A proposal to slash hatchery production of pink and chum salmon in Southeast Alaska was rejected by the Alaska Board of Fisheries over the weekend.
The measure, known as Proposal 156, aimed to cut hatchery egg takes by 25 percent but failed to gain majority support from the seven-member board, Intrafish reported.
The proposal sparked a heated debate, with commercial fishermen, sport fishing interests, and aquaculture advocates warning of the economic fallout. The Sitka Sound Science Center, which runs Alaska’s oldest salmon hatchery, was among those opposing the measure, citing its role in training and education.
Proponents of the reduction argued that hatchery-raised salmon creates too much competition in the ocean for food resources, potentially harming wild king salmon populations. With ongoing king salmon closures and growing user conflicts, some groups pushed for lower hatchery production as a precaution.
Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, countered that there is "no scientific evidence" supporting the claim that hatchery production harms wild kings, according to Intrafish. She warned that any disruption to the Sitka Sound Science Center’s hatchery could hurt Alaskans who rely on its salmon production for food.
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska also opposed the measure, calling it an "unnecessary risk to salmon availability."
A similar proposal targeting hatchery production in Prince William Sound—the state’s leading pink salmon hatchery region—was rejected by the board in December. Intrafish shared that in recent years, several proposals to reduce hatchery production have been submitted, but the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has consistently rejected them, citing a "lack of conclusive evidence" linking hatchery operations to wild stock declines.
With 26 hatcheries currently operating across Alaska, pink and chum salmon account for the majority of production. Industry groups argue that hatchery programs play a critical role in supplementing salmon returns, stabilizing harvests, and supporting jobs in fishing communities.
For now, Alaska’s hatchery system remains intact, but with king salmon struggles persisting, the debate over hatchery impacts isn’t likely to go away.
Read the full article on Intrafish.
