On Tuesday, in Kenai, Governor Parnell announced that the 2014 budget will contain $10 million as a first part of a five-year, $30 million Comprehensive King Salmon Research Initiative. The Research Initiative will seek an understanding of the factors that influence the the abundance of King Salmon statewide.

Using information from 12 river systems from Southeast Alaska to the Arctic, the Initiative will work to develop strategies to enhance the viabilty as well as increase returns of King Salmon to the state.

The $10 million that is added to the 2014 budget will compliment the $14.6 million spent annually by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for Chinook related research and management.

This past summer, the Department of Fish and Game assembled a group of scientists to develop a comrehensive research plan to better understand the the abundance or lack thereof of King Salmon in the state. The draft research plan was laid out and discussed in October at a two-day symposium in Anchorage. The symposium had a large turn-out, about four hundred scientists, fishermen and their families as well as government representatives attended the event.

“The high turnout at the symposium indicates the importance Alaskans place on healthy Chinook salmon resources,” Governor Parnell said. “The quality of the dialogue between scientists and the public was a critical step in developing a robust research plan that reflects both the most current scientific knowledge and the priorities of the people of Alaska.”

Projects included in the research plan will be carried out state-wide and will include local and traditional knowledge, assessments of juvenile,adult and harvests, as well as genetics and biometrics of King Salmon.

“Alaska’s fishing industry is a vital economic engine in our state,” Governor Parnell said. “Chinook salmon are a cornerstone of our culture and livelihood. I look forward to working with the Legislature in support of this research initiative.”

From Washington, Senator Murkowski thanked the governor for the Comprehensive Research Initiative, saying, “We were all deeply troubled by this summer’s salmon runs, not only for the short-term struggles it caused, but also for the long-term unanswered questions it raised. We can’t fully deal with the issues we may be facing without hard data and science to guide our thinking. I worked to restore millions in the 2013 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill for fishery stock assessments and salmon recovery. I’m glad that Governor Parnell is joining forces to get answers and guide us towards a future of sustainable, productive fisheries.”