ADF&G Salmon Forecasts for 2013
The 2013 estimated forecast for the South Alaska Peninsula
pink salmon total run is 7.3 million fish, and the harvest is expected to be
5.7 million, which is considered an average harvest by ADF&G. A harvest of less than 5 million pink salmon for
the region is considered weak or poor and 5 to 7. 2 million harvest is considered
average. More than 7.2 million is a
strong harvest and a harvest of greater than 9.3 million pinks is described as
excellent.
The 2013 Nelson River estimated total run of sockeye is
forecast at 327,000. That’s below the 10-year average of 462,000, but above the
2012 total run result of approximately 220,000 sockeye. The Bear Lake late run sockeye is estimated
at a total run of 328,000 for 2013. Again, that is below the 10-year average of
451,000, but well above the 2012 run of 116,000.
The total estimated run for Bristol Bay Sockeye is
26,030,000 fish, which would result in a total commercial harvest of 17.53
million sockeye; 16.59 million in Bristol Bay and 940,000 in the South
Peninsula area.
Chignik has a total estimated run 3,814,000 sockeye, 2.767 million
in the early Black Lake run and 1.047 in the late Chignik Lake run. A total commercial harvest for Chignik
sockeye expected to be 3.214 million; 2.581 million for Chignik, 452,000 for
the Cape Ignik Section and 181,000 in the Southeastern District Mainland area.
Other forecasts for salmon around the state are relatively stable,
the A-Y-K fall chum salmon forecast estimated total run is 1,043,000 and the Copper
River Sockeye total run is expected to be 1.84 million. Upper Cook Inlet sockeye total run is
forecast to be 6.7 million. Pink runs
look healthy statewide: Prince William Sound total pink run looks to be 6.2
million, the total Kodiak Management Area pink harvest is expected at 17
million, and the Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest is expected to be
excellent in 2013 at 54 million fish.
Information compiled from:
ADFG Special
Publication 13-03, February 2013, Run Forecasts and Harvest Projections for
2013 Alaska Salmon Fisheries and Review of the 2012 Season;
