Around the state, biologists are unsure of what led to the lowest pink salmon harvest since the 1970s in a season that led Gov. Bill Walker to seek a disaster declaration from the federal government to bail out beleaguered pink fishermen. “We caught 39 million pinks this year,” said Forrest Bowers, the Commercial Fisheries Division director for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The department forecasted a harvest of 90 million fish between. Bowers said he had to comb records back to 1977 to find a year that bad.

Special report: A huge disruption to California's coastal ecosystem is under way after several years of unusually warm ocean conditions and drought.

Saltwater fishery officials are reporting a resurgence of a mysterious condition that's bound to turn the stomachs of anglers -- mushy halibut syndrome. Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Barbi Failor said the department is receiving more reports of mushy fish caught by sport fishermen all over Cook Inlet.

Silver salmon, Brant geese and berries.

Commercial and Subsistence Harvest

But at least there is a stream...

Fishing for pinks has been really up and down the last few years. In 2014 the catch was really low, and then 2015 it was amazing with more than we had ever seen before. This year's pink salmon return again, was really bad.

Purse seiner crew scrambles to shovel the huge bycatch of Northern sea nettle jelly fish (Chrysaora melanaster) overboard.

This season's pink salmon were slightly bigger, but southern Panhandle runs fizzled.

Smelt caught on the Kugkaktlik River were found to have dark spots on the skin. Photo examination suggests that the cause is the same black fungus found in saffron cod in Norton Sound. Continued surveillance for this condition in fish is requested by LEO Network members.

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia

Pink salmon die-off, and low water levels at Antone Larsen Creek

Scientists and fishermen have reported more unusual species in Alaska waters, including the subtropical mola mola, or ocean sunfish. It's likely because of warming sea surface temperatures.

11-12-14 Late coho salmon run - Cordova, Alaska, USA

10-24-15 Arctic char with sores and parasites - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA