Funds provided for this project will be used to maintain or increase coded-wire-tag sampling rates for chinook salmon caught in commercial fisheries in southeast alaska at an objective of 20% or…

This $758,500 federal Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Pacific Salmon Treaty Program (CFDA 11.438) will fund the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) to maintain or increase coded-wire-tag sampling rates for chinook salmon caught in Southeast Alaska commercial fisheries.

The key objective is to ensure that at least 20% of chinook salmon caught in the commercial fisheries of Southeast Alaska are sampled for coded-wire-tags to meet obligations under the US/Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty. This project will help sustain the viability of the coastwide coded-wire-tag recovery program by enabling ADF&G's Mark, Tag and Age Laboratory to continue recovering and processing coded-wire-tags from commercial fisheries in the face of federal and state budget reductions. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.

Funds provided for this project will be used to maintain or increase coded-wire-tag sampling rates for chinook salmon caught in commercial fisheries in southeast alaska at an objective of 20% or more each statistical week, gear, and strata. This project will maintain the viability of the coastwide coded-wire-tag recovery program by ensuring that the alaska department of fish and games mark, tag and age laboratory can recover and process coded-wire-tags from commercial fisheries in southeast alaska in the face of ongoing federal and statewide budget reductions and shortfalls. The intent is to ensure that at least 20% of chinook salmon caught in the commercial fisheries of southeast alaska is sampled for coded-wire-tags to meet obligations prescribed within the US/canada pacific salmon treaty.