CIAA: CIAA Salmon Enhancement Project Part 2

CIAA released 8,249,000 juvenile sockeye salmon and 505,000 juvenile coho salmon. Based on ADF&G harvest records, smolt migration and adult escapement monitoring, and standard survival assumptions, CIAA estimates 202,000 adult sockeye salmon returned. No successful estimate of the adult coho return is available. The cooperative relationship established with the Port Graham Hatchery has continued. CIAA released 702,000 juvenile sockeye salmon and is continuing to assist with future production and management of the Port Graham Hatchery program. Adult escapement was monitored at Larson Lake in 2005 and at Hidden and Chenik Lakes in 2006 and at Hidden Lake in 2007. Escapement data was routinely provided to ADF&G which resulted in improved management of the commercial fishery, particularly for Chenik Lake. The smolt migration was enumerated and described in 2005 and 2006. As a result of this monitoring and the presence of invasive northern pike, CIAA elected to suspend the Big Lake stocking project in 2008. Trail Lakes hatchery improvements have been completed. Staff have noted improved hatchery green egg to fry survival rates, but cannot attribute this change to any specific hatchery improvement.

The enhancement projects provide a significant portion of the salmon returning to CIAA enhancement project sites within Cook Inlet available for common property harvest. Commercial, subsistence and recreational fishers all rely on the enhancement efforts of CIAA.