Much bigger salmon harvest expected this year

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a statewide commercial harvest of 214.6 million salmon this year.

That would be more than double the 103.5 million fish taken last year.

Fewer salmon this year

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has posted its statewide salmon forecast, and it calls for a much smaller salmon harvest this year.

A reduced catch could be just what the doctor ordered with the processing sector struggling. Those troubles could crimp prices for fishermen, but a tighter supply of fish might help boost demand.

Forecasters expect a commercial catch of nearly 136 million fish across all species. That would be a big drop from the 2023 total of 232 million.

The statewide sockeye harvest is projected at 39.5 million fish, with 25 million coming from Bristol Bay. That compares to last year's take of 52 million sockeye statewide, with Bristol Bay accounting for 40.6 million.

The pink salmon forecast of 69 million fish is less than half of last year's catch of 155 million.

Alaska salmon forecast is out!

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a statewide commercial salmon harvest of 189.4 million fish this year.

That compares to last year's total of 163.2 million.

Here's the forecast.

Bigger salmon haul predicted

The 2021 salmon forecast is out, and a much larger catch is expected this year.

The state is projecting a statewide commercial harvest of more than 190 million salmon.

That compares to last year's tally of about 118 million.

A big year for salmon?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released its statewide salmon forecast, and the outlook is bright.

• The commercial harvest is projected at more than 213 million salmon, compared to last year's 115.7 million.

• This year's pink salmon harvest is projected at 137.8 million fish, more than triple last year's tally.

• The projected catch of nearly 29 million chum salmon "would be the largest on record for Alaska," the department says.

• The sockeye harvest is projected at 41.7 million, down from last year's 50.5 million.

The department also has announced a Southeast Alaska treaty troll quota of 101,300 Chinook salmon, which is 5,600 fish better than last year.

A big year for salmon?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is projecting a 2017 commercial salmon catch of more than 204 million fish.

That would far exceed the 113 million taken last year, when pink salmon runs disappointed in key areas.

Here's the statewide forecast.

Smaller salmon harvest expected this year

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a commercial catch of 161 million salmon, well below the 268 million taken last year.