Welcome to Fish Talk, a talk show about fish on the Kuskokwim. Because of technical problems we weren’t able to hold a call-in show today like we usually do for Fish Talk. Instead, we’re bringing you an interview we recorded with our guests on the low king salmon numbers on the Kuskokwim.
We’re halfway though the run, and numbers from the Bethel Test Fishery show king salmon numbers similar to 2012 and 2013 when the king population crashed. People here remember those years as the lowest ever recorded. Each year saw about 100,000 kings. Since then, tight regulations have followed. This year could be another record low.
Joining me in the studio to talk about this issue are:
Sam Cotton, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game;
Hazel Nelson, the Alaska Director of the Division of Subsistence;
Aaron Poetter, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Kuskokwim Manager;
and Zach Liller, Fish and Game Kuskokwim Researcher.
Translating the show into Yup’ik is Peter Atchak.
