Chignik River king salmon reached the biological escapement goal in 2025 for the first time since 2019, raising questions about whether aggressive conservation measures should continue.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries heard Wednesday that 1,391 king salmon passed through the Chignik weir in 2025, meeting the lower bound of the 1,300 to 2,700 fish goal. The stock had failed to meet escapement goals for seven of the last nine years, including a record low of 267 fish in 2023. The Board of Fisheries designated Chignik king salmon as a stock of management concern in 2023 following the persistent escapement failures.

"I want to thank you and your staff for fighting for the funds for this, for producing the results as quickly as possible to try and get this before the board for this meeting," said Marit Carlson-Van Dort, board chair.

The department implemented unprecedented restrictions in 2024 and 2025 to protect the stock. The Chignik Bay District was limited to no more than 48 hours of commercial fishing time per calendar week throughout July. Following unusually high harvest of juvenile king salmon in the Western District in 2024, harvest caps were implemented throughout the entire Chignik Management Area in 2025. If more than 1,000 king salmon were harvested within a 48-hour window, a seven-day closure in the districts primarily responsible would occur. The harvest cap was never triggered during the 2025 season.

Subsistence and sport fisheries also faced restrictions. The department closed the subsistence fishery to king salmon within the Chignik Lagoon and Chignik River watershed before the season in 2024 and 2025. The sport fishery was similarly closed in those areas, and the saltwater bag limit was reduced in the entire Chignik Management Area in 2025.

Despite meeting the escapement goal, the stock remains designated as a stock of management concern. The department presented five options for commercial fishing, one option for subsistence fishing, and four options for sport fishing for the 2026 action plan. Statewide Chinook salmon declines are influencing continued restrictions on Chignik king salmon fisheries.

The first Chignik Bay District commercial action would keep the same restrictions the department used in 2025. The Chignik Bay District would be restricted to 48 total hours per week, with closed waters around the area known locally as the King Hole. Non-retention of king salmon 28 inches and greater would be implemented in the Chignik Bay District, Central District, and inner Castle Cape subsection of the Western District.

The second Chignik Bay District commercial action would trade additional fishing time for reduced area. The Chignik Bay District would be restricted to 72 hours per week rather than 48, and closed waters inside a line from Ollie's Point would be implemented rather than just the King Hole.