Home / Environment / Wild Fish Group Suing Alaska Over Salmon Fisheries
Wild Fish Group Suing Alaska Over Salmon Fisheries
3 Nov
Summary
- Wild Fish Conservancy plans to sue Alaska and NOAA over salmon management.
- Allegations cite Endangered Species Act violations for salmon caught in Alaska.
- Salmon caught in Alaska fisheries often originate outside the state.
The Wild Fish Conservancy has announced its intention to sue the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and NOAA Fisheries. This legal action stems from allegations of violations concerning the management of sport and commercial salmon fisheries in Kodiak, Chignik, and Alaska Peninsula waters, specifically citing breaches of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
According to the conservancy's October 28 letter, nearly nine out of ten Chinook salmon caught in commercial fisheries along the South Alaska Peninsula in 2024 and 2025 originated from outside Alaska. Despite this, these fisheries reportedly operate without federal ESA oversight regarding their impact on threatened and endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook salmon.
The group contends that these fish should be classified as endangered throughout their entire migratory range, not solely in their region of origin. This highlights a perceived gap in federal salmon protections, as fisheries in Washington and Oregon face stringent ESA regulations, while Alaskan fisheries are not subject to comparable oversight.
Alaska's Department of Fish and Game Commissioner, Douglas Vincent-Lang, stated that the notice mirrors past unsuccessful legal challenges. He indicated that the state plans a forceful response, asserting that sustainable fisheries management is fundamental to their program and that they will defend Alaska's fisheries against what they term unfounded allegations.
Further supporting their claims, the Wild Fish Conservancy referenced ADF&G's own genetic studies. These studies indicated that in 2024 and 2025, 86.4% and 88.4% of Chinook harvested in South Alaska Peninsula commercial fisheries, respectively, were from outside Alaska. Studies also show that for Kodiak, native Chinook runs accounted for less than 5% of harvests, with British Columbia and U.S. West Coast fish comprising over 80% in prior analyses.
