A draft report by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game indicates a lower statewide harvest of 125.5 million salmon this season, compared to last year’s tally of 194.8 million fish. That adds up to 69.3 million fewer salmon, a decline of nearly 36 percent.

The preliminary data show drops in all projected catches except for Chinook salmon.

Comparisons by species show that for 2026, the projected Chinook harvest is pegged at 197,000 compared to 181,892 in 2025.

For sockeye salmon, the harvest forecast of nearly 50 million compares to more than 52.6 million last year.

Coho catches are expected to top 2.4 millon, down from nearly 2.5 million.

A chum harvest coming in slightly above 17 million this season compares to just over 20.4 million in 2025.

For pinks, a catch of nearly 56 million is forecasted, down from more than 119 million humpies last year.

The final numbers for the 2026 salmon fishery are due to be released by the end of April.

Salmon tallies in 2025

The value of the 2025 commercial salmon harvest for all species was valued at approximately $541 million, a significant increase from $304 million in the 2024 season. 

For the 2025 Alaska salmon season, sockeyes accounted for approximately 58% of the total statewide value at $315 million, and 27% of the harvest at 53 million fish.

Pink salmon accounted for roughly 21% of the total value at $114 million, and 61% of the harvest with 119 million fish. Chum salmon contributed 14% of the value at $78 million and about 10% of the harvest at 20 million fish.

Coho salmon accounted for approximately 4% of the season’s overall salmon value at $21 million, and 1% of the harvest at 2 million fish. The Chinook salmon harvest was estimated at about 182,000 fish with a preliminary value of $12 million, 2% of the total ex-vessel value.

A total of 5,249 individual permit holders made commercial salmon landings in 2025, a decrease from 5,304 permits in 2024.

Average prices per pound paid to Alaska fishermen in 2025 increased for all salmon species:

Chinook salmon – $6.40
Sockeye – $1.17
Coho – $1.41
Pink – $.30
Chum – $.80