In May, the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) announced preliminary North Pacific-wide total salmon catches for 2024, as reported by its member countries Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States.
Pacific salmon catch by weight in the North Pacific Ocean during 2024 decreased by over 50%, with catches totaling 528 thousand metric tons.
In 2024, fishers in the North Pacific caught 285 million Pacific salmon, a decrease of more than 60% from the previous year. The total catch of Pacific salmon was the lowest since 1988.
Typically, fewer adult salmon are caught in even-numbered years than odd-numbered years because one of the most frequent species in the catch, pink salmon, are less abundant in even-numbered years.
The difference in catch between even and odd years appears to be getting stronger in recent years. The annual catch in even-numbered years has declined by approximately 20% since 2020, according to NPAFC data.
The total North American commercial catch of 227,227 metric tons in 2024 was a decrease from 2023 that was expected given the odd and even year patterns in catch; however, it was the lowest catch since 1976 in terms of weight.
U.S fishermen caught a total of 221 thousand metric tons with 212 thousand metric tons landed in Alaska. Canadian catches were approximately 6 thousand metric tons.
The 2024 sockeye salmon catch of 91,464 metric tons was below the 10-year average of 134,942 metric tons and the first time it has been below 100,000 metric tons since 2013.
The catch of pink salmon, which had made up 50% of the catch in 2023, was 59,127 metric tons in 2024. The 2024 catch was the lowest since 1975 and 43% below the recent 5-year average of 103,007 metric tons for even years.
The North America chum salmon catch in 2024 was about 8% lower than 2023. Previous seasons included three years of increasing catches following the recent low in 2020.
Canada total landings of Pacific salmon were 5,843 metric tons in 2024, an increase from 2023, yet still the sixth lowest on record. In Canada, pink, chum, and sockeye salmon are typically the most abundant species caught.
Sockeye and pink salmon are the primary species caught in commercial fisheries in Alaska, followed by chum salmon.
The 2024 Alaska sockeye salmon catch was 90,492 metric tons, which comprised about 99% of the sockeye salmon catch in North America and was 48% lower than the record catch in 2022.
Chum salmon catch in Alaska decreased by 17% compared to 2023 but was similar to the recent 10-year average (74,411 metric tons).
The 2024 pink salmon catch continued the odd/even year pattern of lower catches in even years and at 56,867 metric tons, was the lowest catch since 1979.
In 2024, Washington, Oregon, and California (WOC) commercial catch totaled 9,402 metric tons across all salmon species, which was about a 90% increase from 2023 even though catch remains low compared to historical levels. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon are typically the most abundant species caught in the WOC region of the USA.
Hatchery releases of salmon and steelhead from NPAFC member countries have been stable since 1993, with approximately five billion fish released annually.
In 2024, hatcheries in the United States released 2,191 million salmon. In Canada, 192 million salmon were released (hatchery releases and spawning channel production combined).
The NPAFC is an international organization that promotes the conservation of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout in the North Pacific and its adjacent seas.
NPAFC member countries include Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America.