Separation of sockeye salmon stocks in east side Bristol Bay commercial harvests, 1983-1989

Abstract

Even though the fishery along the east side of Bristol Bay is considered to be a terminal fishery, the fishery does harvest mixed stocks. When mixed stocks are harvested, catch allocation and run strength estimates become questionable. Using scale growth analyses, the stock compositions of the commercial catches were estimated for 1983-1985. Classification accuracies for the scale measurement models created for 1983-1985 ranged from approximately 70%-81% correct classification. The highest interception rates, 32%-46%, were estimated in the Egegik and Ugashik Districts in 1984 and 1985. Lower amounts of interception were estimated in 1983 for all districts. Interception rates for 1983-1985 were combined with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game results for 1986-1989 to look for trends in interception. With only seven years of data, little could be substantiated from regressions and graphical analysis.