FISH HEALTH, ETC. but runs severely diminished by the nook fingerlings. Estimates 1910’s. This caused the canneries to are that these represent about 22% finally come around, although they of the harvested salmon in Alaskan struggled with the mandate of 50% Alaskan waters each year. They are initially escapement (to allow broods to go put into net pens to olfactory im- upstream). This did, however work, print them on the bay, to minimize and runs increased resulting in many straying up other rivers and for fish- of the hatcheries closing down. In ermen to catch them on their return. 1933, 126.4 million salmon were Sea caught – a historical record. There are a couple each of Federal and State hatcheries that contrib- However, through the 1930’s ute, but most of this production is and 1940’s, fish traps were responsi- via non-profit regional ble for another depletion. Hatcher- Ranching: associations (see below), plus some ies came back into the picture both scattered independents. The catch Fig. 2. Ben Contag, manager at Port Armstrong, AK of Armstrong-Keta. by the Alaska Territory Yes, they do “do ends up being about 2 to 3% of Service and the US Department of what is released from hatcheries. back and positioned wild salmon as gles. In the early days, there was , but this did not help the aquaculture” in Alaska I try and probe for his sentiments a premium product. The result has little management of the stocks and two-decade decline. In 1959 only on why Alaskans don’t also raise been a revitalization of the salmon over-fishing severely impacted re- 25 million salmon were harvested salmon right through their life cycle and a rejuvenation turns. Legislation in 1889 attempted by fishermen that were then four Hugh Mitchell, MSc, DVM in cages (“egg to fork” – a practice of the coastal economy. Now, these to curtail this, but lack of enforce- times the number that they were which is actually illegal in Alaska) effective tactics have sometimes ment doomed its usefulness. In the in the early 1900’s. Alaska received and point out that they could be been a bit questionable in accuracy 1900’s the act was amended to stip- statehood in 1959 and the Alaska I am sitting in the Pioneer Bar in Sitka, Alaska, chatting up a world leaders in both sea ranching (such as portraying Atlantic salmon ulate that canneries build hatcheries Department of Fish and Game farming as being less healthy, less to produce 4 times the salmon that commercial salmon fisherman. He responds after I answer his question and salmon farming, suggesting was formed. Lack of enforcement that the risk of net pen culture to premium and bad for the environ- they catch and process, but they and illegal fishing continued to be on where I am from and what I am doing up there. wild salmon is sorely overplayed. ment), but they are successful and a protested that that was something a problem, with runs being up and The response to my suggestion of long way from when the first hatch- they couldn’t afford to do. For the down through 1971. In 1974, State growing some up right to harvest is ery was built in 1869 on Kodiak Is- first quarter of the century, debate legislation allowed private non- met with extreme indignation: land. ensued as to whether the fishery profits to build and operate hatch- “Nope. Those aren’t salmon. To be a The amazing success story of could be sustained through natural eries, while the State itself worked real salmon, they have to spend at least a the Alaskan fishery’s current sus- propagation without enhancement. on improving habitat. Currently certain amount of time as wild fish. That tainability is one steeped in the in- Congress funded federal hatcheries there are 6 regional aquaculture as- just is how it should be.” trigue of: politics, in-fighting, and in 1903 and the Federal government sociations (AA’s) (down from 8 in I refrain from arguing. I actu- State versus Federal power strug- tried to impose stricter regulations, 1976), each with several hatcheries: ally can’t say that I blame this sen- timent. The Alaskan sec- tor (1 in 10 people of the Alaskan workforce is employed by some as- pect of salmon fishing) has been hit hard in the past with the explosive growth of farmed Atlantic salmon The Alaskan Seafood sector (1 in 10 from mainly Norway and Chile. In people of the Alaskan workforce Fig. 1. Port Armstrong, AK of Armstrong-Keta, Inc. the early 2000’s it was responsible for a reduction of the value of the is employed by some aspect of industry from about $400 million salmon fishing) has been hit hard Wow, you are up here helping the In the waters off of Alaska in to $130 million and caused consid- hatcheries? Good stuff. Never 2016, 109 million salmon were har- erable hardships up and down the in the past with the explosive met a fish veterinarian before. vested with a whole fish value of Coast. This was mainly due to Chile growth of farmed Atlantic salmon Thanks for your work. Those $406 million. Today, just slightly taking over a Japanese market that hatcheries“ are important. I can go out and less than 30 salmon hatcheries up had formerly been 90% from Alas- from mainly Norway and Chile. troll eight 13-pound Chinook in a day and down the Alaskan coast annu- ka. Since then, a smart marketing and sell them in Juneau for $13 a pound! ally put out about 1.5 billion Pink, campaign led by the Alaskan Sea- Fig. 3. Humpback whale sounding in Silver Bay, site of Medvije Creek and Sawmill Creek Hatcheries of the Northern Them’s lawyer’s wages!” Sockeye, Chum, Coho, and Chi- food Marketing Board has clawed Southeast Aquaculture Association.

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The Alaskan salmon fishery is important both economically and as part of the social fabric of Alaska. The Alaskan sea-ranching assisted industry is a testament to the benefits of aquaculture. Farming, however, is not familiar to this State, and foreign has left most Alaskans with an extremely bad taste regarding full “egg-to- fork” aquaculture. Fig. 4. Adam Olson, manager of Medvije Creek Hatchery, NSRAA near Sitka, proudly shows off the soon-to-be released salmon.

Prince William Sound AA; South- ment of Fish and Game also has ern Southeast Regional AA; North- some facilities, but these are mainly ern Southeast Regional AA; Cooke for research. The total harvest is be- Inlet RAA; Valdez Fisheries De- tween 123 and 221 million salmon a velopment A and Kodiak Region- year, but Alaska’s 40-50% share of al AA. The 1.5 billion salmon are the global market in the early 1980’s hatched and then imprinted on the declined to less than 20% in 2000, bays via a stint in net pens (technol- mainly due to the farm produced ogy honed by the Atlantic salmon Atlantic salmon from Norway, farming industry of Norway). They Chile and Scotland. are funded by a 2 to 3% tax on all Getting to know some of the fish caught within a region. The dedicated individuals at the vari- fishermen are able to camp out at ous facilities throughout the Alas- the mouths of the bays and catch kan hatchery system proved to be a the returns. glimpse into why salmon enhance- The AA’s are allowed to also ment is an enormous success story. catch a certain small percentage Armstrong-Keta, Inc. a Juneau- for “cost recovery.” Alaska Depart- based private company is one of the independent “non-profits” with fish facilities situated on the south end of Baranoff Island (island of Sitka) in a cove/ residential enclave called: Port Alexander. Although they are close to NSRAA they are The amazing success story of not part of the Regional AA system and are funded solely from their the Alaskan fishery’s current cost-recovery take of a percent- sustainability is one steeped in age of returning fish. Their annual production targets are currently the intrigue of: politics, around: 105 million Pink salmon; 60 in-fighting, and State versus million chum; and 5 million Coho. In my travels around Alaskan Federal power struggles. salmon hatcheries, I have been im- pressed with the enthusiasm and openness of the personnel. Ben Fig. 5. Trail Lakes Hatchery of the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association near Moose Pass, AK. Main salmon stocked Contag is the manager of the Port is Sockeye (about 14 million a year). Manager is: Kristin Armstrong fish facility. He is one of Bates.

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– an emerging predator problem. The goal of Medvije Creek is to put out 60 million chum fry a year, to- gether with lesser numbers of Chi- nook and Coho. We go over some fish health concerns and then I am called by the float plane pilot that there is an opening in the weather to try and get into “Hidden Falls” on the other side of the island. I abbreviate my stay and head back to Sitka for the rare opportunity to visit another NSRAA facility before I have to head home to Seattle. Fig. 7. Tasting the fruits of all the hard work of rearing and catching. Sitka, Alaska. Fig. 6. Solomon Gulch on Port Valdez. Managed by Rob Unger. Early in the new year, I am back up to attend the Alaskan Fish Cul- ture Conference. It is held in a dif- monids in the Arctic, thousands of eating up all their resources. The those individuals who is extremely that was constructed solely to house ferent region every other year. This miles away from any hatchery. Lots validity of these claims is hotly de- passionate about his occupation. the hatchery crew. They have gar- year it is in Valdez and I take the of good discussion and sharing of bated at the conference. These are my favorite clients. Fish dens and a few livestock pens with opportunity to visit Trail Lakes information back and forth happen The Alaskan salmon fishery is culture is a not a job to them but a goats and chickens. Eleven workers Hatchery (on the road system from after my talk. important both economically and as way of life. After all these years, I in total, his two daughters left for a Anchorage and part of the Cooke Fisheries and politics seem to be part of the social fabric of Alaska. find that there is always something while, only to return. One is mar- Inlet Aquaculture Association). integral to one another in most re- The Alaskan sea-ranching assisted that I can learn from their craft. The ried to one of his workers and the I also have a chance to tour the gions of the world. I learn that there industry is a testament to the ben- skills required in animal husbandry other is engaged to another. Suffice impressive Solomon Gulch Fish currently are concerns about the efits of aquaculture. Farming, how- (“stockman-ship”), including fish, it to say, they all love the isolated Hatchery of the Valdez Fish Devel- impact of hatchery fish affecting ever, is not familiar to this State, are always undervalued. After I step lifestyle and cannot see leaving any opment Association across the inlet the truly wild salmon through ge- and foreign fish farming has left off of the float plane, he is non- time soon. from the city. Rob Unger, manager netics and consumption of resourc- most Alaskans with an extremely stop with information and ques- Back near Sitka, I visit one of and conference program organizer es. However, like many ecological bad taste regarding full “egg-to- tions. We go over several fish health the non-profit NSRAA hatcher- this year, gives us all a spirited and issues, passion not science can be fork” aquaculture. A large part of issues sprinkled in with his history ies that is on the “road system” (as detailed tour of the facility which a key driver in sentiments and re- this resentment is due to the com- and the history of Port Armstrong. they term it in Alaska, vs. those fa- puts out 270 million pink salmon sultant policies. The lucrative char- petition impacting the value of the A native of Ecuador, he came up to cilities only accessible by boat or a year. Interestingly, the water run- ter fishing companies, for example, fishery. Alaska’s coastline is vast (34 the US in 1984, went to college in float plane) called Medvejie Creek. ning through the raceways is silty are accusing the released chum and thousand miles – not including the Sitka, worked initially for NSRAA, The Manager is Adam Olson, again from the glacier run-off, appar- pink of impacting the more prized islands!). To many aquaculturists and started working for Armstrong- a young, enthusiastic, keen, and ently of no consequence to the fish sports fish: Chinook and Coho, by “from away,” it seems unfortunate Keta in 2005. He lives there with his very competent hatchery “stock- health. Once again, he exhibits the that Alaskans don’t realize that they family and fellow hatchery workers man”. His wife, Rebecca manages Alaskan dedication and passion that could be a world leader in both sea- in a boardwalk connected village the Sawmill Creek Hatchery that I seems to be the standard across the ranching and net-pen aquaculture. passed on the way in. Adam received hatchery system. My talk at the con- This would greatly help to alleviate his Bachelor of Science in biology ference was a requested review on even more of the massive US sea- from Roger Williams University in Bacterial Kidney Disease, a chronic food deficit ($16 billion). But, alas, Rhode Island and came to Alaska and long battled disease in wild and traditions die hard and one can’t Fisheries and politics seem to be in 2005. He has always been with hatchery-reared salmonids that is help but wonder if the same sort of NSRAA, starting as a technician associated with the bacterium: Re- integral to one another in One can’t deny that fish struggle went on 10,000 years ago as at another facility. “Medvejie” is at nibacterium salmoninarum. Related to man moved from hunting and gath- most regions of the world. I learn that the end of Silver Bay and from the the human tuberculosis bacteria farming, as it is done in ering to an agrarian lifestyle. Sea there currently are concerns road I can see a pod of Humpback (but unable to infect humans) some ranching is part-way there, but the Hugh Mitchell, MSc, DVM is an aquaculture veterinarian fish bacteriologists have theorized Alaska, works extremely well. with more than 25 years of experience, who provides Whales “bubble net” feeding out in ocean is vast and full egg-to-fork services and fish health tools to fish farmers across the about the impact of hatchery fish the Bay. The hatchery workers are that it is actually a normal resident US and Canada. His practice is AquaTactics Fish Health, aquaculture takes up so little space out of Kirkland, Washington, specializing in bringing a affecting the truly wild salmon fairly nonchalant about this, as they of salmonids and only causes dis- but can produce so much. However, comprehensive professional service/product package to “do that all the time.” The whales ease when given the opportunity to aquaculture, including: vaccine solutions, immune stimu- through genetics and with that said, one can’t deny that lants, sedatives, antimicrobials and parasiticides. have been known to camp out and build up in a fish and/or popula- fish farming, as it is done in Alaska, website: www.aquatactics.com; contact: [email protected] consumption of resources. chow down on the released salmon tion. It has been found in wild sal- works extremely well.

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