Alaska Salmon Harvest Update 2

Salmon harvests throughout Alaska are well below expectation, with YTD statewide landings the smallest in at least 12 years. Although some areas have been late to open or are much lower than historical averages, recovery from early-season weakness can happen quickly as key fisheries come online. For example, a single strong week in Bristol Bay can produce multiples of the entire statewide May and June harvest.

Sockeye landings of about 370,000 fish are 85% lower than the same time in 2019 when more than 2.5 million fish had been harvested. PWS accounts for most production, in addition to Cook Inlet and Kodiak. All regions are slow against prior years with PWS down sharply.

Keta production is also significantly weaker from last year with the current harvest about 1.2 million fish lower than 2019. PWS is the main keta-producing region right now, in addition to Kodiak which is only 9% behind last year.

Pink harvest is well below 2018, but it may be too early to focus on this deficit. Chinook landings are about 55% lower YTD, due to slow PWS harvest. In most years, slowing PWS Chinook catch is offset by stronger Southeast and Bristol Bay harvest in the June/July timeframe.

The first openers of the season will occur this week in areas including Yakutat, Cook Inlet, Bristol Bay, and Norton Sound.

This weekly email is produced by McDowell Group on behalf of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Please let us know if you would like to be removed from the distribution list. These weekly updates can also be found here on the ASMI website.

Thanks,

Garrett Evridge
Economist

McDowell Group

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