Gunnuk Creek Hatchery started life as a Kake High school project in 1973, hatching salmon in 55 gallon drum incubators. Having realized the benefit of having a modern salmon hatchery to create employment opportunities in the Village of Kake through enhancement of local fisheries; A group of dedicated local community members formed Kake Non-Profit Fisheries Corporation and incorporated with the State of Alaska on May 14th 1976.
Today Gunnuk Creek Hatchery is a modern Facility producing up to 65 million chum salmon fry, 5.5 million pink salmon fry, and 250 thousand coho salmon smolts a year. With approximately 30% of these fish eventually being caught by the State's Common Property Commercial Fishery. This makes us the fifth largest chum salmon hatchery in the State of Alaska and 12th largest in the world.
KNFC employees 5 full time employees and up to 15 seasonal employees. We contribute approximately $500,000 directly to the local economy each year, and are commited to the economic development of the Kake Community.
