August 14, 2023, by Lisa Teas Conaway

Pink and Chum salmon have returned to the hatchery in large numbers. Having competed their lifecycle the salmon are ready to spawn to seed the next generation.

Our hatchery staff and students are getting ready to receive them. But before the spawning, we are conducting cost recovery fishing.

Each year we contract with a fish processor (Silver Bay Seafoods) who hires a seiner to net up the pinks and chums in our special use permit area in accordance with Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  The profits are split between all involved & the Sitka Sound Science Center uses its share to ensure the hatchery continues to operate in a safe & sustainable way. This year the price for pink salmon is quite low which makes it difficult for our hatchery, and other hatcheries in the region, to recoup the costs of operations.

Sitka Sound Science Center is the only teaching hatchery in Alaska and it was the first salmon hatchery permitted by the State of Alaska. To learn more or help fund our efforts visit our hatchery workings here.

Seiner pictured is f/v Lucy-O, Captained by Nick Olny-Miller with a heavy net full of salmon & The Star of the Sea syphoning the catch to their below deck holding tanks.

Photo credit to Davey Lubin.