Despite the recent reduction in harvest effort for Sitka Sound and Deep Inlet, NSRAA remains concerned over the lack of Bear Cove four-year-olds returning to Medvejie in 2023. Preseason run projections indicated a severe shortage for this age class (likely due to juvenile black cod predation in spring of 2020) and in-season analysis reveals this to be true. Despite higher than anticipated 3-year-old survival, brood stock goals will depend on the larger females from brood year 2019. At the direction of the NSRAA board of directors, NSRAA staff requested ADF&G to issue the following non retention period in Sitka Sound.
“…the waters of the Sitka Sound Terminal Harvest chum salmon troll fishery (113-41) will be closed to troll gear during the 2-day troll fishery closure from 12:01 a.m., August 9, through 11:59 p.m., August 10, 2023. This closure is being implemented in order to meet chum salmon brood stock goals at the Medvejie Creek Hatchery. These waters will reopen to troll gear with the start of the second Chinook salmon retention period, 12:01 a.m., August 11, 2023. For all other troll hatchery chum salmon opportunities during the closure, refer to the August 4 troll advisory announcement.”
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