Alaska's 2024 Salmon Harvest Hit by Declines in Returns and Fish Size

Alaska's 2024 salmon harvest struggled with weak returns of pink and sockeye salmon and a significant reduction in fish size. The sockeye harvest fell 5% below the 20-year average in fish numbers, but volume dropped more steeply, down 22%, due to smaller fish. In Bristol Bay, Alaska's primary sockeye region, the average sockeye weight reached a record low of 4.53 pounds (lbs), reflecting the challenges faced during this season.