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Preliminary official gigures point to a 2009 catch of 161.7 million salmon, 15 million more than in 2008. (Photo: Stock File)
Alaska's 2009 salmon harvest 11th-largest in history
UNITED STATES
Friday, November 20, 2009, 17:20 (GMT + 9)
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) published its preliminary estimates on Monday for the 2009 commercial salmon season, which show that this year's harvest is the 11th largest on record. The estimates will be revised in 2010 upon the completion of all fish ticket data and the submission of annual processors reports, including the final prices paid for salmon this year.
“This year was a pretty strong year,” said assistant Kodiak area salmon/herring management biologist Geoff Spalinger.
ADFG’s report includes data for chinook, sockeye, coho, pink and chum salmon. Also recorded are the average weights for individual types of fish, average price per pound, number of fish harvested, total weight of fish harvested and estimated value of the catch, Kodiak Daily Mirror reports.
Commercial fishermen harvested 161.7 million salmon in 2009, the eleventh-largest harvest since Alaska officially became a state. This year’s harvest was 15 million fish higher than last year’s, when the harvest yielded 146 million fish.
The 2009 harvest was also 14 million salmon below the preseason estimate of 175 million fish and 11 million fish below the most recent 10-year average (2008-1999) commercial harvest of 172 million salmon.
The value of the 2009 preliminary catch estimate of USD 370.1 million is higher than the most recent 10-year average of USD 308 million. Preliminary 2009 statewide average prices show decreases for all species of salmon compared to last year’s final prices.
The preliminary statewide average price for sockeye salmon is USD 0.80 per pound, or USD 0.04 lower than last year. Final 2009 prices for all salmon species may rise pending any postseason adjustments and when fishers are paid their end-of-season bonuses.
Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon harvest of 30.9 million fish was the seventh-largest in state history. The ex vessel value of USD 127.6 million was higher than last year’s Bristol Bay value of USD 116.7 million, with the average price USD 0.03 per pound less than in 2008.
The statewide chum salmon harvest of 17.9 million fish is the seventh-best ever in numbers of fish. The ex vessel value of USD 57.4 million was well below the near record-setting 2008 ex vessel value of USD 87.1 million.
Related article:
- Fewer Kodiak salmon harvested this year
By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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