A recent surge of pink salmon has buoyed the hopes of some Prince William Sound seiners, but it may be too little too late. For reasons unknown, of the millions of fry released in 2024, returns are in the thousands. “It’s a little slow. We’re still waiting,” says Todd Johnson, Prince William Sound seine manager for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). “I think we’re going to make escapement on most of our streams. We’re going to hit some and miss on some. But there’s not much surplus, that’s for sure.”
As far as catch goes, many observers note that this season is on track to be the worst ever. “We’re not seeing a lot of wild returns,” says Johnson. “But yesterday [August 11] we had a common property fishery in the hatchery terminal areas. They made their escapement targets and wanted to clean up what was there before their brood take because the sex ratio was off. There were too many male fish, so they recommended a 12-hour opening.”
Johnson estimated that there were 100 boats between the Cannery Creek and Armin F Koernig hatcheries. “That’s common property so everybody went for it,” he says.
As for what caused the disappearance, Johnson refuses to speculate. “It’s likely more than one thing, and we can’t speculate broadly,” he says. “We may never know.”
Besides escapement and broodstock collection, the Prince William Sound hatcheries are allotted a percentage of the catch for cost recovery. The hatcheries determine how many fish they need to pay for their operations. “In agreement with the state, they have access to the SHA’s (special harvest areas) and THA’s (terminal harvest areas) where they can prosecute a fishery to earn enough to meet their goals.
Once escapement, broodstock collection, and cost recovery goals are met, fishermen are granted access to the surplus, and as Johnson notes, there is not much of that so far.
“The price is high,” says Henry Bell, a deckhand on the F/V Montauk. “So if we do get some, we’ll make good money on them. Right now it’s sixty cents, which is unheard of, and there’s rumors it might go up more.” Bell and other crew may not be making money, but they're enjoying their time in the sound. “It’s like a paid vacation, without the pay,” says Bell. “We’re rock climbing, hiking, skiff surfing—that’s where we pile a bunch of rocks in the back of the skiff so she squats down and makes a big wake and we surf it.”
But Bell does not have responsibility for the boat. Reportedly, owners and captains are already talking about disaster relief payments. In June of this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released $123 million in fisheries disaster payments to participants in six fisheries, including three in Alaska: the 2023/2024 Bering Sea snow crab fishery; the 2022 Chignik salmon fishery in Alaska; and the 2023 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Setnet salmon fishery in Alaska.
While hope may be fading for the 2026 season, Johnson notes that the hatcheries are meeting their targets and that next year is predicted to be much better. “We manage for the future and future stocks and strive to provide opportunity for the fishermen,” says Johnson.
