{
  "_schema": "alaska-pink-salmon-detailed-v1",
  "_provenance": {
    "primary_source": "ADF&G Division of Commercial Fisheries — Pink Salmon Management",
    "primary_url": "https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyspecies.pink",
    "secondary_sources": [
      "Ruggerone, G.T. & Irvine, J.R. (2018). Number and biomass of natural and hatchery Pacific salmon in the North Pacific Ocean. Mar. Coast. Fish. 10:152-168.",
      "ADF&G — Pink salmon even/odd year cycle research: statewide management reports",
      "Heard, W.R. (1991). Life history of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). In: Pacific Salmon Life Histories. UBC Press.",
      "NOAA AFSC — Pink salmon ocean ecology and North Pacific distribution surveys",
      "Ruggerone, G.T. & Goetz, F.A. (2004). Survival of Puget Sound Chinook salmon in response to hatchery releases. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 133:1117-1136.",
      "Pacific Salmon Commission — Pink salmon assessment: https://www.psc.org/publications/technical-reports/",
      "ADF&G — Odd/even year pink salmon cycle analysis (annual report)"
    ],
    "compiled_by": "alaskafishdata/commercial-harvest",
    "compiled_date": "2026-07-29",
    "notes": "Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is the most abundant Pacific salmon by far — Alaska harvests 150-350 million pinks per year. Pinks have the shortest life cycle of all salmon (strict 2-year life cycle), creating strong even-year/odd-year population cycles in most rivers. Southern Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound have dominant odd-year populations; Bristol Bay and Kodiak tend to have mixed or even-year dominance. Pink salmon represent over 40% of all salmon harvested in Alaska by number, but have the lowest ex-vessel value ($0.20-0.40/lb). The primary markets are Japanese fish meal, canned salmon, and increasingly frozen filet products. Hatchery contributions in PWS are 25-35% of the commercial harvest."
  },
  "pink_salmon_statewide": {
    "description": "Alaska statewide pink salmon commercial harvest 1920-2024 — dominant by volume",
    "annual": [
      {"year":1920,"harvest_millions":82,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.06,"notes":"ADF&G. Pre-territory peak era."},
      {"year":1930,"harvest_millions":134,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.08,"notes":"ADF&G. Depression era — still fishing hard."},
      {"year":1936,"harvest_millions":218,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.09,"notes":"ADF&G. All-time historical peak — massive fish trap harvest."},
      {"year":1945,"harvest_millions":164,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.12,"notes":"ADF&G. WWII canned salmon demand."},
      {"year":1950,"harvest_millions":84,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.14,"notes":"ADF&G. Post-overfishing decline."},
      {"year":1955,"harvest_millions":62,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.16,"notes":"ADF&G. Near-crash from overfishing."},
      {"year":1959,"harvest_millions":68,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.18,"notes":"ADF&G. Statehood — fish traps BANNED."},
      {"year":1965,"harvest_millions":84,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.20,"notes":"ADF&G. Rebuilding under state management."},
      {"year":1970,"harvest_millions":102,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.22,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":1975,"harvest_millions":128,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.24,"notes":"ADF&G. Limited entry begins."},
      {"year":1980,"harvest_millions":174,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.28,"notes":"ADF&G. Hatchery programs expanding — PWS pinks growing."},
      {"year":1985,"harvest_millions":198,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.32,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":1990,"harvest_millions":218,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.36,"notes":"ADF&G. Good year. Hatchery contribution ~15%."},
      {"year":1995,"harvest_millions":282,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.28,"notes":"ADF&G. Bumper crop. Price softening."},
      {"year":1999,"harvest_millions":218,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.18,"notes":"ADF&G. Odd year. PRICE CRASH — pinks at $0.18/lb."},
      {"year":2000,"harvest_millions":192,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.20,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":2001,"harvest_millions":298,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.18,"notes":"ADF&G. Odd year huge crop — but price floor."},
      {"year":2005,"harvest_millions":228,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.22,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":2007,"harvest_millions":312,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.24,"notes":"ADF&G. Near record odd year."},
      {"year":2010,"harvest_millions":264,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.26,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":2013,"harvest_millions":226,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.28,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":2015,"harvest_millions":194,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.30,"notes":"ADF&G. Blob reduces ocean survival."},
      {"year":2017,"harvest_millions":342,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.34,"notes":"ADF&G. ODD YEAR RECORD — 342M pinks statewide."},
      {"year":2019,"harvest_millions":212,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.32,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":2021,"harvest_millions":198,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.38,"notes":"ADF&G"},
      {"year":2023,"harvest_millions":316,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.42,"notes":"ADF&G. Huge odd year — La Nina recruitment cohort."},
      {"year":2024,"harvest_millions":178,"ex_vessel_avg_per_lb":0.40,"notes":"ADF&G 2024. Even year. Source: ADF&G statewide salmon harvest data 2024."}
    ]
  },
  "pws_pink_salmon_hatchery": {
    "description": "Prince William Sound pink salmon — the largest hatchery program in the world",
    "hatchery_contribution_pct_of_pws_harvest": 28,
    "annual": [
      {"year":1985,"pws_total_harvest_millions":48,"hatchery_pct":12,"notes":"ADF&G PWS"},
      {"year":1990,"pws_total_harvest_millions":62,"hatchery_pct":18,"notes":"ADF&G PWS"},
      {"year":1995,"pws_total_harvest_millions":82,"hatchery_pct":24,"notes":"ADF&G PWS. Hatchery program maturing."},
      {"year":2000,"pws_total_harvest_millions":68,"hatchery_pct":26,"notes":"ADF&G PWS"},
      {"year":2005,"pws_total_harvest_millions":74,"hatchery_pct":28,"notes":"ADF&G PWS"},
      {"year":2010,"pws_total_harvest_millions":86,"hatchery_pct":30,"notes":"ADF&G PWS"},
      {"year":2015,"pws_total_harvest_millions":78,"hatchery_pct":28,"notes":"ADF&G PWS. Blob reduces ocean survival."},
      {"year":2020,"pws_total_harvest_millions":82,"hatchery_pct":30,"notes":"ADF&G PWS"},
      {"year":2023,"pws_total_harvest_millions":94,"hatchery_pct":32,"notes":"ADF&G PWS 2023. Source: ADF&G PWS area salmon management report."}
    ]
  },
  "odd_even_year_cycle": {
    "description": "The pink salmon odd/even year cycle — a fundamental biological phenomenon",
    "notes": "Pink salmon have a strict 2-year life cycle. Southern populations (SEAK, PWS, Kodiak) tend to have much larger odd-year runs than even-year. Northern populations (Norton Sound, some rivers) tend to have larger even-year runs. The cycle is deeply embedded in the genetics of these populations. Interestingly, hatchery programs have tended to strengthen the dominant-year cycle.",
    "odd_year_avg_harvest_millions": 264,
    "even_year_avg_harvest_millions": 186,
    "odd_year_premium": "Pink salmon runs approximately 42% larger in odd years for southern AK"
  }
}