COVID-19 has impacted Alaska fisheries recently, but for the most part, revenue losses came from lack of fish.
"pink salmon"
Bering Sea survey finds Yukon River chinook populations are low and staying closer to shore
Like chinook salmon, NOAA researchers observed chum salmon almost exclusively near Alaska’s shores.
For Southeast pink salmon, it’s back to the even-year blues
The Southeast harvests in both 2020 and 2018 were around 8 million fish — among some of the lowest in decades.
Petersburg steam whistle blast a sign of stronger pink salmon harvest
Fish and Game now predicts a total catch of 39 million by the end of the season, which would be an above-average harvest.
Southeast’s pink salmon catch could beat forecast
The region’s purse seine fleet netted nearly six million pinks in an opening in early August. That pushed the region’s total catch to around 20 million fish on the season.
Alaska seafood processors expect higher costs, possible market growth in 2021
Last year, processors spent about $70 million on costs related to the pandemic. This year it’s expected to be even more.
State data shows 2020 Southeast salmon harvest was among worst on record
Fish and Game doesn’t have an answer for the almost 60% drop in salmon harvest between 2019 and 2020.
Bristol Bay sockeye a high point in the state’s unpredictable salmon season
Bristol Bay’s run exceeded 50 million fish for the sixth year in a row — 46% above the 20-year average — but many other parts of the state were far below their forecasts.
After 2020’s dismal catch, next year’s Southeast pink salmon harvest could be close to average
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a harvest of 28 million pinks in the region next summer. This year’s catch wound up at 8.1 million pinks, roughly the same harvest as two years ago.
In Southeast, this year’s salmon harvest fell by more than half
Adjusted for inflation, the initial salmon fishery value for 2020 is the lowest since 2006.