News Summary July 5, 2017

Today's Main Story: Bristol Bay Leads State with Strong Sockeye Landings 

Leading the news is a recap of Sockeye landings in Bristol Bay. Another five million fish were landed since the July 4th holiday for a cumulative harvest of 9.83 million sockeye as of July 3. The pre-season forecast of an estimated 27.5 million sockeye remains solid with strong numbers at the Port Moller test fishery as of July 1. At nearly all testing stations, the numbers have increased in the days prior to July 1, especially in larger mesh gear. More recent totals will be available towards the end of the week. With a 5-6 day travel time from Port Moller to the Bristol Bay fleet, test data from July 2 on will help gauge how close the pre-season run forecast is in both timing and size. Cumulative escapement for all five river districts in the Bay is 3.7 million as of July 3, with an in-river estimate of about half a million, just over a third of the estimated goal of 12.46 million.

Meanwhile, at least four commercial fishing vessels partially sank in Bristol Bay after boats heavy with salmon had difficulty navigating poor weather in the region. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough said the four vessels were all partially submerged Monday in different parts of Nushagak Bay after they were swamped by waves and began taking on water. He said all of the vessels were commercial salmon fishing. Colclough said Good Samaritan vessels assisted in recovering everyone on board and no one was injured. He did not know Monday how many people were rescued. He said an investigation into the incidents was ongoing Monday and that a definitive caus