Norton Sound subdistrict 2 (Golovin) and subdistrict 3 (Moses Point) chum salmon stock status and action plan, 2010

In response to the guidelines established in Policy for the Management of Sustainable Salmon Fisheries (SSFP; ADF&G 2000), the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) classified Norton Sound Subdistricts 2 and 3 (Golovin and Moses Point subdistricts, respectively) chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta, as a stock of concern, specifically a yield concern, at its September 2000 work session. A "yield concern" is defined as, "a concern arising from a chronic inability, despite the use of specific management measures, to maintain expected yields, or harvestable surpluses, above a stock's escapement needs; a yield concern is less severe than a management concern". An action plan was developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and acted upon by the BOF in January 2001. The SSFP directs ADF&G to assess salmon stocks in areas addressed during the BOF regulatory cycle to identify stocks of concern and in the case of Norton Sound Subdistricts 2 and 3 chum salmon, to reassess the stock of concern status. In 2003, ADF&G recommended continuation of this classification as a stock of yield concern, which was supported by the BOF at its January 2004 meeting. Likewise in 2006, ADF&G recommended continuation of this classification as a stock of yield concern, which was supported by the BOF at its January 2007 meeting. Since that time, chum salmon yield in Subdistricts 2 and 3 has shown little improvement. The Subdistricts 2 and 3 chum salmon stock continue to meet the definition for a yield concern as defined in SSFP and ADF&G recommends continuing the stock of concern classification.