"'Economic Impact of 100 Billion Won' King Salmon Are Not Returning"… Crisis in Salmon Paradise Alaska

River-returning salmon population hits record low
Overfishing and climate change impact... "Fishing must stop"

The "salmon paradise" of Alaska, USA, is facing the disappearance of the "king salmon." As the population declines, even the survival of orcas is threatened, leading to growing calls to halt fishing.

On the 19th (local time), The New York Times (NYT), citing a report from consulting firm McKinsey, stated, "The amount of king salmon caught in Alaska and sold to processing companies has been decreasing over the past 40 years," and "Last summer, the number of salmon returning to major Alaskan rivers was recorded at an all-time low."

Also known as Chinook salmon, king salmon is the largest salmon species in the Pacific, measuring 90 cm in length and weighing over 13 kg. It is a representative species of Alaska, designated as the official state fish in 1963, and a tourism product that supports local communities.

According to the NYT, there are about 900 fishing vessels along the southeastern coast of Alaska, and the economic impact of king salmon fishing on local communities amounts to $85 million (approximately 107.6 billion KRW).

However, this year, global sea surface temperatures have been observed at historically high levels. As a result, the population of cold-water species like salmon is rapidly declining.

The Pacific Salmon Commission reported in 2021 that the number of king salmon spawning in rivers around Seattle, Washington, has decreased by 60% since 1984. There is also analysis showing that the number of king salmon caught annually in the Kenai River dropped by more than 48% between 2017 and 2020.

An Alaskan processing company told the NYT, "In 1985, we purchased 13.2 million pounds (about 6,000 kg) of Alaskan king salmon, but by 2021, that number had dropped to 2.6 million pounds (about 1,200 kg)."

Contrary to its name, king salmon are also getting smaller. At one time, king salmon caught in fishing tournaments weighed up to 100 pounds (about 45 kg), but now there are talks that a 30-pound (about 14 kg) fish might win.

In this situation, environmental groups have filed lawsuits arguing that the decline in salmon, the orcas' prey, threatens the survival of orcas and demanding a halt to king salmon fishing.

The court ruled in May to ban king salmon fishing, but the ban is currently suspended, and fishing has been allowed since the 1st of this month.

Alaskan fishermen are anxious. A fisherman from Pelican Island in southeastern Alaska said, "We are all terrified. We are scrambling to find other ways to make a living."

Fish biologist Mark Stopper explained, "All the fishermen are fighting over king salmon," and "Everyone has realized that the ocean is getting warmer due to climate change."