This year’s Bristol Bay sockeye run is coming to a close, and it just surpassed the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s pre-season forecast of 44 million fish. But a few things stood out this year, including an unusually early run. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon spoke with biologists around the bay to get a better picture of the season.

Today, diesel-powered boats fish Bristol Bay’s waters by the hundreds. But it wasn’t always that way. Motorized fishing vessels were once banned in Bristol Bay. And in their place, sailboats dominated the commercial fishery. This year marks 75 years since the ban on powerboat fishing was lifted.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers say a body recovered from a beach near Egegik on July 11 has been confirmed to be Seth Whiteman of Eagle River. Whiteman, a 22-year-old crewmember on the Bristol Bay fishing vessel Sandman, was reported overboard on June 29. The Coast Guard searched the area with Alaska State Troopers for several hours by boat and helicopter, but suspended the search later that same night.

Bristol Bay’s sockeye are returning by the millions to their natal streams. But not all salmon find their way back home — some find new areas to spawn.

In all Alaskan fisheries, good data is a critical part of management. But the collection of that data doesn't have to be left to just scientists. Within Bristol Bay’s sport fishery, there’s a new way for guides to report their catches and observations, helping build a robust record of Bristol Bay catches. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon reports.

A Manokotak man faces murder charges after allegedly hitting another man in the head with a boat anchor, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Bristol Bay set netting used to be dominated by women. When the fishery's permit system started in the 70s, it had the highest rate of women permit holders in the state. But that's changed over the decades, and one researcher is digging into the decline and why it isn’t happening anywhere else. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon reports.

Despite being known for having the world’s largest sockeye run, Bristol Bay is home to much more marine life than salmon—one of them being beluga whales. A recent study on the Bristol Bay belugas has revealed a complex mating system that may be keeping the species alive.

Silver Bay Seafoods announced it was partnering with former Bristol Bay competitor Northline Seafoods in April, just days after Northline’s CEO resigned. This sudden shift occurred just a few months before the start of the sockeye season, leaving fishermen feeling uneasy about Bristol Bay’s market diversity

For over 70 years, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has used counting towers in Bristol Bay to track salmon escapement. That means techs hand count each fish that swims by. But new technology is on its way to the Bay. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon visited a research site on the Wood River to learn what AI and drones could mean for the fishery.