July 16, 2023 — The peak of Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon run has past, and indications are the total catch will be lower than predicted.
Across Alaska, 42.3 million salmon of all types had been landed as of 13 July, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. In Bristol Bay, ADF&G forecasted a run of 51 million sockeye in the Bristol Bay watershed in 2023, which would have made it one of the best years ever in the bay. But initial catch figures are coming up short of projections.