The above graphs illustrate the disparity between annual forecasted projections and the actual yearly catch for pink and chum salmon in the state of Alaska. The mainstay of Southeast's harvest, pink salmon returns came in considerably lower in 2015 and 2016 than forecast. On the other hand, the preceding two years saw returns much higher than predicted.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released its forecast for commercial salmon harvests this year, projecting a strong run of pinks for Southeast in 2017.
If panning out as projected, the news should come as a relief to the region's fishermen after a disappointing 2016 harvest.
The report details last year's commercial salmon season, which had come in about 30 percent lower than forecast. Alaska fishermen caught 112,500,000 salmon in 2016, of which 52.9 million had been sockeye and 39 million coho.
ADF&G is anticipating an overall increase in commercial volume across the state this season,...
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