What's behind the decline of Yukon Chinook?

Increased natural mortality associated with Bering Sea marine heatwaves is "an important driver" of the Yukon River Chinook salmon crash, a new study finds.

The study also "found no evidence that harvest of adult salmon or bycatch removals prior to spawning have been significant factors in population level declines of Yukon River Chinook," says this write-up from NOAA Fisheries.

Blotter

Bristol Bay fishermen are catching a lot of salmon — and a lot of citations from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Follow all the enforcement action on our sister blog The Brig.

'The question that needs to be asked'

Independent journalist Craig Medred today posted this remarkably cogent comment on his site:

When you look at the data, the pollock trawl fishery is among the cleanest damn fisheries in the state. Should the country sacrifice millions of tons of renewable, high-quality protein to save the comparatively small number of kings taken as bycatch in that fishery? That's the question that needs to be asked.

A trawler takes to task both Sullivan, Peltola

Here's his opinion piece on the Anchorage Daily News website.

Salmon notes

• Bristol Bay exploded for a Fourth of July catch of more than 2.3 million sockeye, the largest daily catch of the season so far and the first day for a haul exceeding 2 million fish.

• An available surplus of sockeye will allow for a commercial fishery at Goodnews Bay, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced. "Sockeye salmon run strengths in the Kuskokwim area have been increasing over the last 20 years," the department said, noting one commercial processor is registered to buy.

• The long closure in the Copper River District continues. Here's the latest from Fish and Game. The last opener was June 11.

Salmon spill

A truck hauling salmon overturned Friday night on the Seward Highway, causing quite a mess, the Alaska State Troopers reported.

Blotter

Be sure to catch our sister blog The Brig for fisheries enforcement news.