F/V Four Daughters, Trident Seafoods Salmon Tender – WELCOME HOME to the PNW!
Alaska Tenders & Fishermen, welcome back to your home port in the lower 48. Brought to you by Salty Dog Maritime Marketing: www.saltydogmaritimemarketing.com Check out our ship canal ‘Salty Dog Boat Spotting’ recent photo’s – your source for who’s home by now Mid. Aug. 2015, AK boats are trickling in from the run down hill from AK. Depending on where tenders were in Bristol Bay or SE AK they all were on the hook taking fish and all have a different story about this odd salmon season of the late salmon run.
Troll Fishery, Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
AK Troll Fishery, Regional power troll coho salmon catch rates for the current week (week 34) are 70 fish a day, which is slightly above the 20-year average of 65 fish a day. Salmon caught should have sustainability certification. The highest catch rates for week 34 are in the Southern Outside and Central Inside areas. Through August 19, the seasonal average weight of coho is 5.7 lbs, which is below the 2014 average of 5.9, but above the 5-year and 10-year averages. The average price is currently $.98/lb and the cumulative catch since July 1 is just over 741,000. The department issued a news release August 7 indicating the summer troll fishery will remain open until further notice, and that a mid-August coho conservation closure is not warranted. The department will continue to closely monitor abundance indicators as the season progresses and will take appropriate action should the run fail to develop as expected.
Trollers have been targeting chum salmon returning to the Medvejie hatchery and Deep Inlet THA in the Sitka Sound area during the month of August. For the current week, a total of 96 permits have targeted chum salmon in Eastern Channel/Sitka Sound, with the catch/day averaging 164 chum salmon, and a harvest from August 2–19 of 176,000 by 144 permits. The average weight for Sitka Sound chum salmon is 7.2 lbs, and fish tickets received to date indicate an average price of $0.55 per lb.
Trollers have also been targeting chum salmon returning to the Neets Bay hatchery in West Behm Canal. The current fish ticket report indicates a harvest of approximately 124,000 chum since early July. Effort has continued to decline in the area, with no landing reports available for the current week. Trollers had an average chum catch/landing of 125-150 for the summer run, at an average weight of 10.6 pounds and average price of $0.50.
F/V Four Daughters, AK Trident Tender, Canal Bridge Lift Now to the Old Trident Yard
Purse Seine Fishery: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Purse Seiner AK Fishery: Regional cumulative harvest estimates for purse seine gear as of August 20 are 24.7 million pink and 4.2 million chum salmon. During statistical week 34, fishing occurred on August 19–20. Estimated harvest for the fishing period on August 15–16 is 2.3 million salmon including 2.1 million pink and 134,000 chum salmon.
Seine effort during the August 15–16 fishing period included 45 boats each in Districts 2 and 4, 38 in Section 9-B, 35 each in District 3 and Deep Inlet THA, and 33 boats in Section 13-B. The largest harvests occurred in District 4 and Section 9-B each with 413,000 salmon harvested, District 3 with 357,000, Section 13-A with 333,000, and District 2 with 323,000 salmon harvested. Pink salmon harvest per boat was highest in Section 13-A with 17,100 fish, Admiralty Island shoreline with 16,900 fish, Section 9-B with 10,500, and District 3 with 9,700 fish per boat. Chum salmon harvest per boat was highest in Section 13-A with 1,300 fish, Deep Inlet Terminal Harvest Area (THA) with 1,200 fish, and District 2 with 700 fish per boat.
The week ending August 8 marks the normal midpoint of Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvests region-wide. Pink salmon catches in southern Southeast have been approximately half of the recent ten-year average and catches in northern Southeast have been just above the recent ten-year average. In recent weeks, pinksalmon sex ratios have been near normal for much of the region, but several northern districts have had consistently higher than average proportions of females.This indicates run timing to the region is likely normal to slightly early, and initial catch estimates for recent openings continue to decline, further indicating we are past the peak. The combined inseason forecast is for a total Southeast Alaska purse seine harvest of approximately 30–35 million pink salmon, which is well below the all gear preseason forecast point estimate of 58 million.
F/V Icy Bay, coming in hot from AK in the Seattle Ship Canal, here comes the flip around
Drift Gillnet Fishery: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below: Traditional Southeast area drift gillnet fisheries occur in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15.
Tree Point/Section 1-B – Recent Update:
Tree Point drift gillnet fishery was open for two days starting at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, August 16, 2015. The effort level of 21 boats was below the 10-year average of 29 vessels. The total harvest was below average for all species except chum salmon, but catch rates were above average for all species except pink salmon. The total estimate for weekly harvest is 600 sockeye, 1,000 coho, 8,000 pink, and 8,000 chum salmon. The Section 1-B drift gillnet fishery will no longer be managed according to the District One pink salmon management plan (5 AAC 33.360). It will now be managed based on the strength of returning wild stock coho and fall chum salmon. With below average effort, strong chum catches and average coho catch rates Tree Point will open for four days in statistical week 35, beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, August 23, 2015.
F/V Jean D, SE AK Seiner, F/V Icy Bay – just in from AK, at Fishermen’s Terminal PNW
Stikine and Prince of Wales/Districts 6 and 8: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Stikine & Prince of Wales: Management focus of the Districts 6 and 8 gillnet fishery for the opener on August 23 was based on pink salmon abundance. Both districts were opened to commercial gillnet fishing for a 72-hour period with a reported average number of participants.Pink salmon catch rates were below average in both districts. Pink salmon escapements in District 8 have met goal, while escapements to portions of District 6 are behind. Management emphasis will transition from pink salmon management to coho salmon abundance starting in September. Both districts will open for a 48-hour period beginning Sunday, August 23.
The most recent Stikine River sockeye run size estimate is 219,600 fish, above the 171,200 fish forecast. Final inseason estimates of Stikine River king salmon made on July 10 indicated a terminal run of 29,333 fish; resulting in an escapement within the goal range of 14,000 to 28,000 fish.
F/V Ocean Harvester, AK Boat, Welcome Home, Zipping around the canal this morning!
Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Taku-Snettisham: imminent possibility of a Speel Arm Special Harvest Area (SHA) opening to target enhanced sockeye salmon this week was not enough to substantially increase the District 11 fleet size. Approximately 40 boats were fishing with effort almost entirely concentrated on the newly opened areas inside Port Snettisham including the waters of the Speel Arm SHA. Fishing effort was less than consistent with many boats waiting out the weather or just waiting until more area was open inside the SHA.
The fishery was extended 24 hours for a total of four days of fishing this week and with a delayed start on Monday due to the Golden North Salmon Derby, the fishery wrapped up Friday at noon. There were two area extensions into the Speel Arm SHA during the week. The first extension allowed gillnetters about halfway up the arm starting Monday evening and later when it became evident that escapement of Speel Lake sockeye was near the lower end of the goal range, the entire SHA was opened (starting Thursday at noon). Early word from the grounds is that the fishing was decent during the beginning of the second area extension but not the 500 to 800 fish per set, but still somewhat decent.
The first inseason Taku River coho salmon inriver run projection of approximately 80,000 fish is well below the recent ten-year average and the preseason forecast. The strong coho salmon catch rates in the early part of the season in the district may not have been indicative of a strong fall run of silvers. This lack of correlation has certainly been observed in past seasons, but there is plenty of time for run strength to increase. With very few gillnetters fishing in Taku Inlet this opening, the interception of Taku River coho salmon was minimal.
District 11 will open for three days next week with the entire Speel Arm SHA opening concurrently with the remainder of the district. Once the Speel fever dies down it will be time to see about those silvers.
F/V Aquila, AK Boat, through the Ballard Locks Seattle Ship Canal, Salty Dog Boat Spotting
Lynn Canal/District 15: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Lynn Canal Harvests in week 34 included 11,300 sockeye, 300 coho, 14,500 pink and 2,000 chum salmon. Harvests of sockeye and pink salmon were above average and below average for coho and chum salmon. The estimated 40 boats that participated in the fishery was below average and much lower than recent weeks effort levels. The majority of the harvest occurred in Section 15-A within Chilkoot and Lutak Inlets.
The current Chilkoot Lake sockeye salmon weir count is approximately 59,000 fish. This count is near the recent 10-year average of 56,000 fish. Based on normal run timing, with approximately 76% of the escapement through the weir, final escapement is projected to be well within the escapement goal range of 38,000 to 86,000 fish. Fish wheel catches of sockeye salmon continue to be at record levels for this time. Stock compositions are indicating that Chilkat mainstem sockeye salmon are dominating the fish wheel catch and has been all season. The current escapement into Chilkat Lake of 46,000 fish is above the long-term historical average and near the short-term average. With approximately 40% of the run through the weir, projections for final escapement are within the escapement goal range of 70,000 to 150,000 fish. With escapement for Chilkoot Lake sockeye salmon escapement within goal ranges, and continued high Chilkat River fish wheel catches for sockeye salmon, Section 15-A will start with three days in all areas with the exception of an area north of Kochu Island within Chilkat Inlet. All of 15-C will also start for 3-days in the District to harvest Chilkat River and Chilkoot Lake sockeye salmon.
F/V Adventure, AK Bering Sea Crabber, Summer Salmon Tender Welcome Home Ya’ll
Yakutat Area Set Gillnet Fishery: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Yakutat AK, such a beautiful region in the Gulf of Alaska. This week marked a mid-summer lull in the commercial fisheries in Yakutat. The sockeye salmon run is coming to an end, and the coho salmon run is just beginning, and harvest numbers have remained low. Heavy rain and subsequent flooding events also affected the fisheries. In the East River, four permits harvested 250 sockeye salmon. Chum salmon are just beginning to show in small numbers in the East River fishery. In the Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet, 32 permits harvested 900 sockeye, 1,900 coho, and 2,700 pink salmon. In Yakutat Bay, four permits harvested very small numbers of sockeye and coho salmon and 1,000 pink salmon. Fewer than three permits fished the Alsek and Dangerous rivers and the Manby Shore fishery, and harvest information is confidential. The Yakataga District and the Akwe River were open, but not fished this week. The Tsiu River remains closed, but may open on short notice when some coho salmon escapement has been observed. The Italio River systems may open by emergency order when escapement counts have been observed. With the exception of the East River, which is still targeting sockeye salmon, most other fisheries in the Yakutat Area are now being managed for coho salmon.
The Situk River weir has been removed for the season. There have been 95,000 sockeye and 75,000 pink salmon that have passed through the Situk River weir, and the Biological Escapement Goal (BEG) for both species has been attained. Only 175 large Chinook salmon passed through the weir and the Chinook salmon BEG was not attained. The Canadian weir on the Klukshu River is now operational. The BEG for Chinook salmon has been attained. Over 2,000 sockeye salmon have now passed through the weir, and it is projected that the sockeye salmon BEG will also be attained. Flooding events have prevented any early coho salmon escapement surveys.
F/V Kirsten Marie, AK Salmon Tender, Seattle Ship Canal, Fishermen’s Terminal
Nakat Inlet: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Nakat Inlet: The forecasted return of Nakat Inlet summer chum salmon is 220,000 and for fall chum salmon is 75,000. Nakat Inlet opened to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet and troll gear on Monday, June 1, 2015. The current harvest for Nakat Inlet chum salmon is approximately 390,000, or 175% of the forecast, for all gear groups. The total includes 49,000 chum salmon harvested by purse seine gear and 126,000 chum salmon harvested by drift gillnet gear in the traditional fishery in addition to the 215,000 chum salmon harvested in the THA.
Neets Bay: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
Neets Bay forecasted return for summer chum salmon is 1,180,000, for fall chum salmon is 210,000, for Chinook salmon is 21,500, and for coho salmon is 340,000. Neets Bay opened to the harvest of salmon by Drift Gillnet and Purse Seine on Friday, May 1, and closed on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 for the purpose of cost recovery. The current harvest for Neets Bay salmon is approximately 1,758,000 chum salmon and 9,500 Chinook salmon. The total includes 263,000 chum salmon harvested by purse seine gear, 169,000 chum salmon harvested by drift gillnet gear and 115,000 chum salmon harvested by the troll fleet in the traditional fishery. Inside the Neets Bay THA, 20,000 chum salmon were harvested by gillnet gear, 375,000 chum salmon were harvested by purse seine gear, and 81,000 chum salmon were harvested by troll gear inside the Neets Bay THA. Additionally, 508,000 chum salmon have been harvested for cost-recovery and 227,000 secured for broodstock by Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA).
F/V Botany Bay, AK Tender, August, Welcome Home From Salmon Season to the PNW!
Prince William Sound Purse Seine: Late Aug. 2015 Reports Below:
The majority of Prince William Sound has been opened to daily commercial fishing periods since Sunday, August 9.
Aerial surveys throughout PWS indicate that wild pink salmon returns are greater than anticipated; chum salmon escapements are within anticipated ranges.
Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) began its cost recovery sales program on Tuesday, June 30, and reached its cost recovery goal on July 24. VFDA reports that pink salmon eggtakes are underway at Solomon Gulch Hatchery (SGH), and are 91% complete towards a final eggtake goal of 230 million eggs through August 20.
Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) began its pink salmon cost recovery program on July 25, and reached its cost recovery goal on August 10.
PWS purse seine fishery participation is decreasing by the day. It is estimated that fewer than 125 purse seine permit holders are currently participating in the PWS purse seine fishery.
The cumulative PWS pink salmon harvest through August 20 is estimated at 84.7 million CPF and 5 million cost recovery fish (VFDA and PWSAC), for a total of 89.7 million fish; this is a record cumulative total for the date.
Bristol Bay, ALASKA:
Summer Update: Most Fishing boats are back on dry dock: Late Aug. 2015 Update & Scuttle Butt of the season and fishery!
Nushagak
Fishing continuously but effort down to maybe one direct marketer. Escapement counting is done. A couple folks have expressed interest in direct marketing coho but so far there has only been one reported delivery. Fishing is essentially over for 2015. Harvest is 5.4 million sockeye salmon. Fishing is open but there is no market at this time. There is minimal interest in coho fishing. That is unlikely to change. This is the last report for the Nushagak District in 2015. The Bristol Bay season summary should be out by mid-September.
Last update for season August 21st.
Togiak
All sections followed regular weekly schedules this week. Final escapement to the Togiak River was 218,700 sockeye salmon, within the escapement goal range. Cumulative harvest is 350,000. Some fishing effort continues in Togiak Bay. Every day over the past week has been a record daily sockeye harvest, evidence of the latest run on record in Togiak. Coho salmon started to show up in catches this week. The total run will likely end up slightly below the preseason forecast of 610,000.
Egegik
In Egegik- through July 23-cumulative harvest is 8.2 million sockeye, cumulative escapement is 2.09 million sockeye and slightly above the escapement goal range. The commercial fishery is being managed to allow for the harvest of fish surplus to escapement needs. >
Last update for season July 24th.
Ugashik
In Ugashik- through July 23- cumulative harvest is 5.2 million sockeye, cumulative escapement is 1.3 million sockeye and within the escapement goal range. The commercial fishery is being managed to allow for harvest of fish surplus to escapement needs.
Last update for season July 24th.
Naknek-Kvichak
In the Naknek-Kvichak District, the last day of tower operations on the Naknek River was July 22. The final cumulative escapement was 1.92 million sockeye. The Kvichak River tower will operate through July 25. The cumulative escapement through July 23 was 7.23 million sockeye salmon. Escapements on both river systems are within their respective escapement goal ranges. Cumulative harvest was 15.7 million fish. Since July 17, both drift and set gillnet fishing has been open to continuous fishing and will remain so until 9:00 a.m. Monday, July 27 when the fall fishing schedule of 9:00 a.m. Mondays to 9:00 a.m. Fridays goes into effect. Last update for season July 24th.
GOD BLESS OUR FISHERMEN & FISHERWOMEN!
WELCOME HOME – AK Salmon Tenders & Fishermen
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