Introduction

       

The North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) was established by the Convention for the Conservation of Anadromous Stocks in the North Pacific Ocean. The Convention was signed in February 1992 by Canada, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America and entered into force in February 1993. The Republic of Korea became a member in May 2003. The objective of the NPAFC is to promote the conservation of anadromous stocks in the Convention Area and it serves as a forum for the cooperation and coordination of scientific research and enforcement activities. As a part of its scientific activities, the Commission publishes the NPAFC Statistical Yearbook series for fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean starting with data for 1993. The yearbook contains annual catch statistics for certain fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean and number of salmon fry and smolt releases by member countries into the North Pacific Ocean. The yearbook is an official publication and may be cited as reference material.

The 1993 to 1998 statistical yearbooks were published annually in printed form, and the 1999 to 2002 yearbooks were available on CD-ROM. Starting from the 1999-2001 yearbook, the volumes have included tri-annual data published in printed format. Annual yearbooks dating back to 1993 are available at the NPAFC website (www.npafc.org).

The catch statistics presented in this yearbook include the following: the North Pacific salmon fisheries of Canada, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States, groundfish, herring, shrimp, and crab fisheries of Canada and the United States and Korean fisheries other than salmon. Juvenile salmon release data of Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States, are also reported. Any revision or update of data presented in this publication will be posted on the NPAFC website (www.npafc.org).

Except where otherwise noted, the “year” is the calendar year. All weights are expressed in round weight. The status of data submitted and information on conversions are shown in footnotes to the tables.

The NPAFC expresses appreciation to the following editorial group members and fisheries organizations for their cooperation and assistance in providing data for this Statistical Yearbook.
 

Editorial Group for Statistical Yearbook:

James Irvine (Canada)
Toru Nagasawa (Japan)
Ki Baik Seong (Republic of Korea)
Natalia Klovach (Russia)
Loh-Lee Low (United States)

Canada: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region, Regional Data Unit, Pacific Biological Station

Japan: Fisheries Agency of Japan, Fisheries Research Agency

Republic of Korea: Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

Russia: Pacific Scientific Research Fisheries Centre (TINRO-Centre)

United States: National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Washington State Department of Fish and Game, Oregon State Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Fish and Game

International Organizations: International Pacific Halibut Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Pacific Salmon Commission.