This project to the alaska department of fish & game will estimate smolt abundance along with adult escapement and harvest of the chilkat river stock of chinook salmon

This $512,630 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 support the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) in conducting scientific research and conservation efforts for the Chilkat River stock of Chinook salmon. The funding will be used to estimate smolt abundance, adult escapement, and harvest of this salmon population, allowing for the calculation of annual total run, sex and age composition, coded wire tag and adipose fin-clip marked fractions, freshwater production, marine survival, calendar year harvest rate, and exploitation by brood year. This data will inform abundance-based management strategies for the Chilkat Chinook stock. The project will take place in Juneau, Alaska and is scheduled for completion by August 31, 2025.

This will allow estimates of annual total run, SEX and age composition of the escapement, coded wire tag (CWT) and adipose FIN-clip marked fractions, freshwater production, marine survival, calendar year harvest rate, and exploitations by brood year. Results would be used in abundance-based management of the chilkat chinook stock.