Copper River Sockeye Harvest Looks to be Way Below Forecast, Escapement Levels Above Minimum Guidelines
SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton June 13, 2016
The first pulse of Sockeye for the Copper River drift fishery has been considerably below forecast.
Through week 24 (6/11), the total sockeye harvest was 451,000 fish, vs. the five year average of 1.16 million, and last year's harvest of 967,000.
Sockeye returns mostly consist of 4 and 5 years old fish, and both 2011 and 2012 runs were way above expectations for the Copper River, with harvests and escapements exceeding preseason forecasts.
This led to this years preseason forecast of around 1.2 million fish, similar to the five year average.
However, the charts show the run is falling way short. The seventh
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