Fishing In Bristol Bay
Alaska is famous for its excellent fishing and fantastic fish dinners
. Fresh Alaskan fish is considered a delicacy and a special treat in many parts of the country.
Fishermen and women travel from all over the country to experience Alaska's beautiful nature, take part in competitions, and catch the wonderful treasure that can be found in Alaska's rivers, lakes, and streams. The highlight of every fisherman's trip is Bristol Bay.
Bristol Bay is known as the 'sockeye salmon capital of the world.' This bay is the center of commercial fishing for sockeye salmon.
The Naknek river, Kvichak river, Nushagak river, Togiak river, Ugashik river, and the Egegik river all meet at Bristol Bay and make up the commercial fisheries of southwest Alaska. The Bristol Bay is home to more sockeye salmon than any other location on the planet.
The sockeye salmon is also known as the 'red' salmon. The sockeye salmon industry is a multifaceted industry.
The top item of concern in this industry is known as 'escapement.' Escapement is the calculated number of sockeye salmon are released, or allowed to escape the fisheries.
It is critical that this number of fish is correct so that the future number of salmon in rivers and tributaries stays high enough to maintain a sizable population of salmon. In 1998, more than 6,000,000 sockeye salmon were allowed to escape up Bristol Bay's six rivers to sustain the salmon population.
Yearly, more than 1800 boats and 1000 set nets participate in the salmon industry. After these boats and nets catch the fish, the salmon are processed in on-shore factories.
These factories are called canneries. In these canneries, the salmon are canned and frozen.
There are 14 large factories that take the main responsibility for packaging these famous Alaskan salmon for shipping all over the nation. Eight of these 14 canneries stand by the entrance of the Naknek River alone.
When visiting the origin of excellent Alaskan fishing, there are helicopter and airplane companies that will take tourists for air tours of the major fishing areas. Land tours by bus are also available.
The land tour is ideal for learning more about how the commercial fishing industry operates. The most exciting time to tour these fishing areas is between June 23 and July 17.
Commercial fishing and canning of salmon on the United States west coast began in Washington, California in 1864. The first firm was named Hapgood, Hume & Co.
Hapgood, Hume & Co. canned over 2,000 cases of sockeye salmon in the first year of operation. The industry soon traveled northward and grew at incredible rates.
By the 1890's, commercial fishing companies had established themselves in Prince William Sound, Alaska and the Kodiak Island. Just before the 1900s, word traveled down from Alaska of a new 'red gold.'
The story told of a place where six rivers met in a bay that was home to more red salmon than any other location in the world. This bay became known as Bristol Bay and many fishermen's dream.
Commercial fishing around Bristol Bay was limited to the use of boats that relied on sail power for the following 50 years. This regulation was removed in 1951.
Due to the 'red gold' of the area, all boats became outfitted with modern diesel or gas engines along with other modern equipment by 1958. By the 1920's the boats on the bay were required to be no longer than 32 feet long.
This law is still strictly enforced today. However, the most binding restriction regarding Alaskan fishing was passed in 1974.
This law regulated and limited the entry permit system. This system limited the number of commercial fishing permits that made fishing in the Bristol Bay area legal.
Due to this restriction, the salmon population has reached a number as high as 60 million fish occasionally throughout the years in Bristol Bay. Commercial fishing is kept under very strict regulations through effective management in the Bristol area.
This management makes sure that at least a quarter of the salmon population is allowed to run up the rivers for a full life. This annually release typically occurs between the third week in June through the third week in July.
This time in Bristol Bay is known as the 'fastest paced commercial salmon season.' Bristol Bay is a major part of the economy and any fisherman's dream vacation.
by: Jack Landry
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