcentral regions, by drift or set gillnets in all 

 regions, and by hand and power troll gear in the 

 southeast. Coho, along with sockeye and chinook 

 salmon are popular target species in recreational 

 fisheries throughout the state. 



hand and power troll gear in the southeast. In ad- 

 dition, fishwheels harvest chinook salmon in west- 

 ern Alaska rivers for commercial sales and for sub- 

 sistence uses. 



In general, chinook salmon are the first spe- 

 cies each year to begin spawning migrations into 

 Alaska rivers, Only in a few Bristol Bay and west- 

 ern Alaska rivers are fisheries permitted to directly 

 target these early returning runs of chinook 

 salmon. However, in fisheries targeted on other 

 salmon, chinook salmon are often taken inciden- 

 tally. Sockeye salmon migrations into many larger 

 river systems begin during the later portion of 

 chinook salmon runs into the same rivers. In these 

 cases, for example in certain Cxjok Inlet, and south- 

 eastern rivers, and in the Chopper River near 

 Cordova, fisheries that target sockeye salmon may 

 catch significant numbers of chinook salmon. 

 These fisheries may have a c]uota limiting the catch 

 of chinook salmon. 



I he chinook sahiiun li.itxest in smiiheastern 

 Alaska, where significant numbers of non-Alaska 

 origin fish are caught, is normally regulated by a 

 quota under provisions of the Pacific Salmon 

 Treaty. This annual harvest quota is then reallo- 

 cated among various fisheries by the Alaska Board 

 of Fisheries, a regulatory body empowered to ar- 

 bitrate which user group gets to catch how many 

 salmon. For example, the troll fishery (both hand 

 and power troll), which historically has been highly 

 dependent on chinook salmon, is allocated the 

 largest portion of the southeastern chinook salmon 

 quota. Net fisheries in the region (purse seine and 

 drift gillnet) primarily target pink, chum, or sock- 

 eye salmon but are provided a c]uota to take a lim- 

 ited catch of chinook salmon in pursuit of other 

 target species. The remaining allowable quota is 

 allocated to guided and unguided sport fisheries. 



Chinook Salmon 



ISSUES 



The annual commercial harvest of chinook 

 salmon in Alaska has averaged 500,000-700,000 

 fish in recent years (Figure 13-7). The statewide 

 10-year (1988-97) average annual harvest was 

 627,000 fish (Savikko, 1997). Chinook salmon, 

 like coho salmon, are commercially harvested by 

 purse seines in the southeast and southcentral re- 

 gions, by drift or set gillnets in all regions, and by 



Value of Alaska Salmon 



Although commercial harvests of Alaska 

 salmon have been at high levels in recent years, 

 the value ot the catch has declined significantly 

 due to a number ot complex worldwide factors. 

 Value of the record 1 995 statewide catch (451 ,000 

 metric tons (t)) was $466, 01)0, (100 (ex-vessel), but 



1 62 



