Strong Genetic Signals Detected for Sockeye Headed to the Kvichak and Egegik Rivers

The latest genetic stock composition estimates from the fish caught as part of the Port Moller Test Fishery show continued strength for sockeye bound for the Egegik and Kvichak Rivers. The estimates from the fish caught on June 25th and 26th shows that 22.8-percent of the sockeye were headed to the Egegik River and 27.8-percent are bound for the Kvichak River. 11.5-percent of the sockeye showed a genetic signal for the Ugashik River and 11.8-percent were bound for the Naknek River. For the Nushagak District the latest estimates show that 11.2-percent of the sockeye were bound for the Nushagak River and 10.8-percent were headed to the Wood River. Only 0.6-percent of the sockeye showed a genetic signal for the Igushik River. 1.3-percent of the analyzed sockeye showed a genetic signal for the Togiak River with another 1.3 showing a signal for the Alagnak River. Fish and Game reports that 0.8-percent of the analyzed sockeye showed a genetic signal for the North Peninsula. Those fish were harvested on June 25th and 26th. Using a 6 to 9 day travel time puts those fish in the inshore districts sometime next week. On Friday Fish and Game also released the genetic stock composition estimates for the sockeye caught on June 23rd and 24th. Using a 6-9 day travel time puts those fish in the inshore districts sometime today or in the next couple of days. 27.9-percent of the sockeye analyzed showed a genetic signal for the Naknek River and 22.2-percent were apparently headed to the Kvichak River. 22.7-percent of the fish were bound for the Egegik River and 8-percent were headed to the Ugashik River. 9.1-percent of the analyzed sockeye showed a genetic signal for the Wood River and 6.6-percent were apparently bound for the Nushagak River. Just 1.3-percent were headed to the Igushik River and 1.9-percent were bound for the Alagnak River. There was no genetic signal detected for Togiak River sockeye. The genetic stock composition estimates were generated using 380 sockeye caught between June 23rd and the 26th as part of the ongoing Port Moller Test Fishery. The sockeye were analyzed at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Gene Conservation Laboratory in Anchorage.