Subpar king salmon runs around the state drew fisheries stakeholders together in Anchorage last week, to gain a better understanding of the science behind population declines.
Trout Unlimited Alaska Policy Director Austin Williams: “It’s an issue not just confined to Cook Inlet or the Anchorage area. The Southeast Alaska chinook runs have decreased dramatically and were entirely shut down this year and then some of the runs in Western Alaska have also been declining at alarming rates.”
Williams says there’s a real need for continued research to address some of the reasons king runs are weaker such as ocean survivability, predation, and warming waters.
While Williams says overall the state does a great job managing its fisheries, there is always room for improvement.
Trout Unlimited focused it’s panel speakers on issues that people have effect over, like the importance of freshwater habitat in conserving fish stocks and public involvement in protecting natural resources.
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