Alaska's 2026 salmon catch fell by half, but its value rose 20%

Alaska's commercial salmon fishermen landed far fewer fish this year but earned more. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game's preliminary 2026 summary, released Nov. 4, puts the statewide harvest at 99 million salmon. That's down 49% from 195 million in 2025. Even so, the catch was worth about $648 million at the dock, up 20% from $541 million, because average prices improved a lot.

ADF&G had expected a smaller catch. Pink salmon run on a cycle, with big returns in odd years and smaller ones in even years, and this year's total was close to 2024's 103.5 million. Even so, the harvest came in 21% below the preseason forecast of 126 million. Sockeye and pinks were each about 21% under forecast, coho 25% under and chum 22% under. Chinook beat the forecast by 13%.

Sockeye made up about 55% of the value ($360 million) and 39 million fish. Pinks totaled 44 million fish worth $95 million, chum 14 million worth $151 million, and coho 2 million worth $23 million. The Chinook harvest was about 222,000 fish, worth an estimated $19 million. In all, 5,350 permit holders made landings, up from 5,249 in 2025.

The state stresses that these numbers will change as fish tickets are finalized. The final value will be set in 2027, after processors report what they actually paid fishermen.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Nov. 4, 2026).