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Bristol Bay Fisheries Report: July 12, 2019

Sage Smiley/KDLG

The Nushagak has surpassed 2017's cumulative harvest. That means that 2019 has now hauled in the second largest harvest in the history of the district. The Kvichak is seeing one of its latest runs on record, but drifters there could finally be seeing an opener in that section tomorrow. And the wait is over for fishermen who want to transfer to Egegik, which reached its midrange escapement

Our 2019 Fund Drive is underway. This show, dedicated to this fishery and its fishermen, needs your support! Wherever you are, please make a contribution online or by calling 907-842-5281 or toll free at 1800-478-5354.

At 12.69 million fish, the 2019 cumulative harvest is the second largest in the history of the district. Yesterday was the first time the fleet hauled in less than half a million fish since June 27. We hear from area  management biologist Tim Sands.

It has been a tremendous season for Egegik so far. It has exceeded the mid-point of the escapement goal range, so the 48 hour wait to transfer to the district has been waived. We talk to the Alaska General Seafoods fleet manager from the district about some factors that might affect this year’s prices and fleet effort during a busy year. 

The Kvichak section of the Naknek-Kvichak district hasn’t opened once yet this season, because it’s seeing one of its latest runs ever. But that might be about to change. KDLG’s Sage Smiley spoke with management biologist Travis Elison earlier today about the imminent possibility of the entire district’s first drift opener. 

 
And we hear about a spout of vandalism at the Dillingham harbor – the second year in a row this has happened on the same date. 

 
Catch this program nightly live at 6 p.m., with replays at 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on AM 670, and online at KDLG.org. (With early broadcasts of the numbers Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.)

Letters from home to your friends and family in the Bay this summer? Email us at fish@kdlg.org or call 907-842-5281.

Have feedback or suggestions of something you'd like to hear? Reach Izzy Ross / Tyler Thompson / Alex Hager / Sage Smiley (in Naknek)

 

Credit KDLG/Sage Smiley

Contact the author at isabelle@kdlg.org 907-842-2200.

Izzy Ross is the news director at KDLG, the NPR member station in Dillingham. She reports, edits, and hosts stories from around the Bristol Bay region, and collaborates with other radio stations across the state.