Salmon Runs | Alaskan Harvest Seafood Blog

Western Alaskan Fisherman are Struggling and Angry

Filed under: News — Tags: salmon runs, state fisheries, western alaska —

Fisherman in Western Alaska feel angry at the State fishing managers claiming that the managers mismanaged struggling salmon stocks on the Yukon river. Thus in turn adversely affecting the rural Alaskan communities.

The people of the Bethel region state that villages could no longer abide by state fishery plans as they were not consulted when these plans were drawn up. The villages along the Yukon river are suffering economic hardship. Opinions were heard from both sides in a meeting Monday evening. The fisherman feel that the lower river rador used to assess the salmon run was inaccurate and muddy water could be a factor, this allowed fish to cross into Canada, in fact more fish did so this year. The US has a treaty for the number of salmon that can pass into Canada.

The state set fishing limits stating it was related to the treaty however it was argued that the treaty wasn’t followed for the last two years.

The state seems to have taken the fishermen’s concerns onboard and next year commits to better methods to assess salmon counts with sonar counters in different locations and even a moving barge along the river bank.

Fishing along the salmon runs is a much needed source of income for rural Alaskans and has been badly hit in recent times in fact fisherman took their smallest paycheck in 38 years. So it is understandable that they want the best possible assessment of salmon numbers.

Reference:

http://www.adn.com/rural/story/975435.html

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Energy Needs and Salmon Survival Clash in Pacific Northwest

Filed under: News — Tags: Columbia River basin, conservation, dams, extinction, hydroelectric, hydropower, Pacific Northwest, Salmon, salmon runs —

Representatives from environmental and conservation groups, local Oregon government officials, Northwest tribal government representatives, and federal agencies representing fisheries interests and departments of energy have been struggling to find an answer to questions surrounding the use of hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River basin. The river basin was once home to between 10 and 30 million wild salmon, but modern development - including the introduction of the dams, pollution, overfishing, and destruction of natural habitats - has resulted in dramatic decreases in those numbers. Dozens of populations are already extinct, and a great number are listed as endangered or threatened, a fact which is forcing regional policymakers to look more carefully at the programs currently in place for protecting the animals, both as a species and a natural resource.

A previous plan supported by the Bush administration has come under intense scrutiny, as a U.S. District Court Judge has stated that the plan is inadequate for protection of the salmon. The judge has not ruled out the possibility of requiring the removal of some of the dams - an option that has those agencies in charge of administering electricity to the region up in arms. All parties continue to look for a solution that will satisfy both environmental concerns with the region’s energy dependence upon hydropower.