Salmon Returns and Harvest Management
Background
Profile
Salmon
- Species
- Timing
- Returns & Management
- Who Can Fish?
Ecology
Geology
Climate
Economy
Ownership
Habitat Pressures and Risk Areas
References
Returns
There is tremendous variation in the life history patterns for salmon — each stream system having fish with their own unique timing and patterns of spawning, growth, and migration. Although we usually call salmon returning to the system "Copper River Salmon", the river is almost 300 miles long, and carries the waters from ten other rivers over 40 miles long, including the Chitina, Tonsina, Klutina, Tazlina, Gulkana, Gakona, and Chistochina rivers. In addition to these "main stem" runs of salmon on the Copper River, many small streams that originate in the coastal mountain range terminate on the Copper River Delta. Locally these stocks are identified as "delta run". A red salmon hatchery located on the Gulkana River also contributes significantly to the production of the Copper River.
The harvest of the returning fish is managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game using a complex set of regulations designed to assure adequate "escapement" of salmon to the spawning grounds while allocating fish among the various user groups.
For the Copper River subsistence, personal use, commercial, and sport fishing interests, Red, King and Coho salmon are the targeted species. For the purposes of understanding the management of the fisheries of the Copper River we will focus on these species.
Management
Alaska has been responsible for salmon management since statehood in 1959. The constitution requires salmon be managed on a sustained yield principle, and active management over the past 50 years resulted in Alaska Salmon being the only salmon certified as "sustainable" by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Adequate spawning escapement to assure sustained salmon populations is the highest management priority. After escapement goals are met, subsistence use takes priority over other salmon harvesters. Commercial, sport and personal use fisheries share equally in priority after escapement and subsistence use goals are met.
Salmon are "allocated" to the different use groups by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Every three years, the board considers proposals on allocation and management of salmon on the Copper River in an open and public process. The board considers proposals submitted by the public and management staff, and makes decisions after public testimony and scientific presentations. Decisions are based on the Sustainable Salmon Fishery Policy for the State of Alaska adopted by the board in June of 2001. The regional staff of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game manage salmon fisheries based on the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Fisheries.
The Board of Fisheries has authorized the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to manage the commercial harvest salmon on the Copper River to meet the following escapement goals, as measured at the fish counting sonar located at Miles Lake. Delta stock escapement needs are in addition to these "main stem" management numbers.
| Spawning Escapement (Sockeye Salmon) | 300,000 |
| Spawning Escapement (Other salmon) | 17,500 |
| Glennallen Sub-District Subsistence (Salmon) | 60,000 – 75,000 |
| Chitina Subdistrict Subsistence (Salmon) | 100,000 – 150,000 |
| Sport Fishery Harvest (Salmon) | 15,000 |
| source: www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/finfish/salmon/pws/pwsfor05.php | |
In addition, Gulkana Hatchery brood stock and hatchery surplus sockeye salmon rates are estimated annually based on projected returns. The commercial harvest of salmon at the mouth of the river is managed to provide adequate escapement from the commercial fishery to meet or exceed these in river needs.
