Governor hits ADF&G budget
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes to the state’s FY 2020 operating budget have resulted in a $997,000 cut to the state commercial fisheries management division and another $280,000 reduction of funds for special area management, according to an analysis by United Fishermen of Alaska. A 50 percent reduction in travel is also ordered, including in the commercial fisheries group.

Fish-tax sharing okay, for now
The governor left intact the 50 percent sharing of state fish tax revenue with coastal communities. In the governor’s original budget proposal last February he proposed taking 100 percent of the fish tax revenue for the state. The local community share amounts to about $28 million this year.

Salmon stream high temperatures
High Alaska temperatures this summer brought a corresponding increase in water temperatures in salmon-bearing streams in Southcentral Alaska to record levels. Scientists found temperatures of 81.7 degrees in the Deshka River west of Anchorage and 73 degrees in the Anchor River on the Kenai Peninsula. Warm water is not good for spawning adult salmon or juveniles, making the fish lethargic and more vulnerable to predators. Water also loses oxygen as it warms, too. What worries people is that climate change may bring more very warm summers like 2019.

Norton Sound small crab quota
The small Norton Sound crab fishery is underway but with a quota of 147,000 pounds, about half of last year’s quota. However, the crab are big and healthy, which is one upside. Water temperatures in the Bering Sea are also high this summer, but how that will affect crab fisheries is unknown.

Bristol Bay catch is huge, again
Salmon are flooding into Bristol Bay again this summer, already topping the big catch last year. As of July 21 about 41 million salmon have been caught, most of them high-value sockeye salmon. The largest catch on record is 44 million sockeyes, in 1995. So far processors in the Bay are handling the volume. Sockeye prices are reported at $1.34 per pound, on average.