Fish Factor: A breakdown of last year's record breaking salmon catch numbers

Alaska’s salmon catch of 273 million salmon set a record last year – and so did the number of salmon returning home to state hatcheries.

The 2013 Fisheries Enhancement Report by the AK Dept. of Fish and Game shows that a return of 112 million hatchery reared salmon contributed 36 percent to the state’s total salmon harvest.

The breakdown by species was 63% for chum salmon, 38% for pinks, 23% for Chinook salmon, 22% for cohos and 5% of Alaska’s sockeye salmon catch can be credited to hatchery returns.

Unlike farmed fish, which are crammed into nets or pens until they’re ready for market, Alaska...