August 27, 2019, by admin

August at SSSC marks an exciting time. The return of the salmon. Pink salmon started showing up in the hatchery raceways during the first week of August. Sitka has had an unseasonably dry summer, so it only took a little bit of rain to start driving them in.

On August 26, the hatchery crew began sorting and culling the fish, as well as testing the females for ripeness. The majority of the fish tested are still “green”, meaning their eggs aren’t ready yet. The crew is hopeful that by the end of August, we will begin the 2019 egg take for pink salmon, with the chum salmon following closely behind.

Just a reminder, we offer guided tours through the hatchery every 30 minutes. Our trained interpreters will explain the history of salmon hatcheries and why they are important, as well as the process of spawning fish, and answer questions about the activities. Tours are included in the $7 admission, and operating hours in September are Monday-Saturday, 9-4, with the last tours at 3:30.