Douglas Island Pink and Chum Incorporated

Hatchery programs - dipac, as a private non-profit (pnp) authorized by the state of Alaska, operates two hatchery facilities, macaulay and snettisham, and twelve remote rearing and release sites for the purpose of enhancing the state's common property fisheries. The state of Alaska department of fish and game issues permits which allow dipac to harvest a certain portion of the returning fish to generate revenue to cover operational costs. Dipac's goal is to contribute 70% of its production to the common property fisheries and 30% of production to the cost recovery harvest. During this reporting period of 2021 dipac's Chum salmon return was 1.4m fish, which was 132% of the pre-season forecast. The chinook and coho programs continued to provide valuable sport fishing opportunities throughout juneau, with an estimated 6,600 and 43k fish returning, respectively. The sockeye program produced added value to the areas sockeye gillnet and seine fleets, with approximately 38k adults harvested in gillnet and seine fleets. Overall, dipac provided significant opportunity for commercial and sport fish harvest, which were primarily supported by the Chum program that achieved a 59% production contribution to common property fisheries.

Visitor center - in 2021, dipac offered free admissions and educational tours to over 500 students and community members. Not only do we offer free admissions and tours, but dipac provides a free service to the juneau school district by developing and carrying out two specific programs (one in the fall, one in the spring) that meet district requirements for various age level learning. In the fall program, pre-k through fifth grade students learn about salmon anatomy, ecology of salmon environments, and life cycle. Second grade students, in the spring, have a specialized program on mollusks (the largest phylum in the ocean), but before the mollusk lesson begins, they are given a brief overview of hatchery operations and mission. Over the course of the summer, we welcomed approximately 55,000 paying guests through our doors to explain the importance of salmon and how the hatchery supports this sustainable fishery. Guests are offered a complementary commentary upon payment of the admissions fee and a seasonal guide leads them around the key places of the facility. For those who like to learn on their own, there are educational signs and exhibits as well as a slideshow providing all the basic hatchery information.