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Yukon River Fall Chum And Coho Runs Projected To Be A Tenth Of Their Average Size

Elyssa Loughlin
/
KYUK

Yukon River summer chum dropped to a record low this summer, down to a tenth of their average run size. Fishing for the species was closed all summer, and fall salmon runs could look similarly dismal. 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game projects that Yukon River fall chum and coho salmon runs will also be about a tenth of their average run size. The fall chum salmon run is projected to be 82,000 fish compared to an average of 868,000, and the coho run is projected to be 25,000 to 34,000 fish, compared to an average run of 240,000 fish.

 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed fall subsistence and commercial fishing for the species, and has said that it is making an extra effort to minimize injury and death in salmon caught in its test fishery. The state said that it will donate any injured or dead salmon caught in its fishery to tribal councils. 

Olivia was a News Reporter for KYUK from 2020-2022.
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