Contact:
Jim Menard, Area Management Biologist
Scott Kent, Asst. Area Management Biologist
Phone:
(907) 443-5167
Fax: (907) 443-5893
Jim Menard, Area Management Biologist
Scott Kent, Asst. Area Management Biologist
Phone:
(907) 443-5167Fax: (907) 443-5893
Districts Affected: Unalakleet, Southern Norton Sound
The commercial salmon fishing season in Subdistricts 5 and 6 of the Norton Sound District, the Shaktoolik and Unalakleet Subdistricts, will be extended until 6 p.m. Friday, September 11. There will be two 48-hour periods during this week-long extension from 6 p.m. Sunday, September 6 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 8 and from 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 9 until 6 p.m. Friday, September 11.
The Unalakleet Subdistrict commercial catch from the latest 48-hour period ending Friday, September 4 was 1,708 cohos by 24 permit holders. Catches were above average for early September and the total catch this season of 58,940 cohos ranks 8th all time. Shaktoolik commercial coho catches have been above the long-term average all season, and the season total of 12,500 cohos ranks 10th historically. The Shaktoolik catch is expected to finish as 8th or 9th best by the end of the season.
Coho salmon escapements to the Unalakleet River have been record-setting this season. As of September 4, the Unalakleet River test net has caught 2,054 cohos, which is 30% above the previous record catch for September 4th of 1,608 cohos caught in 2008. Additionally, a counting operated by Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) on the North River, a tributary of the Unalakleet River, has enumerated nearly 21,000 cohos, also a new record. Radiotelemetry studies conducted in the mid-2000s showed that the North River accounted for an average of 12.6% of the Unalakleet River drainage-wide coho salmon escapement. Based on this average, the estimated drainage-wide escapement could be in excess of 165,000 cohos.
By regulation, the Subdistricts 5 and 6 commercial salmon fishing season expires on September 7. However, record-setting coho escapements coupled with above-average September coho harvests, and buyer interest warrant additional commercial harvest and thus an extension. Congratulations to Norton Sound Sea Foods and Norton Sound commercial fishermen on another successful and safe salmon season. Also, thanks to NSEDC for their continued support and cooperation with several Norton Sound salmon stock assessment projects. 
