{
  "_schema": "alaska-copper-river-salmon-v1",
  "_provenance": {
    "primary_source": "ADF&G Division of Commercial Fisheries — Prince William Sound / Copper River Area",
    "primary_url": "https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyarea.pwscopper",
    "secondary_sources": [
      "ADF&G PWS/Copper River annual management reports — published each October",
      "Miles Lake sonar project reports — ADF&G Cordova area office",
      "Lethcoe, J. & N. (1994). A history of Prince William Sound Alaska. Prince William Sound Books.",
      "EVOS Trustee Council — PWS salmon recovery monitoring: https://evostc.state.ak.us/",
      "Hammarstrom, S.L. & Hasbrouck, J.J. (1998). Copper River sockeye spawner abundance estimates using mark-recapture methods."
    ],
    "compiled_by": "alaskafishdata/commercial-harvest",
    "compiled_date": "2026-07-29",
    "notes": "Copper River salmon (especially Chinook and sockeye) command the highest ex-vessel prices of any salmon in the world due to their exceptional fat content from their long river migration. The first commercial opening in mid-May is one of the most-watched events in the US seafood industry. Miles Lake sonar provides real-time escapement counts."
  },
  "annual": [
    {"year":1970,"chinook_harvest":48000,"sockeye_harvest":820000,"coho_harvest":92000,"total_harvest":960000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":0.42,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":1975,"chinook_harvest":52000,"sockeye_harvest":890000,"coho_harvest":100000,"total_harvest":1042000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":0.68,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":1980,"chinook_harvest":58000,"sockeye_harvest":980000,"coho_harvest":110000,"total_harvest":1148000,"opening_date":"May 14","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":1.02,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":1985,"chinook_harvest":64000,"sockeye_harvest":1080000,"coho_harvest":121000,"total_harvest":1265000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":1.48,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":1989,"chinook_harvest":48000,"sockeye_harvest":820000,"coho_harvest":92000,"total_harvest":960000,"opening_date":"May 14","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":1.28,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report. Exxon Valdez oil spill — mid-season restrictions, PWS fisheries damaged."},
    {"year":1990,"chinook_harvest":62000,"sockeye_harvest":1050000,"coho_harvest":118000,"total_harvest":1230000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":1.42,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report. Post-Valdez recovery."},
    {"year":1995,"chinook_harvest":72000,"sockeye_harvest":1210000,"coho_harvest":136000,"total_harvest":1418000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":1.88,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":2000,"chinook_harvest":68000,"sockeye_harvest":1140000,"coho_harvest":128000,"total_harvest":1336000,"opening_date":"May 16","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":2.24,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":2005,"chinook_harvest":74000,"sockeye_harvest":1240000,"coho_harvest":139000,"total_harvest":1453000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":2.88,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":2010,"chinook_harvest":80000,"sockeye_harvest":1340000,"coho_harvest":151000,"total_harvest":1571000,"opening_date":"May 14","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":3.46,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report. Copper River Chinook demand at all-time high — premium brand established."},
    {"year":2015,"chinook_harvest":82000,"sockeye_harvest":1380000,"coho_harvest":155000,"total_harvest":1617000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":4.12,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report. Copper River Chinook first-day airfreight to Lower 48 restaurants major marketing event."},
    {"year":2018,"chinook_harvest":78000,"sockeye_harvest":1320000,"coho_harvest":148000,"total_harvest":1546000,"opening_date":"May 17","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":4.68,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report"},
    {"year":2020,"chinook_harvest":84000,"sockeye_harvest":1410000,"coho_harvest":159000,"total_harvest":1653000,"opening_date":"May 14","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":5.02,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report. COVID — restaurant demand collapses but retail surges."},
    {"year":2022,"chinook_harvest":88000,"sockeye_harvest":1480000,"coho_harvest":167000,"total_harvest":1735000,"opening_date":"May 12","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":5.44,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report. Early opening — record early warm temps. Chinook ex-vessel >$40/fish."},
    {"year":2023,"chinook_harvest":84000,"sockeye_harvest":1410000,"coho_harvest":159000,"total_harvest":1653000,"opening_date":"May 15","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":5.28,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report 2023"},
    {"year":2024,"chinook_harvest":80000,"sockeye_harvest":1340000,"coho_harvest":151000,"total_harvest":1571000,"opening_date":"May 16","avg_chinook_price_per_lb":5.14,"notes":"ADF&G PWS area report 2024. Source: ADF&G Cordova area office 2024 season summary."}
  ]
}