Federal board considers drastic measures on Yukon

January 18, 2011|By Jackie Bartz | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Federal Subsistence Board is considering a set of drastic proposals for the Yukon River. Low king salmon returns have shut down commercial fishing and limited subsistence fishing.

The Board says it's trying to find a way to boost salmon runs, while still providing for the people who rely on the salmon.

Up for consideration are a 12-year moratorium on the first salmon run of the season and restrictions on fishing gear.

The kings in the Yukon River don't run like they used to. Low returns have everyone concerned and wondering what to do.

“Now it's come to the point where the pie is being sliced narrower and narrower,” said Jack Reacoff, a subsistence fisherman.

“That lifestyle is, you know, out there's also a desire for people to protect fish from completely disappearing,” said Tim Towarak, the chairman of the Federal Subsistence Board.

The board needs to strike a balance between strengthening the fish stock and providing for subsistence users. They have a lot of proposals to consider this week.

From eliminating customary trade in the region to outlawing subsistence-caught salmon to be used in dog food, some of the proposals are drastic.

“That proposal is flat on its face, but it shows people's frustrations, and I appreciate those frustrations. People submitting proposals-- all this is showing is the tempo that people are becoming very concerned,” Reacoff said.

They’re so concerned, it appears subsistence users are targeting each other. Fishermen in the middle section feel like the proposal put forward by fishermen in the lower section that bans salmon in dog food is aimed at them, because they traditionally have the most dog sled teams.

Some fishermen on the lower section feel the Board of Fisheries singled them out them when it implemented new net guidelines that will make it more difficult to catch older and bigger kings.

“I think we could, it's going to have to give and take on both sides. Somewhere there should be a medium that could work,” Towarak said.

Board members say if fishermen continue to fight each other, everyone will end up empty-handed.

The board says that most of the proposals likely won't pass because there won't be enough support and they're too drastic.

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