Fishermen have been reporting smaller-than-usual sockeye in Bristol Bay, and a Fish and Game researcher said the data confirms those reports.
Fishermen have been reporting smaller-than-average sockeye this summer.
KDLG's Molly Dischner has more.
Fish and Game’s Chuck Brazil crunched the numbers on fish showing up in nets here in the bay.
“We are seeing smaller fish than average,” Brazil said. “The normal average length, for sockeye, is 541 millimeters and this year the average is 514, which is a decrease of just over 5 percent.”
Brazil said sockeye are smaller by weight, too.
“The average weight is 5.83 pounds and right now what we’re seeing in the commercial fishery is average weights of 4.87 pounds, which is 17 percent decrease from the average, we’re also seeing the same decreases, about 20 percent, across the state, with sockeye weights,” Brazil said.
Brazil said ocean conditions are one possible reason for the decline.