A shortage of wild king salmon in Southeast won’t affect the 10th annual Community King Salmon Barbecue at the fairgrounds June 17.

For the ninth year, the fish to be served originated in a hatchery in Sitka, so the event won’t impact local stocks, said event coordinator and fisherman Gregg Bigsby.

“The point of the local seafood industry supplying a free king salmon dinner for everybody is to promote good thoughts about our industry,” Bigsby said. “That’s the point. We’re not taking Chilkat fish or local stocks to do this.”

Fishermen pay a 3 percent tax that goes back to the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association hatchery to ensure its success.

“We pay so we can have fish in low abundance of wild stocks. This happens to be one of those years,” Bigsby said. More than 18,000 king salmon are expected to return to the NSRAA hatchery this year.

More than 1,500 pounds of donated fish will make its way from Sitka to Haines this week. Ocean Beauty Seafood and Excursion Inlet Packing, Icy Straights Seafood, Alaska Glacier Seafoods, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Sitka Sounds Seafoods, Seafood Producers Cooperative, Haines Packing Company, Alaska Seaplanes and 16 other organizations will contribute money, services, processing, transportation or supplies for the feast.

“The hatchery fish are delicious,” Bigsby said. “We’ve been using them all along and it’s been superb.”

Event coordinator Jessica Edwards said she expects more than 2,000 people to stop for a plate. Chefs include Mike Denker, Larry Jurgeleit, and Harry Rietze. Deana Stout and fair staff are preparing side dishes, including potatoes, beans, salad and cake.

After making the line system more efficient last year and opening food service from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Edwards said she hopes attendance will be high.

Three bands will provide entertainment for the evening. Inclement weather seating will be under the pavilion and in Harriett Hall. The fair asks for a suggested donation of $5 per person.