2012 Norton Sound Salmon Fisheries Outlook and Management Strategies

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Regional Information Report No. 3A.2012.03, Anchorage

This report provides the expected run outlooks, management issues, and harvest strategies for Norton Sound salmon fisheries in 2012. Commercial and subsistence salmon fisheries occur in Norton Sound and the area is comprised of two commercial fishing districts, the Norton Sound District and the PortClarenceDistrict. Norton Sound District extends from CapeDouglas south to Point Romanof and includes over 500 miles of coastline. The area open to commercial salmon fishing is divided into six subdistricts. Each subdistrict contains at least one major spawning stream with commercial fishing effort located in the ocean often near stream mouths. The PortClarenceDistrict encompasses all waters from CapeDouglas north to CapePrince of Wales. The area open to commercial salmon fishing is near the villages of Teller and Brevig Mission. Management strategies may change inseason based upon assessment of Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, chum O. keta, sockeye O. nerka, pink O. gorbuscha, and coho O. kisutch salmon runs.