Alaska Bans King Salmon Fishing in Yukon River Amid Projected Low Runs

"Alaska has banned fishing for king salmon in the Yukon River this summer, saying that runs could come in even lower than last year's historically low numbers amid a 10-year decline.

The state projected in its species management plan that king, or Chinook, salmon runs were expected to range from 64,000 to 121,000, with the high end still lower than most years this past decade.

"It's clear from this run size that if we are going to ensure the sustainability of this population over time, we need to get all of those fish to the spawning grounds," Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Stephanie Schmidt said.

The state is also bound by the U.S.-Canada Yukon River Agreement to enable Canada-bound fish to reach spawning grounds across the border."

Steve Quinn reports for Reuters May 8, 2014.