14 DAY TRIAL // As a result of a collaboration between the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service, Chinook salmon living in Alaskan waters are to benefit from increased protection, as a new rule demands that fishermen better monitor and control how many of these fish end up in their nets as bycatch.
Apparently, fishermen are to either see to the proper implementation of this new rule, or risk no longer being allowed to fish in these waters altogether.
This added protection to Chinook salmons stems from the fact that this species has experienced a steady decline in its Alaskan and Pacific coast population over the last 50 years, and from the necessity of allowing these fish to make a recovery by making sure that they are not kept from reaching their spawning areas by their accidentally becoming entrapped in fishing nets.
Speaking on behalf of Oceana, an organization which mainly focuses on ocean conservation projects, specialist Jon Warrenchuk made a case of how, “Chinool salmon are one of the most important fish in Alaska, and we should do all we can to ensure these salmon are returning to our rivers to spawn rather than being dragged up in huge pollock nets and waster.”
Oceana's official website explains how, under these new fishing rules, fishermen carrying out their activities in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska are to limit their Chinook salmon annual catches to 25,000 individuals.
Officials are to make sure that this new standard is given due consideration by demanding that observers at processing facilities count exactly how many Chinook salmons each fishing vessel has on board, and by collecting various data which help provide input with respect to how this species is doing in terms of population.
Susan Murray, environmental specialist working with said organization, shows her support for this decision, and argues that, “Alaska is America's last salmon stronghold. NMFS's action today is another small step towards protecting our iconic King salmon from being wasted by trawlers.”