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Deep Inlet Notice
To Deep Inlet THA Fishery User Groups:
A reminder about boat traffic and anchoring near island homes in the Deep Inlet area.
Please review our plan:
Berry Island Resident Impact and Noise Reduction Plan
Hidden Falls a Huge Disappointment – Will Close to Fishing
Hidden Falls chum salmon performance is far below the forecast and the fishery will need to be closed in order to ensure broodstock numbers. The broodstock goal is 180,000 fish for the Hidden Falls/Takatz programs (101 million eggs), Deep Inlet (24 million eggs), and Southeast Cove (55 million eggs). NSRAA secured the permit for up to 30 million eggs from DIPAC, and DIPAC has generously agreed to take up to the limit this year. So far about 35,000 chum have been harvested at Hidden Falls; the male ratio from Sunday June 28 was 68%. We could risk another opening given the sex ratio but this return might be the smallest return since the 1980s.
This is the second consecutive year that Hidden Falls has performed poorly while Deep Inlet using the same Hidden Falls stock is performing well. This lends further credence to the theory that Hidden Falls has greater predation than what exists at Deep Inlet. Humpback whales are certainly part of the predator complex but Pollock might be contributing to the high mortality as well.
The jury is still out on whether the 4.0 gram program will get the fry past the whales and Pollock. We have our first four year olds from the 4.0 program at Takatz and Kasnyku this year. Results will not be known until after the eggtakes at Hidden Falls in mid August. If we find the 4.0 program doesn’t produce results we will be in crisis mode. Alternatives such as new release sites and/or a new broodstock development site will need to be considered and analysed.
Southeast Cove will have the first 3 year olds returning in 2015. These adults were raised to 4.0 grams as fry so we are putting a lot of stock in the outcome this summer and next. Department of Commerce owns the Gunnuk Creek portion of the return, while adults with our (NSRAA) mark sold for cost recovery (Trident) will flow to NSRAA coffers.
Spring Troll Fisheries Underway
Spring Troll Fisheries have been in progress since mid-April, with catch rates increasing in recent weeks. A total of about 7,758 kings have been landed to date (through May 28) Southeast-wide.
Hidden Falls 2015 Season Assessment Tax Rate Set
The 2015 Hidden Falls Chum Assessment Tax has been set at $0.10 / pound …….UPDATE 6/19/15: RATE is approved and is NOW FINAL…
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NSRAA Spring Board Meeting : March 11-12 in Juneau
NSRAA’s 2015 Spring Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Wednesday & Thursday, March 11-12, 2015 in Juneau at the DIPAC Visitor Center. Meetings begin at 9 am each day. The public is invited to attend.
Topics will include NSRAA’s FY16 Budget, planning for the 2015 season and beyond, program updates and review of recent Board of Fish actions. To view the agenda, the full board book and staff presentations, visit our Board Info page.
NSRAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – NOV 12-13, 2014
NSRAA’s Board of Directors will meet in the Sitka board room on November 12-13.
- Review the agenda here.
- The full board book can be found here.
- Staff presentations will be posted on the Board Info page several days prior to the meeting.
The 2014 season will be reviewed; new projects and planning for 2015 will be among the topics discussed.
The meeting is open to the public. We hope to see you there!
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