King Salmon

King and silver salmon stocks in Anchorage could increase as a new state fish hatchery that has been in the works since 2010 starts its first summer release. Alaska Department of Fish and Game employees are now stocking local fishing spots with fish raised at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fishing Hatchery. They've raised about 5 million fish inside their new, state-of-the-art building at Ship Creek. It takes from two to five years for king salmon to return to places like Ship Creek, versus about a year for silver salmon.

Alaska Copper River salmon have begun their long journey from the ocean to dinner plates across the country, as commercial fishermen were allowed to begin casting nets for the fish Thursday morning. Fishermen in Cordova hope to cash in on the prized salmon, known for its superiority in the culinary world. Processing plants will get a better idea of the size of Thursday's catch, permitted during a 12-hour period, once ships begin returning later Thursday night. Channel 2 spoke with many fishermen on the water during the opener, however, who said they weren't getting much of a haul.

The Alaska Copper River commerical salmon season opener awaits fishermen in Cordova, poised to make a profit on the prized fish they're able to catch, beginning Thursday. It's the season many of the fishermen have been waiting months for, because Copper River salmon is prized by restaurant chefs and fish mongers as some of the best salmon in the world. "The Copper River is a very strong, powerful river, so these fish naturally have to be a stronger animal to fight these currents and get up to the spawning grounds," said Billy Green with Copper River Seafoods.

On Monday afternoon, six chefs from various places around the state competed in the "Great Alaska Seafood Cook Off. " The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute partnered with the Alaska Railroad Corporation to host the competition at the railroad depot at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Guests took a train ride down Turnagain Arm before arriving at the railroad depot. Alaska Airlines unveiled its' salmon-themed jet at the event. The chefs had an hour to prepare a dish featuring Alaska seafood to the panel of judges.

Homer Police say 57-year-old Dave Boone died in a construction accident on Friday, when the excavator he was operating flipped over. According to a press release, police and Homer volunteer firefighters responded to the accident off West Hill Rd. on Reber Dr.  They pronounced Boone dead at the scene. In a phone interview, his son Corey, tells Channel 2 that Boone was helping a friend clear some property to build a house.  "He was doing what he always did.  Helping people out," said Corey.  "We will always cherish the memories and adventures we shared over the years.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced 2012's Southeast Chinook salmon harvest quota on March 29. Under the pacific salmon treaty, Fish and Game says the Chinook salmon all-gear harvest quota is 266,800 fish. The 2012 quota is a lower than last year's quota of 294,800 fish. The Chinook technical committee of the pacific salmon commission determines the annual all-gear quotas for Southeast Alaska. Fish and Game says the number is based on the forecast of aggregate abundance of Pacific Coast Chinook salmon stocks.

A juvenile male suspect has been charged with murder after the stabbing death of a Nondalton man Thursday, according to Alaska State Troopers. Dillingham troopers were informed at about 4 p.m. Thursday that 68-year-old Alex Olympic had been declared dead at the Nondalton medical clinic after being stabbed. Responding troopers from Dillingham and King Salmon met with a Newhalen village public safety officer in Nondalton at about 6:30 p.m., when they learned that suspects in Olympic's death had fled on foot.

A three-day “State of Our Salmon” summit is underway in Bethel, hosted by the Association of Village Council Presidents, a regional organization that represents more than 50 tribes.   The gathering has brought together many experts to present research on Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim fisheries. Delegates from AVCP will also contribute traditional knowledge about Western Alaska salmon runs.    The conference was called as fishermen brace for the possibility of yet another season of subsistence closures and restrictions for king salmon, or chinooks, the staple of the diet for the region.

With rivers in Western Alaska still locked by ice, it may seem early to be talking about king salmon. But with weak returns expected again this season, for many, the dialogue can't begin soon enough.  State fish and game biologists are meeting in Anchorage this week to review escapement goals for the Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim region.  The discussion is the prelude to what could be a contentious summer, especially for those who have depended on...

Anchorage business leaders got an update on the proposed Susitna-Watana dam, one of those mega projects that Alaskans have dreamed about since the 1980's. The Alaska Energy Authority is developing it with funding from the state legislature. Wayne Dyok, the AEA's project manager for the proposed dam, told the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce that it would be built on the Susitna River, upstream from Devil's Canyon - about 50 miles northeast of Talkeetna.   At 700 feet high, it would become the eighth tallest dam in the world.  Once in place, it would form a reservoir 39 miles long and two miles wide.