Alaska Salmon Fisheries
The salmon fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska are managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the Coast of Alaska (salmon FMP).
Salmon Fisheries Management
The Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the Coast of Alaska (salmon FMP) allows a commercial troll fishery in the EEZ off Southeast Alaska, and closes the remaining EEZ off Central and Western Alaska to commercial salmon fishing. With the adoption of Amendment 16 (89 FR 34718, April 30, 2024), the salmon FMP also allows commercial drift gillnet and recreational salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area (defined as the EEZ waters of Cook Inlet north of a line at 59°46.15′ N) under Federal management. All other commercial salmon fishing occurs either in state waters or in one of two historical State-managed net fishing areas that extend into the EEZ (Prince William Sound and Alaska Peninsula).
The fishery in the Cook Inlet EEZ is a mixed-stock, mixed-species fishery that primarily targets sockeye (O. nerka) salmon, but also chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch), pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) and chum salmon (O. keta). It is a federally managed fishery.
The salmon FMP delegates management of the commercial troll fishery in Southeast Alaska to the State of Alaska and, under the Pacific Salmon Treaty, the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Commission. The Southeast Alaska troll fishery is a mixed-stock, mixed-species fishery that primarily targets chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho salmon (O. kisutch), with pink salmon (O. gorbuscha), chum salmon (O. keta), and sockeye salmon (O. nerka) taken incidentally.
The NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region has jurisdiction over the salmon species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Related Resources
- Salmon Management in the Federal Waters of Cook Inlet (Cook Inlet EEZ)
- FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the Coast of Alaska and FMP Amendments
- Environmental Impact Statement for Issuance of an Incidental Take Statement for Salmon Fisheries in Southeast Alaska Subject to the Pacific Salmon Treaty and Funding to the State of Alaska
- North Pacific Fishery Management Council Cook Inlet Salmon Committee
- Chinook Salmon Bycatch
- Non-Chinook Salmon Bycatch
- Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery Buyback Program
- State of Alaska Commercial Salmon Fisheries
- State of Alaska Sport Salmon Fisheries
- State of Alaska Personal Use Salmon Fisheries
- State of Alaska Subsistence Salmon Fisheries
- Federal Fisheries in Alaska