Wednesday October 30, 2024
National Fisherman —
The City of Homer recently sent a formal request to Alaska’s Governor, urging the state to declare a fishery disaster for the pink salmon season. The city council’s request highlights the far-reaching economic impacts of the poor 2023 harvest, which has left commercial fishermen and their families struggling to recover from the financial shortfall. With many relying on pink salmon as a significant portion of their livelihood, Homer joins other Alaskan communities in calling for state and federal disaster relief to offset losses.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), pink salmon, also known as “humpies,” are a critical part of the state’s commercial fishing industry. They are valued not only for their economic role but also for their ecological importance. These fish typically follow a two-year life cycle, returning to Alaskan rivers in odd-numbered years. However, variability in ocean conditions, freshwater survival, and rising temperatures have introduced uncertainty in population forecasts. In 2023, runs across the Gulf of Alaska underperformed, with fewer fish returning than predicted, leaving fishermen in financial jeopardy.
NOAA Fisheries and the ADF&G have been monitoring environmental conditions that affect salmon populations. Pink salmon are particularly sensitive to temperature changes during both their freshwater and early marine stages. Warmer waters can reduce survival rates despite increased growth, as documented in past NOAA research efforts. Additionally, the North Pacific experienced severe marine heatwaves from 2013 through 2019, disrupting food availability for young salmon and possibly contributing to the low runs observed this year.