Wednesday December 27, 2023
KTOO —
It’s likely to be another weak year for king salmon returns to the major river systems of Southeast Alaska in 2024.
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game issued its 2024 Southeast Alaska Chinook Salmon forecasts last week.
Of the 11 chinook stocks in the region, only the Chilkat River is expected to have an adequate number of chinook returning to spawn. Nevertheless, this number – known as escapement – is still in the middle of the range, and could be lower depending on how many fish are harvested before they get to the river.
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has adopted action plans to try and limit the catch of king salmon bound for Southeast Rivers, but some are always intercepted.