The pink salmon season is starting to hit its peak, but the numbers are looking below recent averages, according to Troy Thynes, area management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
“Going into the season our preseason forecast was for a harvest of 34 million, which is below the recent 10 year average of 38 million,” he says. “Currently our harvest estimate is right around 11 million.”
Pink salmon are the largest harvest in Southeast, and this year the strongest run is showing up south of Petersburg, with limited openings north of town. The majority of openings to the north have taken place on the coast of Baranof Island and Chichagof Island, in the Sitka management area.
Well over 200 seine
boats are active this season, with an estimated 250 taking part in an Aug. 2 opening and 287 boats for the latest opening on Aug. 6, according to a news release.
“Right now, it looks like the pink salmon harvest will come in well below the preseason forecast,” Thynes says.
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