Ocean conditions affecting fisheries

Ocean conditions, likely related to climate change, are beginning to affect Alaska sheries in a signi cant way. The International Halibut Commission will meet Jan. 22-26 in Portland, Ore. to hear scientists explain a drop in halibut numbers by 23 percent and the halibut biomass by 10 percent, which the commission use as a basis for an expected 20 percent cut in commercial harvests. Water temperatures are blamed.

Pacific cod harvests in the Gulf of Alaska will be cut 80 percent under recommendations of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Kodiak will be particularly hard hit and community leaders are asking Gov. Bill Walker for a disaster declaration. The cod declines are also related to ocean conditions.

Crab harvests are also down this winter and water temperatures and other conditions are being blamed. Bristol Bay red king crab harvest quotas will be the lowest in 20 year at 6.6 million pounds. The big Bering Sea snow crab quota is also down compared with last year, to 18.9 million pounds. A western Bering Sea tanner crab is being allowed, at 2.2 million pounds, but the eastern Bering tanner shery is closed. Last year the entire tanner crab fishery was closed.

Finally, Southeast king salmon are being killed off along a 300-mile coast, from Haines to the Ketchikan area, and scientists can’t determine why, although warm waters and ocean conditions are again suspect. State sh and game biologists released a set of dire forecasts for king salmon in late December and the state Board of Fisheries will discuss management options at its January meeting in Sitka.