Alaska Fisheries Enhancement Annual Report 2016

This annual report reviews the Alaska salmon fisheries enhancement program. The success of this program is attributable to the development of statutes, regulations, and policies that require hatcheries to be located away from important natural salmon stocks and to use local broodstock sources. To maintain genetic diversity, Alaska hatcheries do not selectively breed for size or other trait and use large numbers of broodstock for production. Nearly all hatchery releases are marked so that fisheries managers can estimate the strength of wild stocks in the catch and manage wild stocks conservatively. Currently, 28 salmon hatcheries are operating in the state. Most (24 facilities) are operated by private nonprofit corporations, which are funded primarily from the harvest of a portion of hatchery returns. Two additional sport fish hatcheries are operated by the state, one research hatchery by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and one hatchery by the Metlakatla Indian Community. About 27 million adult salmon returned to Alaska hatcheries in 2016, which was the lowest hatchery return since 1992. The exvessel value of the commercial hatchery harvest was an estimated $85 million, and represented 21% of the exvessel value of the statewide salmon harvest. About 227,000 Alaska hatchery fish were caught in the sport, personal use and subsistence fisheries. Hatchery production in Alaska is intended to supplement--not replace--wild stock production. There are no stocks of concern in Prince William Sound or Southeast Alaska, indicating that adequate escapements to wild stock systems are being met over time in areas with the most hatchery production. Abundance-based wild stock management priority and habitat protection reflect the state's commitment to conservation of wild stocks and provide the foundation of its salmon fisheries enhancement program.