Subsistence salmon harvests in the Kuskokwim area, 2008 and 2009

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 12-35, Anchorage.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) in partnership with Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) in Bethel and Kuskokwim Native Association (KNA) in Aniak has utilized a voluntary survey program to estimate salmon harvest for the Kuskokwim Area. Harvest information was collected through postseason household interviews and harvest calendars.  Simple random sampling, stratified random sampling and 100% census techniques were used to select households to be interviewed, based on community size and user group designations. For the community of Bethel, subsistence salmon harvest information was collected by ONC. Subsistence salmon harvest information was collected by KNA in Aniak, and ADF&G surveyed the remaining communities in the Kuskokwim Area. Data from surveyed households were expanded to estimate the harvest of un-surveyed households when historical data for that community existed.   In 2008, 992 households were surveyed in 23 communities in the Kuskokwim Area, including Kongiganak in North Kuskokwim Bay, communities along the Kuskokwim River, and the communities of South Kuskokwim Bay.  Salmon harvest estimates for 2008 were: 103,713 Chinook; 71,649 chum; 64,183 sockeye; 52,742 coho; and 1,342 pink salmon. In 2009 1,699 households were surveyed in 27 communities.  Salmon harvests for the same area in 2009 were: 82,100 Chinook; 45,199 chum; 37,971 sockeye; and 32,090 coho, and 563 pink salmon.