The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) on Thursday, published the preliminary harvest and value figures for the 2022 Alaska Commercial Salmon Fishery.
The 2022 commercial salmon fishery all species harvest was valued at approximately $720.4 million, an increase from the 2021 fishery value of $643.9 million. A total of 160.7 million fish were harvested, a 31% decrease from the 2021 total harvest of 233.8 million fish. This decrease is explained by relatively low pink salmon run size in 2022, a consistent trend for even-numbered years over the last decade. Of this total, sockeye salmon accounted for approximately 66% of the total value at $473.8 million and 47% of the harvest at 74.8 million fish. Pink salmon comprised 14% of the value at $102.2 million, and 43% of the harvest with 69.1 million fish. Chum salmon contributed 15% of the value at $110.6 million and approximately 9% of the harvest at 14.9 million fish. Coho salmon made up approximately 2% of the value at $15.0 million and 1% of the harvest at 1.6 million fish. Chinook salmon harvest is estimated to be just under 310,000 fish with an estimated preliminary exvessel value of $18.8 million. A total of 6,126 individual permit holders made commercial salmon landings in 2022, a slight decrease from 2021 (6,362 permits).
When compared to the long-term time-series (1985-2021), the 2022 all-species commercial salmon harvest of approximately 160.7 million fish is close to the long-term average (167 million fish) and is the largest even-year harvest since 2010. In terms of pounds harvested, the 2022 harvest of 734.2 million pounds is slightly below the long-term average (762 million pounds) and is the third largest even year volume in the new millennium. Adjusted for inflation (CPI, 2022 prices), the 2022 exvessel value estimate of $720.4 million is the twenty-fourth lowest exvessel value reported since 1975.
The 2022 statewide sockeye salmon harvest of 74.8 million fish is the largest on record, mostly due to significant harvests in the Bristol Bay Area.
These are preliminary harvest and value estimates which will change as fish tickets are processed and finalized. Dollar values provided by ADF&G are based on estimated exvessel prices and do not include post-season price adjustments. The final value of the 2022 salmon fishery will be determined in 2023 after seafood processors, buyers, and direct marketers report total value paid to fishermen in 2022.