Bristol Bay s sockeye run of 63.2 million is the largest on record
Bristol Bay’s 2021 sockeye run is the largest on record; 63.2 million fish have returned to the bay, breaking the 2018 record of 62.9 million.
This is the fourth time since 1952 that the bay’s run has surpassed 60 million sockeye.
Alannah Hurley is a commercial fisherman from Dillingham, and the executive director of the United Tribes of Bristol Bay. She said it’s an exciting time to be here.
“Breaking these records since the commercial fishery has begun is just a real testament to the stewardship for thousands of years that our people have taken very seriously that responsibility,” she said.
A season of rough fishing in the Naknek-Kvichak
The run is tapering off in the Naknek-Kvichak District. Travis Elison, the district’s Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s East Area Management Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said fishing has been good, but the weather has been rough.
“It’s been a real stormy, windy year, with Southeast winds have been blowing the fish farther away from the set netters, and it sounds like the fish are running deep it sounded like, from talking to a lot of the fishermen. All of it just makes it harder for them to catch, he said.
Ugashik fisherman thankful for the harvest
Fleets in the Ugashik District have stayed busy over the past week. Fishermen harvested over 600,000 fish a day for three days in a row.
Jeremy Rubingh returned for his seventh season on the F/V Eva. He says like every year, he’s grateful for the opportunity to fish in the Ugashik.
“Ugashik has been great, it’s been a strong steady run, and just big beautiful fish, and every single year it’s an honor to be a part of in such an amazing thing,” he said. “You get reminded of the volume of fish and how special this is in the world”
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A bear at Brooks Falls. August 2019.
Credit Izzy Ross/KDLG
Katmai National Park and Preserve issued a temporary closure for a portion of Brooks River to allow the brown bears more access to the fishing grounds.
In an announcement, Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said the water levels in the Brooks River have been unusually high this year, and the bears have a harder time fishing in deep waters. This closure will give bears unhindered access to shallower waters.
The area is typically open to anglers, photographers, and tourists. Bears are most successful with their fishing without the interference or presence of humans. Leaving these waters open to humans could dissuade bears from fishing there.