"Correlation Pink Salmon / Chinook Salmon
Many salmon researchers and scientists have observed that as pink salmon abundance has ramped up to over 400 million fish in the Northern Pacific Ocean there has been a corresponding decline in both the harvest numbers and weight of harvested Chinook salmon during the same time period. A record copy (RC178) submitted by Virgil Umphenhour of the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee to the recent Southeast Alaska Board of Fisheries meeting in Ketchikan features graphs that vividly illustrate these correlations.
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/...orting_Information_for_Proposal_156_.pdfDespite these correlations between pink salmon abundances / reduction in Chinook salmon harvest numbers and weights (which may be compounded by hatchery releases of over a billion small pink salmon some years in State of Alaska waters) the Board of Fisheries and Commissioner of Fish and Game have repeatedly declined to reduce pink salmon hatchery release numbers (on a precautionary basis) to possibly aid in recovery of Alaska’s designated Chinook Salmon Stocks of Concern.
The ADF&G Commissioner and official department staff statements have maintained, that although there is correlation between pink salmon abundance / declines in Chinook salmon harvests and individual Chinook salmon size, those correlations and / or food competition from large pink salmon hatchery releases may not be the cause or sole cause of declines in Alaska-origin Chinook salmon populations.
Since significant reductions in so-called Private Non Profit (PNP) salmon hatchery operations / salmon release numbers would undoubtedly have some negative economic impacts, it is understandable that the Commissioner, Board of Fisheries, and those possibly benefiting from raising / harvesting / processing significant volumes of hatchery salmon could be reluctant to make or see any reductions in Alaska’s PNP hatchery operations / releases. Meanwhile, ADF&G data shows continued decline in specific major wild Alaska chinook salmon populations — even after near-river commercial and inriver subsistence, personal use, sport and / or commercial fisheries have been reduced for more than decade, and some reduced to total king salmon fishery extinction. With many traditional Alaska chinook salmon fisheries now extinct, and major Alaska Chinook populations still in decline, or not showing much recovery, how long will it be before specific Alaska Chinook population extinctions may occur?
Does anyone else believe that the correlation between pink salmon abundance / Chinook salmon reductions, if addressed through adaptive management, has a an inexplicably greater likelihood of increasing marine Chinook salmon productivity / survival than total harvest closures of near – river / inriver Chinook salmon returns (AFTER poor marine survival has already reduced Chinook returns below spawner replacement levels)?"
Source: AOC Andy Couch.
