Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Commercial Fisheries

08/18/2026

Curious how many fish are caught in a fishing period for Prince William Sound? This past fishing period, on August 16th, the following preliminary numbers were harvested:

Eastern District: 22,000 pink, 4,500 coho and 26,600 chum salmon with 28 deliveries
Northern District: 237,000 pink, 800 coho and 224 chum salmon with 38 deliveries
Coghill District: 22,000 pink, 900 coho and 55 chum salmon with 36 deliveries
Northwestern District: 56,900, pink, 381 coho and 201 chum salmon with 11 deliveries
Montague District: 6,200 pink, 300 coho, and 15 chum salmon with 4 deliveries
Southeastern District: 0 deliveries

Total Preliminary Harvest: 344,000 pink, 6,800 coho, 27,000 chum, with 117 reported deliveries.

In addition to this, multiple hatcheries are also participating in cost recovery, which helps to cover the expenses required for maintaining a hatchery.

Want to read more about this past fishing period in Prince William Sound? Our latest advisory announcement is linked below!

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1827301317.pdf

Photo Credit: Tim Bowman

08/12/2026

Yukon River Sonar Spotlight: Part 2 – Eagle Sonar

Further upriver from Pilot Station, at Six Mile Bend—only 18 miles below the Alaska–Canada border—the Eagle Sonar site is jointly operated by ADF&G and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Salmon counted here have already traveled about 1,200 miles, with many continuing another 800 miles into Canada to spawn.

Eagle plays a key role in meeting the Pacific Salmon Treaty, a bilateral agreement between the United States and Canada to cooperatively manage and share salmon that migrate across the border. Historically, about 50% of Yukon Chinook salmon and 25% of fall chum salmon originate from Canadian stocks. Escapement estimates for Canadian-origin Chinook and fall chum salmon are generated here and used to ensure both countries meet treaty obligations and sustainably manage shared stocks.

For the most part, Chinook and fall chum salmon arrive at separate times, with Chinook salmon arriving early and fall chum later in the season. Some overlap occurs at the tail end of the Chinook season as fall chum begin returning. Because sonar cannot distinguish fish by species, technicians utilize test fisheries by drifting gillnets multiple times a day and documenting their catch. Species numbers and ratios from the test fishery are then applied to the overall sonar count to determine apportionment. For each salmon captured, technicians measure length, determine s*x, and collect a scale and tissue sample. Scales are used to determine age, while tissue samples are used to analyze stock composition.

Eagle employs both ARIS and split-beam sonar for fish counts. The site operates continuously from early July through early October, providing final escapement numbers before fish cross into Canada.

Photo Credit: ADFG Staff

08/10/2026

On May 8, 2016 Governor Bill Walker established August 10th of each year as Alaska Wild Salmon Day. We at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game take time to honor this annual day to celebrate our sustainable resource that is woven into the lifeblood of all Alaskans. Alaska’s constitution mandates sustainably managed fisheries and we are proud to be tasked with this challenging job. Our highest priority is to manage Alaska’s prized wild salmon populations for long-term sustainability so that future generations will continue to have the opportunity to harvest and enjoy this abundant renewable resource.

Whether it is sport, personal use, subsistence, or commercial fishing, Alaskans have a deep connection to the wild salmon that are a critical part of the Alaskan economy, culture, ecosystem, and identity. Today, we invite all Alaskans to join us in a shared appreciation of this treasured resource and to celebrate our common affection and ardor for our Alaska wild salmon.

To learn more about Alaska’s wild salmon please visit our website www.adfg.alaska.gov

Sustaining Alaska’s Fisheries: Fifty Years of Statehood
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingCommercial.sustainingakfisheries

Pacific Salmon Lifecycle and Identification Quiz:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingsportfishinginfo.quiz

Photo Credit: © Mark Emery

08/05/2026

Yukon River Sonar Spotlight: Part 1 – Pilot Station

About 121 miles from the Yukon River mouth, the Pilot Station sonar project provides the first reliable estimates of salmon entering the river each season. Positioned in a single‑channel stretch, two sonar systems, one on each bank, monitor fish passage across this nearly 1,000‑meter‑wide section of river. Despite strong currents, shifting sediments, high turbidity, and seasonal debris, Pilot Station produces essential inseason data for managing Chinook, summer chum, fall chum, and coho salmon.

Species Apportionment (Test Fishing)
Because sonar cannot identify species, crews conduct twice‑daily drift gillnet test fishing using multiple mesh sizes. These catches reveal the proportions of Chinook, chum, coho, and other species passing the site, which are then applied to sonar counts. All live fish are released; mortalities are provided to the local community.

Biological & Genetic Sampling
A subset of Chinook and chum salmon are sampled for age, s*x, and length, and receive non‑invasive genetic tissue clips. These data help identify stock origins and support management across Alaska and Canada.

Ichthyophonus Disease Research
Pilot Station also supports research for multiple agencies into Ichthyophonus disease, a leading hypothesis for why Canadian‑origin Chinook salmon failed to meet border passage goals in 2020 and 2021. Since 2022, research aims to understand whether the disease causes mortality during migration, identify lethal infection thresholds, and estimate how many infected fish pass Pilot Station each year. Additional fish health assessments help evaluate other factors that may influence survival.

Why Pilot Station Matters
Salmon reach Pilot Station just 2–3 days after entering the river, making it one of the most important inseason tools for understanding run strength and run timing. Its estimates guide subsistence, commercial, and sport fishery decisions and support U.S./Canada treaty obligations. With nearly all Yukon River salmon migrating past this site, Pilot Station is central to managing salmon across the entire drainage.

Photo credit: ADFG staff

07/31/2026

🎣 Bristol Bay Salmon Harvest Update — Late July 2026 🎣
Here’s the latest look at Bristol Bay preliminary inseason harvest estimates:

Ugashik District
• Total harvest to date: 5,375,579 fish

Egegik District
• Total harvest to date: 9,002,846 fish

Naknek-Kvichak District
• Total harvest to date: 6,156,991 fish

Nushagak District
• Total harvest to date: 9,200,284 fish

Togiak District
• Total harvest to date: 232,322 fish

For a total harvest to date of 29,968,022 fish

To view preliminary in season harvest click here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareabristolbay.salmon_harvest

ADF&G crews and fishing communities remain focused on monitoring fish passage, adjusting management actions as needed, and supporting sustainable fisheries throughout the 2026 season.
Stay safe on the water, and best of luck to all fishing this summer!

Photo Credit: © Mark Emery

07/31/2026

07/29/2026

Copper River (Miles Lake) Sonar – Behind the Numbers That Sustain the Copper River Valley

Every summer, our team operates one of the most challenging and important sonar projects in the state: the Copper River Sonar at Miles Lake. For almost 50 years, this site has provided the backbone of how we manage Copper River sockeye salmon for commercial fishermen, subsistence users, sport fishermen, personal use dipnetters, and future generations of Alaskans.

Why these counts matter:
Daily salmon passage estimates guide in season management decisions for meeting an inriver passage goal. These numbers ensure enough sockeye salmon pass upriver to meet the escapement goal of 360,000 to 750,000 fish.

After meeting escapement needs, managers consider allocations for inriver users:
• Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence: about 60,000–80,000 salmon
• Chitina Personal Use Dipnet Fishery: about 100,000–150,000 salmon
• Sport fisheries: 15,000 salmon
• Hatchery brood/surplus: estimated annually based on anticipated returns and hatchery needs

These elements of the inriver goal rely on accurate sonar counts to open, close, or adjust harvest opportunities while protecting long-term sustainability.

How we count fish:
The sonar detects all salmon passing the site sockeye, king, and other species of salmon but the daily totals primarily reflect sockeye abundance. In 2018, the project incorporated ARIS technology that allowed biologists to identify large king salmon (over 30.4 inches) within the sonar record.

A challenging place to work:
The Copper River is a dynamic, glacier influenced system. Turbidity, windblown dust, ice, strong currents, and a rocky riverbed all affect sonar operations. Crews work around these obstacles using specialized equipment, protective housings, remote-adjustable transducers, an artificial substrate, and a lot of determination. The site is remotely situated between the Childs and Miles Lake Glaciers often buried under 6 to 15 feet of snow well into May. Despite these conditions, the crew maintains a camp and operates sonar on both banks from mid-May through July.

Why it’s worth it:
Copper River sockeye are among Alaska’s most valuable and iconic salmon, supporting Prince William Sound’s commercial fleet, upriver communities, and early-season harvest opportunities statewide.

We’re grateful for our hardworking sonar crew and for everyone who relies on this information to help sustain Copper River sockeye salmon for all who depend on them.

To see more information about the Miles Lake Sonar click here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=sonar.site&site=10

View Copper River Fish Counts here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.displayResults&COUNTLOCATIONID=39&SpeciesID=420

07/22/2026

🔍 Counting Salmon with Sonar: 40+ Years of Innovation at ADF&G
For more than four decades, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has led the way in using sonar to monitor salmon in our rivers. Our tools have evolved significantly—from early Bendix units to today’s advanced imaging sonar—allowing us to gather clearer, more detailed information about fish moving through Alaska’s waterways.
🎣 Three generations of sonar technology used in Alaska rivers:
• Bendix Sonar – Our original system used for many years; now fully retired.
• Split‑Beam Sonar – Still used at two Yukon River sites where long‑range detection (up to ~1,000 feet) is essential.
• Imaging Sonar (DIDSON & ARIS) – Now the primary tool at 12 of our 15 sonar sites, producing high‑resolution underwater images that help biologists identify fish direction, estimate length, and even distinguish large Chinook salmon from other species.
📸 Why imaging sonar is a game-changer
Imaging sonar provides video-like images that technicians can slow down, replay, and mark for highly accurate counts. It also works over uneven river bottoms thanks to software that removes stationary objects from view, leaving only moving fish on the screen. Fish length can be measured reliably up to about 100 feet from the transducer, improving our ability to differentiate species by size.
🌊 Precision in tough environments
Imaging sonar can detect fish up to 164 feet away, even in murky, fast-moving rivers. In wide rivers, ADF&G deploys sonar on both banks to capture the most complete count possible. Areas that cannot be directly monitored with sonar are accounted for using established modeling methods, ensuring accurate passage estimates even in challenging or complex river conditions. These tools help biologists better understand salmon migration timing, direction, and abundance—critical information for sustainable fisheries management.
💡 Why sonar isn’t everywhere
Although sonar is an incredibly effective tool, cost and operational complexity prevent ADF&G from deploying sonar on every river in Alaska. Each site requires specialized equipment, highly trained staff, and intensive data processing. Sonar is used where it provides the greatest benefit and where conditions support reliable, consistent data collection.
📈 Looking ahead
ADF&G continues exploring emerging tools—such as automated fish sizing and tail‑beat frequency analysis—to advance sonar science even further across Alaska.

📅 Coming Soon: Sonar Spotlight Series!
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be launching a series that highlights ADF&G sonar projects across the state. From the Yukon River to the Kenai and Copper, we’ll take you behind the scenes to show how sonar helps us understand salmon runs and support responsible fisheries management.
Stay tuned for stories, technology insights, and a closer look at the teams behind these projects!

To learn more about sonar technology tools and dig more into how sonar works, click here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=sonar.sonartools

07/21/2026

Please see the attached advisory announcement for Yukon River Fishing - ADFG !

07/17/2026

See Something Fishy?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game Pathology Lab offer free statewide disease testing for all user groups including commercial, sport, subsistence, hatcheries, processors, and more. We examine wild and hatchery finfish and shellfish for bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and non‑infectious diseases using advanced tools. Each year, we examine over 16,000 animals and conduct more than 23,000 tests.

We also lead applied research, identify emerging disease agents, and share information to help protect Alaska’s aquatic resources.
Education and outreach are a key part of our mission, including student lab tours, veterinarian training, science fair support, and publishing new research to keep the public stakeholders informed.

If you see something unusual in Alaska’s fish or shellfish, please reach out directly to the Pathology Team at 907-267-2244 or the main commercial information line at 907‑267‑2105 and ask for the Pathology Department.

To learn more about diseases impacting Alaska's fisheries or to read recent research, please visit: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingpathologylab.main