Southeast Alaska's Chinook Salmon Catch Limit Returns to Normal Levels

Fishers in the region will be allowed to harvest 205,300 chinook salmon this year, up from a record low in 2025.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Fishers in Southeast Alaska will be allowed to harvest 205,300 chinook salmon this year, returning to a normal total after last year's ultra-low harvest limit of 133,500 fish. The increased catch limit reflects improvements in abundance and ocean conditions for the highly prized chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, which are subject to management under the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty.

Why it matters

Chinook salmon are the smallest total harvest of Alaska's five salmon species, but they fetch the highest market prices. The management of Southeast Alaska's chinook salmon is a complex, international process involving various U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions through the Pacific Salmon Treaty, as the highly migratory fish cross borders. Last year's record-low catch limit posed hardships on fishing-dependent communities in the region.

The details

The 205,300 chinook salmon catch limit for Southeast Alaska this year was announced by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. It was determined through the Pacific Salmon Treaty process, which involves regional panels and technical committees providing information to the bilateral Pacific Salmon Commission. Last year's limit of 133,500 fish was the lowest since the treaty went into effect in 1985, but post-season analysis showed it was overly conservative and another 53,800 chinook could have been safely caught. Most of this year's Southeast Alaska chinook catch, about 146,000 fish, is allocated to harvesters using troll gear, which allows for careful handling and high-quality product.

  • Last year's Southeast chinook catch limit of 133,500 fish was the lowest in any year since the Pacific Salmon Treaty went into effect in 1985.
  • This year's Southeast Alaska chinook salmon catch limit of 205,300 fish was announced in April 2026.

The players

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

The state agency that announced the 2026 Southeast Alaska chinook salmon catch limit.

Pacific Salmon Treaty

The international agreement between the U.S. and Canada that governs the management of highly migratory chinook salmon that swim through both countries' waters.

Pacific Salmon Commission

The bilateral decision-making body under the Pacific Salmon Treaty that sets the annual catch limits for chinook salmon in the region.

Dani Evenson

The Pacific Salmon Treaty and Arctic Policy Coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Division of Commercial Fisheries.

Alaska Board of Fisheries

The state board that determines the allocation of the Southeast Alaska chinook salmon catch, with the majority going to troll fishers.

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What they’re saying

“'They kind of ignore things like international borders and jurisdictions, and they're going to do what they do. And so we have this treaty where we share the burden of conservation, we share the available catch. And it's a shared resource.'”

— Dani Evenson, Pacific Salmon Treaty and Arctic Policy Coordinator, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

“'Last year was terrible.'”

— Dani Evenson, Pacific Salmon Treaty and Arctic Policy Coordinator, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

“'Chinook have been a flashpoint. It seems prudent to approach more cautiously.'”

— Dani Evenson, Pacific Salmon Treaty and Arctic Policy Coordinator, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

What’s next

The Pacific Salmon Commission will continue to monitor chinook salmon abundance and ocean conditions to inform future catch limit decisions for Southeast Alaska and other regions covered by the treaty.

The takeaway

The return to a more normal chinook salmon catch limit in Southeast Alaska this year is a positive development for the region's fishing-dependent communities, but the complex management of this highly migratory species under the Pacific Salmon Treaty remains a delicate balance between conservation needs and allocation of the available catch.