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Hokkaido Regional Fisheries Coordination Committee Approves 2025 Hatchery Release Plan

JAPAN
Monday, March 24, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Salmon Release Reduced by 60 Million Fry Due to Poor Returns

The Hokkaido Regional Fisheries Coordination Committee (chaired by Yukihiro Kudo) convened on the afternoon of March 21 at the Polestar Sapporo to discuss the 2025 hatchery release plan for chum and pink salmon. The committee approved the plan as originally proposed by the Hokkaido government.

Based on last year's results, Hokkaido adjusted the gap between planned and actual releases, significantly reducing the number of released chum salmon to 920 million fry, a decrease of 60 million fry compared to the previous year. The reduction will affect the waters east and west of Cape Erimo, as well as the Sea of Japan region.

Make click on the image to enlarge it

Plan Adjustments and Approval Process

Hokkaido officials presented this year’s hatchery release plan and last year’s results. According to the report:

• The national plan was approved on February 13 by the Fisheries Policy Council.

• The private-sector plan was approved on March 11 at the Hokkaido Salmon and Trout Enhancement Association’s board meeting.

• The total planned release of chum salmon, combining the private-sector and government plans along with releases by the Fisheries Resources Research Institute, stands at 924.41 million fry, marking a significant reduction of 60.84 million fry from the previous year’s plan.

Regional Reductions

The reduction in salmon releases will impact several regional hatchery associations:

• East of Cape Erimo: Tokachi-Kushiro and Hidaka hatchery associations.

• West of Cape Erimo: Oshima, Iburi, and Hidaka hatchery associations.

• Sea of Japan region: Japan Sea Hatchery Association.

After these reductions, the Hokkaido government will oversee the management of the final release numbers.

Configuration of a typical salmon set net (Reference 273-3, Appendix R3.6)

Other hatchery release numbers remain unchanged:

• Pink salmon: 125.4 million fry (same as the previous year).

• Cherry salmon: 3.1 million fry, reduced by 1.16 million fry due to changes in the national plan.

Schematic diagram of a fixed net (Explanation of typical fishing gear and fishing methods: From the Hokkaido Research Institute, Fisheries Research Headquarters Document. Make click on the image to enlarge it

2024 Fall Chum Salmon Catch and Spawning Data

The final coastal chum salmon catch for the 2024 fishing season (as of January) was 15.67 million fish, equivalent to 82% of the previous year’s catch.

• Total catch value: 48.5 billion yen (127% of the previous year’s revenue).

• Captured broodstock in rivers: 2.02 million fish, 171% of the planned target.

• Total eggs collected: 979.01 million, reaching 86% of the previous year’s level.

The significant reduction in hatchery releases aims to address the declining salmon return rates while aligning planned figures with actual production trends.

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