The pink harvest in 2007 is expected to reach 108 million fish statewide, which is the same number predicted by ADF&G last year. The actual pink harvest in 2006 was 73 million fish.

Overall sockeye numbers are expected to be down slightly state-wide in 2007, with a forecasted harvest of 40.9 million fish, compared to the sockeye harvest of 41.8 million in 2006.

The state’s largest sockeye producer, Bristol Bay, is expecting a harvest of 26.3 million sockeye on a return of 34.4 million fish. Bristol Bay saw a harvest of nearly 29 million sockeye in 2006, 33 percent above the forecast.

Upper Cook Inlet is anticipating an improved harvest of 3.3 million sockeye, up from a commercial catch of 2.2 million in 2006.

The 2006 harvest in the UCI district was unusual in many ways. The runs to both the Kenai and Susitna rivers arrived significantly later than normal, resulting in long-term restrictions to the majority of the commercial fishery in UCI. Because the Kasilof River was exceeding escapement objectives early in the season, the Kasilof Special Harvest Area at the terminus of the river was used aggressively to attempt to harvest fish in excess of escapement needs. As a result, approximately one-third of the entire UCI harvest was taken in an area covering about three square miles at the mouth of the Kasilof River.

Predictions for Lower Cook Inlet include a commercial harvest of 1.06 million pink salmon, well above the 800,000-fish projected harvest in 2006, but well below the actual 2006 harvest of 1.5 million pinks.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, re-introduced legislation last week prohibiting the development of any new off-shore aquaculture ventures in federal waters until Congress addresses the environmental issues associated with offshore aquaculture.

The bill also requires any new offshore-aquaculture sites to receive approval from the regional fishery management councils such as the North Pacific Fishery Management Council that regulates federal fisheries in Alaska, and that federal agencies consult with state governors. She introduced a similar bill last April.

“Alaska’s naturally healthy wild fish species, such as salmon, halibut, sablefish and crab are extremely important to our people and provide for sport, subsistence and commercial uses,” Murkowski said. “We cannot afford a rush to judgment on this issue - it is far too dangerous if we make a mistake. The legislation I am introducing today will establish the process for debate on whether to allow offshore aquaculture.”

The Bush administration is in the final stages of preparing a bill to allow offshore aquaculture development, and it plans to send the bill to Congress in the very near future.

“While the Administration’s draft bill is an improvement over past proposals, it still does not establish clear mandatory environmental standards for the aquaculture industry,” said Murkowski.

“I remain steadfast that any proposal should meet the standards of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con-servation and Management Act and the Jones Act.”