Deep Inlet/Bear Cove Closure

The Deep Inlet terminal harvest area will close to common property fishing at end of day Saturday (9/10) for chum and coho brood stock concerns at Medvejie Hatchery, and a likely shortfall of chum cost recovery from Crawfish Inlet.  We are just over 50% complete on the fall chum egg take goal of 92 million at Medvejie and estimate that we may need an additional 5-10k fish for brood, depending upon additional recruitment, and final sex ratio. Additionally, the coho return to Bear Cove and Deep Inlet continue to perform below forecast. Bear Cove will close to retention of coho salmon at midnight Wednesday (9/7) for both commercial troll and sport fish. The Deep Inlet coho return has been especially poor, with less than 6% of forecast returning to date, indicating additional closures to protect coho brood are necessary at this time.

Cost recovery at Crawfish Inlet has dramatically dropped off over the past several days, and as of Wednesday afternoon (9/7), are currently at 85% of goal. Only 150k lbs have been harvested in Crawfish Inlet since the last fishing effort that ended on Saturday (9/3).  We have an estimated 400k lbs left of our pre-season goal and based upon run trajectory will unlikely meet goal. Any chum salmon in Deep Inlet, surplus to brood stock needs, will be utilized to make up any cost recovery short fall from Crawfish Inlet.  We will continue to monitor returns to both Deep Inlet and Crawfish Inlet but additional common property openings this season are not anticipated.