Southeast fishermen disappointed by low Chinook quotas and bag limits in the coming season will be glad to hear this: hatchery returns of king salmon this summer in southeast Alaska are expected to be among the highest ever. Unlike wild stocks, Alaska-produced hatchery Chinook are not counted against the annual quota set by the Pacific Salmon Treaty. If the hatchery forecasts hold up, both sport and commercial fishermen could see more kings than usual in this season’s spring fisheries.
Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka
