Chilkat River large (age-1.3 and older) Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha inriver abundance and age and sex composition will be estimated using a 2-event mark–recapture experiment in 2019. Event 1 capture and marking will be conducted in the lower Chilkat River, and event 2 recapture will be conducted in principal spawning areas within the Chilkat River drainage. Data produced from this project will include spawning abundance of large Chinook salmon, age and sex compositions of the run, and when possible, age-1.2 abundance and length composition in the Chilkat River drainage. Chilkat River Chinook salmon are an exploitation rate and escapement indicator stock for the Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee, and it has been proposed that this stock be included in the coastwide Chinook salmon model used by the Pacific Salmon Commission to monitor coastwide abundance. Mark–recapture experiments have been conducted in the Chilkat River drainage since 1991; escapement estimates for 1991–2018 have an average coefficient of variation of 14%, which contributes toward precise stock assessment production estimates for the Chilkat River Chinook salmon stock. As part of the ongoing Chilkat River Chinook salmon coded wire tag studies, all Chinook salmon encountered in the mark–recapture experiment will be examined for adipose fin clips and the presence of a coded wire tag, which can be used for estimating juvenile production and marine harvest. Data collected from this project will be used to create full production estimates for the Chilkat stock.

Chilkat River large (age-1.3 and older) Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha inriver abundance and age and sex composition will be estimated using a 2-event mark-recapture experiment in 2019. Event 1 capture and marking will be conducted in the lower Chilkat River, and event 2 recapture will be conducted in principal spawning areas within the Chilkat River drainage. Data produced from this project will include spawning abundance of large Chinook salmon, age and sex compositions of the run, and when possible, age-1.2 abundance and length composition in the Chilkat River drainage. Chilkat River Chinook salmon are an exploitation rate and escapement indicator stock for the Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee, and it has been proposed that this stock be included in the coastwide Chinook salmon model used by the Pacific Salmon Commission to monitor coastwide abundance. Mark-recapture experiments have been conducted in the Chilkat River drainage since 1991; escapement estimates for 1991-2018 have an average coefficient of variation of 14%, which contributes toward precise stock assessment production estimates for the Chilkat River Chinook salmon stock. As part of the ongoing Chilkat River Chinook salmon coded wire tag studies, all Chinook salmon encountered in the mark-recapture experiment will be examined for adipose fin clips and the presence of a coded wire tag, which can be used for estimating juvenile production and marine harvest. Data collected from this project will be used to create full production estimates for the Chilkat stock.

Chilkat River large (age-1.3 and older) Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha inriver abundance and age and sex composition will be estimated using a 2-event mark–recapture experiment in 2020. Event 1 capture and marking will be conducted in the lower Chilkat River, and event 2 recapture will be conducted in principal spawning areas within the Chilkat River drainage. Data produced from this project will include spawning abundance of large Chinook salmon, age and sex compositions of the run, and when possible, age-1.2 abundance and length composition in the Chilkat River drainage. Chilkat River Chinook salmon are an exploitation rate and escapement indicator stock for the Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee, and it has been proposed that this stock be included in the coastwide Chinook salmon model used by the Pacific Salmon Commission to monitor coastwide abundance. Mark–recapture experiments have been conducted in the Chilkat River drainage since 1991; escapement estimates for 1991–2019 have an average coefficient of variation of 14%, which contributes toward precise stock assessment production estimates for the Chilkat River Chinook salmon stock. As part of the ongoing Chilkat River Chinook salmon coded wire tag studies, all Chinook salmon encountered in the mark–recapture experiment will be examined for adipose fin clips and the presence of a coded wire tag, which can be used for estimating juvenile production and marine harvest. Data collected from this project will be used to create full production estimates for the Chilkat stock.

Estimates of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha spawning escapement will be summarized for 2019 in 11 Southeast Alaska river systems. Chinook salmon systems include: Situk River, Alsek River, Chilkat River, Taku River, King Salmon River, Stikine River, Unuk River, Chickamin River, Blossom River, Keta River, and Andrew Creek. Spawning escapements will be estimated using aerial and foot surveys, mark-recapture studies, and weirs. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Fisheries and Oceans Canada use these data, along with age composition data to make terminal and regional management decisions, and the Pacific Salmon Commission uses these data for coastwide management and stock assessment.

Chilkat River large (age-1.3 and older) Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha inriver abundance and age and sex composition will be estimated using a 2-event mark–recapture experiment in 2022. Event 1 marking is conducted in the lower Chilkat River, and event 2 recapture is conducted in principal spawning areas within the Chilkat River drainage. Data produced from this project includes estimated spawning abundance and age, sex and length compositions of the large Chinook salmon run, and when possible, estimated spawning abundance and sex and length composition of the age-1.2 Chinook salmon run in the Chilkat River drainage. The Chilkat River stock of Chinook salmon is a Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee exploitation rate and escapement indicator stock, and contributes toward the coastwide Chinook model used by the Pacific Salmon Commission to monitor coastwide abundance. Mark–recapture experiments of adult Chinook salmon inriver abundance have been conducted in the Chilkat River drainage since 1991 and resulting escapement estimates have had an average coefficient of variation of 16%, which contributes toward precise stock assessment production estimates for the Chilkat River Chinook stock. As part of ongoing Chilkat River Chinook salmon coded wire tag studies, all Chinook salmon encountered in the mark–recapture experiment of adult Chinook salmon inriver abundance will be examined for missing adipose fins, an indication that fish may be tagged with a coded wire tag, information that leads to estimates of juvenile production and marine harvest. These data when used in conjunction with inriver abundance allows full production estimates for the Chilkat stock.

Estimates of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha spawning escapement will be summarized for 2020 in 11 Southeast Alaska river systems. Chinook index salmon systems include: Situk River, Alsek River, Chilkat River, Taku River, King Salmon River, Stikine River, Unuk River, Chickamin River, Blossom River, Keta River, and Andrew Creek. Spawning escapements will be estimated using aerial and foot surveys, mark-recapture studies, and weirs. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Fisheries and Oceans Canada use these data, along with age composition data to make terminal and regional management decisions, and the Pacific Salmon Commission uses these data for coastwide management and stock assessment.

Estimates of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha spawning escapement will be summarized for 2021 in 11 Southeast Alaska river systems. Chinook index salmon systems include: Situk River, Alsek River, Chilkat River, Taku River, King Salmon River, Stikine River, Unuk River, Chickamin River, Blossom River, Keta River, and Andrew Creek. Spawning escapements will be estimated using aerial and foot surveys, mark-recapture studies, and weirs. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Fisheries and Oceans Canada use these data, along with age composition data to make terminal and regional management decisions, and the Pacific Salmon Commission uses these data for coastwide management and stock assessment.