By WILLIAM S. MORRIS III/Chairman and CEO/Morris Communications Co.
Published: 2013.10.30 11:00 PM
For many years we have watched the ebb and flow of salmon in Alaska’s waters; in particular, the great king salmon and the world’s greatest salmon fishery, the Kenai River.
Salmon of all types play a major role in the life and wellbeing of our state. They provide food, subsistence, income, commercial activity and sport.
Fortunately, in general, salmon are a prolific species. They reproduce in large numbers in the rivers and streams of our state. They remain in those rivers and streams for an early part of their lives and then they return to the same rivers and streams where they were born to reproduce and die. Salmon stay in the ocean for several years and are preyed upon and affected by many forces – some are known to us, some are not.
Salmon are impacted by many factors both manmade — commercial, sport and subsistence fishing, as well as industrial activities as we have seen in the Pacific Northwest — and ocean conditions that may be outside our control.
All species of salmon are important for different reasons but none is more important than the great king salmon. This fish grows to large sizes and is truly considered a trophy fish. Most anglers would rather catch a king salmon than any other kind.
For Alaska Natives, the king salmon is both sacred culturally and vital for subsistence during harsh winters in remote villages. For many years on the mighty Yukon River, and more recently on the Kuskokwim River, Alaska Natives have endured severe harvest restrictions as state managers attempt to pass enough kings to the spawning grounds in addition to meeting our treaty obligations with Canada.
The meat of king salmon is considered to be the tastiest of all and many sport fishermen consider them to be the best fighting fish and the most fun to catch.
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We hope you will find the series interesting, helpful and worthwhile. We welcome comments from readers. Please submit them to kenaikings@morris.com.
As with all the articles we link to on the ASA website, this report does not necessarily reflect the views of the Alaska Salmon Alliance.