Annual Report for the 2024 Port Moller Test Fishery

Executive Summary

In 2024, the Port Moller Test Fishery (PMTF) operated from June 10 to July 11 using two research vessels—the R/V Ocean Cat and the R/V Miss Leona. A total of 5,991 Sockeye were caught across 356 sets, primarily distributed across Stations 2–24, with two additional sets conducted at Station 26. Notably, more sets were made at the even-numbered standard stations than in any other year in the program’s history. Station and daily coverage during the 2024 season was comparable to that of 2022 and 2023. No days were missed entirely; however, rough weather on June 26 limited fishing to only Station 6. Nearly the entire transect was sampled on all other days.

The PMTF email distribution list grew to 1,300 subscribers by the end of the season, marking a 6% increase over 2023. SMS updates remained a highly valued service among fishermen. All daily catch updates were successfully disseminated on the same day the data were collected. Timeliness of stock composition estimates continues to be a key performance metric for the PMTF program. In 2024, the median turnaround time between sample collection and release to the distribution list was just one day, with a maximum lag of two days. This turnaround time was two days faster than the average observed since 2010.

On June 20 and June 24, the average weight of Sockeye passing the test fishing transect was estimated at 4.6 and 4.5 pounds, respectively. These estimates aligned well with the 4.5-pound average reported by ADF&G for the inshore catch in their season summary. Similarly, PMTF estimates of age and stock composition closely reflected those observed in the inshore run.

The total 2024 run reached 51.6 million Sockeye, with 50% of cumulative catch and escapement (C+E) achieved by July 6—making the run two days later than the reference “average” date of July 4. Over the previous nine years (2015–2023), run timing has averaged 3.6 days late (range: 1–6 days). Early in the 2024 run, C+E was dominated by the Nushagak-Wood District, which maintained strong performance throughout the season. A noticeable increase in Kvichak District C+E began on July 3. As in 2023, multiple peaks in C+E occurred throughout July, largely driven by the Kvichak District.

Since 2020, the Daily Index has not reliably indicated the seasonal entry pattern for C+E (Figure 9). As a result, proximate daily C+E forecasts were not published in 2024. We suspect that the actual passage rate on June 26 was significantly higher than estimated. While Catch Update #18 acknowledged a likely increase in passage between June 25–27, the magnitude may have been underestimated. If our interpolation of the Daily Catch Index for June 26 was substantially off, the resulting Daily Index pattern would have been significantly skewed.