Bristol Bay Sockeye Sizes Smaller Than Anyone Can Remember

Last year, despite the record-setting numbers of sockeye that were being harvested in Bristol Bay, research suggested the fish were coming in smaller. Now, this summer has some wondering if it’s an all-time smallest in terms of size (not to mention numbers of fish, which is also down from 2023). Here’s more from KDLG radio in Dillingham:

So far, the average weight of Bristol Bay sockeye was 4.2 pounds this year. Fish and Game biologist Stacy Vega said that’s the smallest average weight on record.

“Fish are smaller, weigh less than, than they have in the past and against our historical averages,” Vega said.

The exact number could change a bit by the end of the season, but Vega expects it will stay low. That smaller fish size also means a smaller overall catch. By mid-July, Vega said, fishing crews had hauled in almost 130 million pounds of fish. That’s almost 70 million pounds less than this time last year.