All of the salmon that we use come from the Alaskan waters. Conservation of salmon stocks are required under the Alaska State constitution. Alaska’s constitution is unique among the fifty states in that it has an article solely devoted to the management and utilization of natural resources. The constitution mandates that renewable resource "Shall be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle."

With statehood, the Alaska department of fish and game was formed. Alaska law states: "The Commissioner shall manage, protect, maintain, improve, and extend the fish, game and aquatic plant resources of the state in the interest of the economy and general well being of the state…through rehabilitation, enhancement, and development programs, {the department must} do all things necessary to insure perpetual and increasing production and use of the food resources of state water and continental shelf areas."

To ensure the sustained yield of salmon stocks which is constitutionally and statutorily mandated, the Alaska department of fish and game manages salmon fisheries, while the Alaska board of fisheries is given the responsibility for allocating the yield of salmon among users.

The clear separation of management authority from allocation authority is one of the strengths of the Alaska management system. Alaska has always made a strong commitment to conserving and protecting important salmon habitat.

With this strong conservative approach record, catches have been recorded over the last several years. Alaska has a long and successful track record of managing and conserving salmon resources. Alaska’s world famous salmon program is built on the principles of conservative management, sound science and habitat protection. Alaska’s record salmon runs are the proof of this successful approach. Alaska has also been willing to forego the economic benefits from other activities such as hydropower development in order to sustain salmon resources for future generations.

With the constitutional and statutory mandates to conserve, the Alaska Department of fish and game has effectively managed Alaska’s pacific salmon stocks to ensure conservation and to promote production.

As a result stocks of salmon spawning in Alaska are generally healthy and fisheries dependent upon these stocks have benefited, with statewide harvests ranging from about one hundred to two million salmon per year over the past fifteen years.

State of Alaska management has been intensive, conducted on a real time basis with regulations implemented by local area biologists in season with a clear legal mandate and delegated authority. Salmon managers open and close fisheries on a daily basis to ensure that adequate spawning escapements are annually achieved.

When runs are strong, managers liberalize harvest regulations to utilize surpluses; when runs are poor, managers close fisheries to provide for predetermined escapement needs and hence ensure long term sustainable yields.

Alaska's focused emphasis on in-season management by local biologists with delegated regulatory authority to ensure sustained yields is a key ingredient to successful salmon management.