2021 Subsistence Salmon Harvest
What story. The Chinook and Chum numbers were extremely low on the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers in 2021. The salmon stocks were 90% lower than the long-term averages on the rivers (KRITFC, 2021).
What happened? The Chinook and chum salmon runs were extremely low and there were limited harvest opportunities. The Chinook run was 47% below the long-term average. The Kuskokwim Chinook run has been too small to provide the amounts necessary for subsistence since 2012 (KRITFC, 2021). The chum salmon run crashed which resulted in restricted chum management. “Conservation closures, previously instituted to protect Chinook salmon and typically removed by the end of June as the Chinook salmon run wanes, continued through the end of July to protect depleted chum salmon” (KRITFC, 2021).
The Kuskokwim River is experiencing a catastrophic multi-species salmon decline not seen in living memory
The low run numbers, limited openings, and restrictions on the fishing gear limited the opportunities of Kuskokwim residents to put away enough fish. Managers must allow subsistence users to harvest fish while ensuring enough salmon get through to protect and enhance future runs (escapement goals). ”Due to the steep declines and management actions required to meet critical escapement needs, only a fraction of the amount reasonably necessary for subsistence uses (ANS) (67,200-109,800 fish) was available for harvest for the past decade” (KRIFTC, 2021). The Kuskokwim River has “historically supported the largest subsistence salmon fishery in the state of Alaska, based on both the number of residents in the 33 villages. (…) Over the past thirty years, village residents in the Kuskokwim region have annually harvested over 360 pounds of wild foods per person for human consumption, with fish comprising up to 85% of the total poundage of subsistence harvests, and salmon contributing up to 53% of subsistence harvests. Since at least 2009, subsistence-dependent communities in the Kuskokwim drainage have noticed and suffered because of significant and sudden drops in salmon populations, beginning with Chinook salmon and now including chum salmon. The Kuskokwim River is experiencing a catastrophic multi-species salmon decline not seen in living memory” (KRITFC, 2021).
“We only had 2 chums in my fish rack all summer. That’s unreal. I usually put up 2,000 chums for dogs…We put up a lot of reds, a healthy run of reds. I hope that all of us are hoping and praying that we would have enough returns on the kings, and that’s unlikely”
Chief Mike Williams Sr.
The dual management of the Lower Kuskokwim also resulted in conflicting openings. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) declared a fishing opening for June 28th for the Lower Kuskokwim Salmon Fishery, which is under federal management (Kim, 2021). The feds said the State opening was illegal. This created a lot of confusion and while ultimately no federal law enforcement patrolled the river during the opening many subsistence fishermen stated they did not fish out of fear of being ticketed.
What now? Nobody wants a repeat of this summer, but the way forward is unclear. Unfortunately, the fishing season was also disastrous on the Yukon and Norton Sound. The Kuskokwim and Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commissions and Kawerak are advocating for the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council to reduce the bycatch to zero for 2022.
“Our people are now facing a winter without this essential food source and missing an essential part of our traditions and way of life.”
KRITFC, YRITFC & Kawerak ADN Op-ed
References:
KRITFC, YRITFC, Kawerak. “As Tribal Leaders, We Urge Collective Action for Western Alaskan Salmon Now”. November 1, 2021. ADN.
https://www.kuskosalmon.org/news/oped-adn-collectiveaction-oct2021
KRITFC. “Kuskokwim River Salmon Situation Report”. September 2021.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5afdc3d5e74940913f78773d/t/615607da8d6fa0716ab14883/1633028063963/FINAL+Kusko+Salmon+Situation+Report_Sep2021.pdf
Kim, G. “State announces Kuskokwim fishing opening, but feds say it’s illegitimate” KTOO. June 25, 2021
https://www.ktoo.org/2021/06/25/state-announces-kuskokwim-fishing-opening-but-feds-say-its-illegitimate/
Here’s a throwback to the 2017 Subsistence Sockeye Harvest in Georgetown
