August 2, 2022 — While chum salmon runs in the western part of the state are crashing, hatchery chum salmon returns in Southeast are strong. The runs this year are promising to either meet or exceed expected numbers.
Southeast’s main hatchery operators are private non-profits that rear and release salmon to supplement commercial fisheries. Hatchery chums in the region are genetically indigenous fish but they’re raised in captivity and the fry are released into the ocean by the tens of millions. A small percent return three to five years later, nearly all of them caught by seiners, gillnetters, and trollers.
Hatchery chums are worth millions of dollars every year. The top season was in 2012, when they were valued at nearly $63 million.
Last year’s haul was worth about $25 million. This year will probably be better.
Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com