| Summary: | This dataset is compiled from Tables 1-4 from the report "Summary of Pacific salmon escapement goals in Alaska with a review of escapements from 2001 to 2009.” Escapement is defined as the number of mature salmon migrating from the marine environment to freshwater streams. Escapement data are the enumeration of these migrating fish as they pass upstream, and are a widely used index of spawning salmon abundance. These data are important for fisheries management, since most salmon harvest occurs in freshwater rivers during this migration. As a part of management of these salmon stocks, some Alaskan river systems are assigned escapement goals, which generally represent the number of salmon that need to be given the opportunity to spawn to ensure survival of the stock. Generally there are three common types of escapement goals. Biological Escapement Goals (BEGs) are defined in Alaska fishery regulations 5 AAC 39.222(f) as "the escapement that provides the greatest potential for maximum sustained yield." Sustainable Escapement Goals (SEGs) are defined in the same section as "a level of escapement, indicated by an index or an escapement estimate, that is known to provide for sustained yield over a 5 to 10 year period, used in situations where a BEG cannot be estimated or managed for." Optimal Escapement Goals (OEGs) are defined as "a specific management objective for salmon escapement that considers biological and allocative factors and may differ from the SEG or BEG."
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