FISHERIES UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 27- JULY 5, 2022. Report #6

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

Sitka and Hoonah Area – Forest Service, Tongass National Forest

Jake Musslewhite, 907-789-6256  jacob.g.musslewhite@usda.gov

June 27, 2022

Falls Lake – The Falls Lake weir project was operated for the 21^st consecutive year in 2021. The project monitors escapement and terminal harvest of Sockeye Salmon returning to Falls Lake each year. In 2021, an estimated 1,189 Sockeye escaped to the lake, while 315 were harvested in terminal subsistence and sport fisheries (Figure 1). The escapement and harvest were lower than in recent years. However, spawn-recruit analyses indicate that maximum recruitment of Falls Lake Sockeye Salmon occurs at lower escapements – around 2,000 fish. So, the low escapements seen in 2020 and 2021 may still provide for an adequate number of returning adults in several years.

The Falls Lake project was not funded for operation in 2022.

Figure 1. Escapement estimate and onsite harvest estimate for Falls Lake Sockeye Salmon, 2001-2021.

Petersburg and Wrangell Area –Andrew Sanders, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest Andrew Sanders, (907)772-3871 andrew.sanders@usda.gov

Andrew Sanders, (907)772-3871 andrew.sanders@usda.gov

Andrew Sanders, (907)772-3871 andrew.sanders@usda.gov

The pre-season terminal run forecast for large Chinook Salmon in the Stikine River is 7,400 fish. This forecast is below the goal range of 14,000 to 28,000 fish. Directed commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries in the area have been closed to protect this return. Currently, all drift gillnet, purse seine and non-terminal harvest area troll fisheries are closed in district 8.

The 2022 Stikine River pre-season Sockeye Salmon forecast is 63,000 fish, with 42,00 Tahltan and 21,000 Mainstem fish. The 2020 Sockeye Salmon forecast was 103,400 fish, which included 64,500 Tahltan Lake and 38,900 Mainstem Sockeye. The escapement objective for Tahltan bound Sockeye Salmon is 18,000 to 30,000, and 20,000 to 40,000 for Mainstem fish. The 2022 forecast for Tahltan is expected to meet the escapement objective with a sufficient surplus for allowable harvest. The forecast for the mainstem is not expected to exceed the escapement goal and may result in a season closure.

The 2022 Federal Stikine River Sockeye Salmon subsistence fishery began June 21. A total of 58 permits have been issued for the Stikine fishery and no harvest estimate is available at this time.

Juneau and Yakutat – Forest Service, Tongass National Forest

Jake Musslewhite, 907-789-6256  jacob.g.musslewhite@usda.gov

June 27, 2022

Sockeye Salmon - Sockeye Salmon fisheries in the area are just getting going, as returning fish start to show up at the mouths of streams. Reports from the field are encouraged and appreciated.

Commercial salmon net fisheries in the area have begun, with the first gillnet and seine openings held the weekend of June 19. Most of the early openings target hatchery produced chum salmon, which are expected to have weak returns this year. Due to low participation, results from the first Pt. Augusta purse seine opening are confidential. Gillnet openings in northern southeast are in Districts 11 and 15. The first Hawk Inlet purse seine test fishery was conducted on June 24, with discouraging results. Catches of Chum and Pink Salmon were well below average, with the only bright spot being the above average Sockeye Salmon catch.

Sitkoh Lake – The Sitkoh Lake weir is a cooperative project between the Forest Service and the Angoon Community Association, and monitors Sockeye Salmon escapement to the lake using a remotely monitored video weir. In 2021, we counted a total of 5,303 Sockeye Salmon through the weir. This was an improvement from the poor escapements of 2017-2019, but less than the 8,000-12,000 fish seen in previous years (Figure 1). The Sitkoh Lake project will continue to operate in 2022, with the weir to be installed in early July. Returns are likely to be on the low side, based on the poor escapements in parent years.

Figure 1. Estimated cumulative escapement of Sockeye Salmon into Sitkoh Lake through video weirs, 2015 to 2021.

Neva Lake – The Neva Lake weir was installed on June 17, 2022, and we have seen a handful of sockeye pass through the weir so far. The Neva Lake weir is a cooperative project operated by the Forest Service and the Hoonah Indian Association, and uses a video weir to count Sockeye Salmon entering Neva Lake, near the community of Excursion Inlet. Live video feed and clips from the Neva Lake weir can be found on the web at http://nevalake.ddns.net:81 .

Figure 2. Taylor Cunningham (left) and Elijah Blumenkranz in front of the newly installed Neva Lake weir, June 18, 2022.

Figure 3. Video capture of a Cutthroat Trout passing through the Neva Lake weir.

Yakutat- Sockeye Salmon have begun showing up at the Situk River weir in decent numbers, with a total of over 10,000 fish having passed through as of June 23. The first Chinook salmon passed through the weir on June 16, and nearly 50 have been counted through June 23. This is better than have been seen for the past few years on the same dates, though the run is just getting going.

The preseason forecast for Situk River Chinook Salmon is 1,600 large fish, and the escapement goal range is 450 – 1,050 fish. In order to ensure that the escapement goal is met, subsistence and commercial fisheries on the mouth of the Situk have been closed until further notice (Figure 3). Escapement of Chinook Salmon will be monitored at the Situk weir, and fisheries may reopen if adequate escapement is seen through the weir.

Commercial fisheries in the Yakutat area have begun, with openings on the Alsek River, Yakutat Bay, and the Dangerous River beginning on June 12. Release of Chinook is requested on the Alsek River.

Figure 4. Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet waters closed to commercial and subsistence fishing in 2022.

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