November 11, 2026 — Prince William Sound’s 2026 commercial salmon harvest of 7.7 million fish had an estimated value of $49.57 million – 45% less than the 10-year average, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The preliminary estimate released last week included the commercial and hatchery cost recovery. The 10-year average value for all five species of Pacific salmon for the years 2016 through 2025 was $90.63 million.

The preliminary 2026 harvest was composed of 4,760 Chinook, 763,000 sockeye, 406,000 coho, 5.4 million pink, and 1.13 million chum salmon. State biologists said the below-average value largely reflected below forecast sockeye, pink and chum salmon runs. A total of 382 drift gillnet, 24 set gillnet and 176 purse seine permit holders fished at least one fishing period in 2026.

Read the full article at The Cordova Times