Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Alaska Regional Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2000

Officials with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service announced the results of sample analysis of chum, sockeye, and chinook salmon seized from the F/V Arctic Wind. Samples of the fish were analyzed to determine their region of origin using genetic stock identification, otolith marks, and parasite analysis.

Stock origin was estimated for the three species of caught salmon. The chum salmon samples originated in Russia, 63%; Japan, 14%; western Alaska, 11%; Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak, 6%; PWS/southeast Alaska, 4%, and British Columbia, 1%. The origins of the sockeye salmon sample were Russia, 24%; Alaska/northern British Columbia, 75%; and southern British Columbia/Washington, 2%. The origins of the chinook salmon sample were Russia, 44%; western Alaska, 23%; southcentral Alaska, 6%, and California/Oregon/Washington, 27%. No chinook salmon were detected from southeast Alaska or British Columbia.

"Obtaining this information is critical to our understanding of migration routes and ranges of our native salmon population, as well as understanding what influences salmon returns to the Arctic/Yukon/Kuskokwim rivers," said Jim Balsiger, Alaska Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries.

The F/V Arctic Wind was sighted with approximately four miles of nets in the water by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) C130 on May 1, 2000, and suspected to be in violation of a global moratorium on large-scale driftnet fishing. The F/V Arctic Wind was registered in Honduras and owned by Sirious Fisheries with a Vessel Agent in Pusan, Korea. The crewmembers were Russian. Following a lengthy chase, the vessel was boarded on May 9, 2000 by personnel of the USCG cutter SHERMAN. At the time of interception, approximately one ton of processed salmon was on board.

"Violating the international agreement which bans high seas driftnet fishing jeopardizes our ability to effectively manage the nation's salmon resources in the North Pacific," said Balsiger.

Charles Guthrie from NOAA Fisheries' Auke Bay Laboratory identified the salmonid catch as sockeye, chum, and chinook salmon. Guthrie collected a total of 464 whole and 28 gutted chum salmon (out of a total of about 1500 on board), all 217 sockeye salmon and all 55 chinook salmon on board. These samples were shipped to Auke Bay Laboratory for stock identification using otolith marks, parasites, and genetic characters.

The methods and baselines used to identify each stock of fish are detailed in a report which can be viewed on the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's web site. (Adobe Acrobat PDF file).

The F/V Arctic Wind was seized by the United States for the high seas driftnet violation. The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska is expected to sign an order forfeiting the vessel to the United States. Once it is forfeited to the United States, the vessel (excluding nets) will be sold at auction to the highest bidder. Information regarding the sale of the vessel will be available later this week at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov.

NOAA Fisheries conducts scientific research and provides services and products to support domestic and international fisheries management, fisheries development, trade and industry assistance, enforcement, and protected species and habitat conservation programs.