Tŝilhqot’in Nation Calls for Shutdown of Alaska Fishery Amid Concerns Over Interception of Canadian-bound Salmon

As concerns over salmon interception continue, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation is calling for the Alaskan District 104 Fishery to be shut down.

Despite Canada and Washington restricting salmon harvests in recent years, the Alaskan fishery has continued to collect large amounts of fish.

That includes the intercepting of salmon stocks returning to the Fraser, and other Canadian rivers, which the Nation relies on for food security.

In 2019, they reported harvesting 45,000 Chilko Sockeye, during a year in which the Nation chose not to fish for their families to preserve stocks.

Impacts from the fishery have continued to play a part in the lower than expected salmon returns in subsequent years.

Now, amid growing fears over the level of the 2023 return, the Nation is calling for the Pacific Salmon Commission to shut down the fishery entirely.