Wally Noerenberg Hatchery began chum egg-take operations on 7/8 and reached 26% of the egg collection goal by 7/12.
Staff continue to observe a higher than expected proportion of ripe hens, along with above average fecundity (eggs per female). Currently, an estimated 39% of the broodstock needed to complete the eggtake is now available, and fish continue to enter the bay. The average female percentage has been 52%.
Join us on March 16 for PWSAC’s 2026 Board of Directors Spring meeting, either in person or online via Zoom. The Board will meet to hear staff and committee reports and will review and approve a budget for the next fiscal year.
Click here or the link below to view meeting details, including a Zoom link and meeting packet.
Subject: Please Submit a Comment – Support Science-Based Hatchery Management
Dear PWSAC Users and Supporters,
This March, the Alaska Board of Fisheries will consider Proposal 170 and 171, which would reduce permitted pink salmon — and possibly chum salmon — production in Prince William Sound by up to 25%.
Similar proposals have been reviewed in past cycles, and science-based evaluation prevailed. This year, however, there are clear signals that pressure from groups such as the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee and the Kenai River Sportfishing Association may influence the outcome.
PWSAC’s mission is to ethically and professionally optimize salmon production in Area “E” for the long-term well-being of all user groups. Our board includes commercial, sport, subsistence, municipal, tribal, and processor representatives.
PWSAC receives no operational state funding. Pink and chum salmon cost recovery fund all hatchery operations — including coho, sockeye, and Chinook programs. A 25% reduction would have broad impacts across user groups.
We are asking you to submit a public comment by Monday, March 2nd, urging the Board to continue making science-based decisions regarding hatchery production.
Please visit Salmon Hatcheries for Alaska (link below) to provide comments and get more information:
https://www.salmonhatcheriesforak.org/statewide-board-of-fisheries-meeting-2026
Your voice matters. Thank you for standing with PWSAC and for supporting responsible, science-driven fisheries management.
Sincerely,
Eli Johnson
Chairman
Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation
eli@graphicice.com
2026 PWSAC Hatchery Return Forecast
Winter is a busy time for PWSAC’s committees and all meetings are open to the public. Click here to go to PWSAC’s event page and view upcoming meetings.
PWSAC Cost Recovery Updates
Egg-take Update
August 25, 2025
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery and Cannery Creek Hatchery began pink egg-take operations today.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery began pink egg-take on 8/24 and continues today.
August 20, 2025
Pink cost recovery is 91% complete.
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery
Yesterday’s cost recovery yielded 57,000 pounds with an average weight of 2.8 pounds. The female percentage from fish harvested on 8/19 was 49%. Cost recovery may resume once adequate brood has been collected. Egg-take is set to begin 8/25.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
Cost recovery was suspended on 8/15 to allow for brood collection. Egg-take is set to begin 8/24.
Cannery Creek Hatchery
Yesterday’s cost recovery yielded 375,000 pounds with an average weight of 3.0 pounds. The female percentage from fish harvested on 8/19 was 44%. Cost recovery may resume once adequate brood has been collected. Egg-take is set to begin 8/25.
August 19, 2025
Pink cost recovery is 88% complete.
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery
Yesterday’s cost recovery yielded 359,000 pounds with an average weight of 2.8 pounds. The female percentage determined by staff on 8/18 was 43%. Cost recovery may resume once adequate brood have been collected. Egg-take is planned to begin 8/25.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
Cost recovery was suspended on 8/15 to allow for brood collection. Egg-take is set to begin 8/24.
Cannery Creek Hatchery
Yesterday’s cost recovery yielded 241,000 pounds with an average weight of 3.0 pounds. The female percentage determined by staff on 8/18 was 34%. Cost recovery may resume once adequate brood have been collected. Egg-take is set to begin 8/25.
Having trouble viewing the forecast? Use the link below.
September 18, 2024
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 27 and finished on September 13.
Cannery Creek Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 29 and finished on September 12.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 26 and finished on September 6.
Gulkana Hatchery
Gulkana met its GII egg-take goal on August 10.
GI egg-take began on August 23 and is 39% complete.
September 09, 2024
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 27 and is 76% complete.
Female percentage is at 55% and the daily amount of overripe and green hens are now within expected levels.
Cannery Creek Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 29 and is 81% complete.
CCH staff expect to complete egg-take later this week.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 26 and met their goal on September 6.
Gulkana Hatchery
Gulkana met its GII egg-take goal on August 10.
GI egg-take began on August 23 and is 10% complete.
September 06, 2024
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 27 and is 50% complete.
Female percentage is at 48% with higher than expected amounts of overripe and green hens.
Cannery Creek Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 29 and is 56% complete.
Female percentage is at 59% with expected amounts of overripe and green hens.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 26 and is 91% complete.
WNH staff expect to meet their egg-take goal today.
Gulkana Hatchery
Gulkana met its GII egg-take goal on August 10.
GI egg-take began on August 23 and is 6% complete.
September 03, 2024
Armin F. Koernig Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 27 and is 25% complete.
Female percentage is at 48% with higher-than-expected amounts of overripe and green hens
Cannery Creek Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 29 and is 29% complete.
Female percentage has averaged 48% with numbers of overripe and green hens reducing below expectations.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery
Egg-take began on August 26 and is 65% complete.
Female percentage is at 53.3% with numbers of overripe and green hens remaining well below expectations.
Gulkana Hatchery
Gulkana met its GII egg-take goal on August 10.
GI egg-take began on August 23 and is 4% complete.
Go to our event page here for more information.
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