Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
The Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH) is the second PWSAC-owned hatchery located in Lake Bay on the southern end of Esther Island in Prince William Sound, approximately 20 miles east of Whittier. The hatchery was built in 1985 with monies borrowed from the Alaska Fisheries Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund. WNH is currently permitted for 148 million pink, 165 million chum, 4 million coho, and 4 million Chinook salmon eggs annually. Sockeye salmon were also cultured at WNH in the past and was was transferred to the Main Bay Hatchery in 1990.
Rob Unger is the WNH Hatchery Manager. He leads a permanent staff of eight on-site year-round, with a seasonal staff of 20 during the summer. Rob has worked with PWSAC since 1996 and he has a B.S. in Biology from Northland College.
All the Hatchery Managers enjoy giving tours, showing off their hatcheries and the fish, so please stop by if you are in the area. All the hatcheries can be contacted on VHF 16.
WNH Pink Salmon Production Summary
Brood Year |
Green Eggs |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Marine Survival |
| 1985 | 53,593,141 | 34,437,214 | 3,011,956 | 8.75% |
| 1986 | 78,909,893 | 75,932,715 | 3,866,618 | 5.09% |
| 1987 | 207,953,763 | 195,321,335 | 5,826,294 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 180,262,542 | 159,920,124 | 13,707,591 | 8.57% |
| 1989 | 269,624,688 | 233,627,908 | 12,094,645 | 5.18% |
| 1990 | 240,097,347 | 205,728,325 | 2,012,346 | 0.98% |
| 1991 | 180,470,137 | 163,591,233 | 1,509,324 | 0.92% |
| 1992 | 184,752,082 | 172,078,972 | 6,094,141 | 3.54% |
| 1993 | 180,559,831 | 162,386,766 | 2,449,283 | 1.51% |
| 1994 | 188,110,652 | 168,857,426 | 5,323,401 | 3.15% |
| 1995 | 188,506,249 | 169,508,993 | 6,194,964 | 3.65% |
| 1996 | 115,818,276 | 106,440,456 | 8,542,600 | 8.03% |
| 1997 | 110,288,679 | 103,675,208 | 9,466,850 | 9.13% |
| 1998 | 130,197,003 | 127,355,213 | 8,361,734 | 6.57% |
| 1999 | 130,003,972 | 116,069,339 | 7,181,077 | 6.19% |
| 2000 | 131,308,166 | 127,650,249 | 5,617,122 | 4.40% |
| 2001 | 119,081,166 | 106,229,524 | 17,847,316 | 16.80% |
| 2002 | 132,655,040 | 119,533,743 | 2,704,727 | 2.26% |
| 2003 | 119,361,534 | 109,640,296 | 9,164,154 | 8.36% |
| 2004 | 94,862,542 | 84,060,920 | 4,065,035 | 4.84% |
| 2005 | 96,333,418 | 84,795,328 | 7,540,222 | 8.89% |
| 2006 | 91,800,000 | 77,200,000 | 8,737,521 | 11.32% |
| 2007 | 148,000,000 | 136,000,000 | 3,237,521 | 2.38% |
| 2008 | 148,000,000 | 128,000,000 | 17,243,401 | 13.47% |
| 2009 | 148,000,000 | 136,000,000 | 6,647,471 | 4.89% |
| 2010 | 148,000,000 | 136,000,000 | ||
| 2011 | 148,000,000 |
WNH Chum Salmon Production Summary – Lake Bay Release
Brood Year |
Green Eggs |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Marine Survival |
| 1983 | 21,560,438 | 7,436,397 | 259,002 | 3.48% |
| 1984 | 16,801,595 | 12,466,732 | 125,988 | 1.01% |
| 1985 | 17,393,190 | 15,172,261 | 400,122 | 5.89% |
| 1986 | 40,181,541 | 36,451,476 | 290,598 | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 82,637,512 | 68,388,803 | 202,808 | 0.28% |
| 1988 | 101,500,872 | 79,845,649 | 1,054,839 | 1.32% |
| 1989 | 53,359,960 | 46,981,584 | 1,391,685 | 2.96% |
| 1990 | 85,298,403 | 76,842,328 | 371,053 | 0.48% |
| 1991 | 113,196,809 | 97,953,492 | 759,887 | 0.78% |
| 1992 | 112,427,380 | 107,992,433 | 2,741,415 | 2.54% |
| 1993 | 111,200,784 | 82,029,614 | 973,540 | 1.19% |
| 1994 | 109,164,711 | 72,253,643 | 652,125 | 0.90% |
| 1995 | 111,213,387 | 79,540,128 | 1,966,823 | 2.47% |
| 1996 | 110,336,443 | 69,963,572 | 41,34,840 | 5.91% |
| 1997 | 111,281,591 | 77,838,928 | 1,375,502 | 1.77% |
| 1998 | 111,129,724 | 75,020,785 | 6,096,648 | 8.13% |
| 1999 | 111,010,849 | 76,306,351 | 2,390,585 | 3.13% |
| 2000 | 81,922,013 | 57,712,566 | 1,271,427 | 2.20% |
| 2001 | 114,083,514 | 75,341,899 | 2,717,415 | 3.61% |
| 2002 | 115,637,488 | 59,466,039 | 699,744 | 1.18% |
| 2003 | 151,526,806 | 73,883,852 | 4,009,202 | 5.43% |
| 2004 | 148,419,530 | 71,343,434 | 2,739,697 | 3.84% |
| 2005 | 167,770,221 | 90,403,140 | 1,895,892 | 2.10% |
| 2006 | 170,000,000 | 73,500,000 | Age-3,4,5: 4,438,625 | 6.04% |
| 2007 | 130,000,000 | 76,900,000 | Age-3,4: 153,366 | 0.20% |
| 2008 | 130,600,000 | 71,900,000 | Age-3: 21,272 | 0.03% |
| 2009 | 130,600,000 | 76,500,000 | ||
| 2010 | 130,600,000 | 69,000,000 | ||
| 2011 | 130,600,000 |
WNH Chum Salmon Production Summary – Port Chalmers Release
| Brood Year | Fry Released | Total Return | Marine Survival |
| 1993 | 18,078,288 | 281,982 | 1.56% |
| 1994 | 24,210,845 | 162,721 | 0.67% |
| 1995 | 22,546,239 | 574,746 | 2.55% |
| 1996 | 17,272,475 | 1,156,916 | 6.70% |
| 1997 | 22,105,799 | 271,626 | 1.23% |
| 1998 | 24,273,399 | 1,346,221 | 5.55% |
| 1999 | 24,045,577 | 651,096 | 2.71% |
| 2000 | 18,403,759 | 239,289 | 1.30% |
| 2001 | 25,913,467 | 443,244 | 1.71% |
| 2002 | 23,522,253 | 180,861 | 0.77% |
| 2003 | 41,090,505 | 1,151,483 | 2.80% |
| 2004 | 40,478,815 | 972,064 | 2.40% |
| 2005 | 39,815,183 | 779,190 | 1.96% |
| 2006 | 40,100,000 | Age-3,4,5: 408,743 | 1.02% |
| 2007 | 38,900,000 | Age-3,4: 59,787 | 0.15% |
| 2008 | 38,100,000 | Age-3: 2,798 | 0.01% |
| 2009 | 40,800,000 | ||
| 2010 | 40,000,000 |
WNH Chum Salmon Production Summary – Sawmill Bay Release
| Brood Year | Fry Released | Total Return | Marine Survival |
| 2002 | 15,661,413 | 92,933 | 0.59% |
| 2003 | 16,198,524 | 419,823 | 2.59% |
| 2004 | 15,163,742 | 391,543 | 2.58% |
| 2005 | 15,797,568 | 255,897 | 1.62% |
| 2006 | 15,500,000 | Age-3,4,5: 278,342 | 1.80% |
WNH Coho Salmon Production
Brood Year |
Green Eggs |
Smolt Released |
Returning Adults |
Marine Survival |
| 1984 | 130,000 | 98,778 | 16,377 | 16.58% |
| 1985 | 422,847 | 376,385 | 56,824 | 15.10% |
| 1986 | 992,010 | 871,469 | 120,050 | 13.78% |
| 1987 | 2,618,557 | 2,499,106 | 171,757 | 6.87% |
| 1988 | 2,786,864 | 2,397,419 | 92,756 | 3.87% |
| 1989 | 2,595,391 | 2,223,282 | 175,470 | 7.89% |
| 1990 | 3,043,831 | 1,831,198 | 49,385 | 2.70% |
| 1991 | 2,669,069 | 1,303,077 | 89,519 | 6.87% |
| 1992 | 2,493,000 | 1,483,936 | 51,789 | 3.49% |
| 1993 | 2,683,531 | 2,063,934 | 87,561 | 4.24% |
| 1994 | 2,736,523 | 275,406 | 19,615 | 7.10% |
| 1995 | 636,688 | 203,651 | 9,292 | 4.56% |
| 1996 | 644,829 | 407,715 | 6,971 | 1.82% |
| 1997 | 1,601,534 | 1,068,338 | 147,878 | 14.16% |
| 1998 | 541,427 | 375,670 | 12,565 | 3.34% |
| 1999 | 298,155 | 219,967 | 28,302 | 12.75% |
| 2000 | 1,179,677 | 485,834 | 24,005 | 4.94% |
| 2001 | 1,400,436 | 920,858 | 14,663 | 1.59% |
| 2002 | 1,173,489 | 989,383 | 87,399 | 8.83% |
| 2003 | 1,154,014 | 1,057,922 | 177,501 | 16.78% |
| 2004 | 1,263,348 | 1,052,897 | 124,038 | 11.78% |
| 2005 | 2,510,000 | 1,850,000 | 140,049 | 7.57% |
| 2006 | 3,490,000 | 1,930,000 | 30,973 | 1.61% |
| 2007 | 255,000 | 226,000 | 21,071 | 9.39% |
| 2008 | 4,000,000 | 3,490,000 | 150,520 | 4.33% |
| 2009 | 4,000,000 | 3,480,000 | ||
| 2010 | 945,000 | |||
| 2011 | 4,000,000 |
