Wed 9/1 Silver Bay Update

In cooperation with ADFG, NSRAA is opening a portion of the Silver Bay THA to common property seine on Thursday, Sept 1, to harvest fall chum salmon surplus to brood stock needs.  This past Saturday a large buildup of Bear Cove bound chum staged in the Sawmill Cove area.  NSRAA performed limited cost recovery in Sawmill Cove on Saturday Aug 28th to target a buildup of chum salmon staged near Sawmill Creek.  The otolith data of this harvest of 190klbs indicated approximately 75% of those chum were Bear Cove bound fish, with the remainder Deep Inlet origin and overall 91% 3-year olds and 56% male.  It appears the bulk of the volume was either harvested or left the Sawmill Cove area and has either moved on towards Bear Cove or backed out towards Deep Inlet.  There continues to be some fish staged near Sawmill Creek and there will be no salmon stream restrictions for Sawmill Creek during the opening.  This opening is to provide common property opportunity to harvest Bear Cove bound chum salmon surplus to brood stock needs.  We will continue to monitor chum returns during the egg take at Medvejie and if  brood stock numbers in Bear Cove continue to appear sufficient additional area and openings are likely to occur.