Preliminary harvest and value figures on the 2021 Alaska commercial salmon fishery show a value of $643.9 million, up from $295.2 million, with 233.8 million fish caught, compared to 116.8 million fish in 2020. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s preliminary figures show that sockeye salmon accounted for about 56% of the total value at $361.4 million and 24% of the harvest at just under 57 million fish.
Humpies accounted for about 28% of the value at $178.8 million and 69% of the harvest with under 161 million fish, Chums were nearly 10% of the value at $62.7 million and about 6% of the harvest with 128 million fish. The cohos comprised about 4% of the value at $23.9 million and 1% of the harvest at 2.7 million fish, Chinooks were estimated to include over 265,000 fish with an estimated preliminary exvessel value of $17.1 million.
The ADF&G report said a total of 6,362 individual permit holders made landings in 2021, a slight decrease from 6,496 individual permit holders in 2020.
The 2021 all-species commercial salmon harvest of 233.9 million fish and 858.5 million pounds is the third highest on record for both total fish harvested and total pounds harvested. Adjusted for inflation, the 2021 exvessel value estimate of $643.9 million is also the third highest exvessel value reported since 1975. State biologists noted that these are preliminary harvest and value estimates that will change as fish tickets are processed and finalized.
Dollar values provided by the fisheries agency are based on estimated exvessel prices and do not include post-season price adjustments. The final value of the 2021 fishery is to be determined in 2022 after seafood processors, buyers, and direct marketers report total value paid to fishermen in 2021.