This award to the alaska department of fish and games division of sportfish funds 44 research projects across the state of alaska

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior, awarded $13.2 million in Sport Fish Restoration program funding (CFDA 15.605) to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sportfish for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This formula grant funds 44 research and monitoring projects across Alaska designed to support the conservation and management of sport fish populations, including Pacific salmon species, rainbow and lake trout, Arctic char, Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, and saltwater species such as halibut and lingcod.

The projects deliver fisheries management data and monitoring services essential for sustainable harvest management. Specific products and services include the installation and operation of fish weirs that enumerate salmon migrating upstream to spawn, enabling accurate escapement monitoring for population assessment. Additionally, the award funds creel surveys conducted by technicians who collect comprehensive data on harvested fish including species identification, length, weight, sex, and condition from returning anglers. These data collection efforts provide critical information to fisheries managers for determining sustainable harvest levels that balance recreational and subsistence user access with sufficient spawning populations to maintain viable fisheries across Alaska's geographically distinct regions.

Alaska is a very large, geographically isolated and distinct state that not only is a stronghold for 5 species of pacific salmon, but is also a destination for anglers targeting rainbow and lake trout, arctic char, dolly varden, arctic grayling, burbot, and northern pike in freshwater and halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and many other species in saltwater. Each of the 44 projects in this award focus on specific species and special needs for specific geographic areas. Anadromous salmon live most of their lifecycle in the ocean but come to the rivers to spawn. Many of the projects covered in this grant fund fish weirs that funnel salmon into areas where each fish migrating upstream to spawn can be counted. Several of the projects in this award fund creel surveys, where technicians interview anglers returning from fishing excursions. Valuable data is collected on species, length, weight, SEX, and condition. Managers use this information to allow sportfish and subsistence users to harvest as many fish as possible while still allowing sufficient spawners to perpetuate the species and maintain a sustainable fishery.