Pink salmon harvest exploding in Southeast Alaska; catch could be triple pre-season forecast of 19 million fish

Southeast Alaska's pink salmon harvest could hit 59 million fish, more than triple what was forecasted before the season began.

That's according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) data on the fishery through week 30, which started July 23 and ran through July 29. If the harvest reaches that size, it would rank "in the top 10 harvests since statehood," according to ADF&G commercial fisheries researchers Teresa Fish and Andy Piston.

Troy Thynes, ADF&G management coordinator for commercial fisheries in the area, told IntraFish Wednesday the Southeast Alaska purse seine fishery harvest is currently estimated around 15 million, which is almost at the preseason forecast of 19 million.