King Salmon Decline in Alaska

Over the past several years I have been following the king salmon fishery on the Kenai Peninsula. It has been discouraging to say the least. My wife and I vacationed there a couple years ago and the buzz around the cleaning tables and even the gas pumps was the declining numbers of king salmon returning to the area.

Moves to Help the Alaska King Salmon

There are many things happening on the Kenai Peninsula to help the king salmon and hopefully increase the numbers returning to spawn. One of the steps is controversial for sure. That is to limit or suspend completely the long time Alaska tradition of using nets from shore to catch sockeye salmon. This has upset some gill netters in the area and all while the sockeye runs are strong.

Kenai River

Kenai River late-run king salmon were designated a Stock of Concern, and a Stock of Concern Management Plan was created to help the stock recover.

Elements of the plan affecting sport fisheries are:

• The department shall manage the late run of Kenai River king salmon to achieve a recovery goal of 14,250 – 30,000 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork and longer.
• If the recovery goal is projected to be achieved, the commissioner may allow catch-and-release of king salmon in the sport fishery or allow retention of king salmon 34 inches or greater in length
• If the recovery goal is projected to not be achieved, the Kenai River is closed to sport fishing for king salmon; a king salmon that is caught must be released immediately; a person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish;
• From July 1 through August 15, a person may not use more than one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Kenai River downstream from the outlet of Skilak Lake;
• From June 20 through August 15, from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to Skilak Lake the bag limit for sockeye salmon is six per day, 12 in possession.
• The sport fisheries in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point at 59° 40.00′ N. lat., are closed to the taking of king salmon from June 20 through August 15.