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Chinook Salmon Fishing Opens Up in the Tatshenshini River

Friday, 16 August 2019 15:33

Courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation

Previously, anglers were only permitted to catch and release chinook salmon, but now they are permitted to catch one fish, and have one in their possession. 

There's good news for Yukon anglers as the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans opens up the Tatshenshini River to chinook salmon fishing.

Previously, anglers were only permitted to catch and release chinook salmon. Now, they're permitted to catch one fish and have one in their possession. 

Elizabeth MacDonald, executive director of the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee, says that while the higher chinook numbers is good news, it's not indicative of a permanent rise in population.

 "The chinook are doing better this year than they have in a little while, which is good news. For the long term, of course, we don't know how they'll do in the future.  We want to have a precautionary approach and be hopeful,but not over-zealous, with our expectations for the upcoming years."

With climate change, the oceans have been warming. MacDonald says this is likely contributing to the fluctuating salmon populations saying, "The marine environment has really changed in the past few years with climate change. It's much warmer than it used to be. It seems to be affecting all salmon differently. It's not doing so well for chinook, but other salmon like chum salmon, it seems to be benefiting them more. They've been doing pretty well with the exception of this year."

Sockeye salmon must be released if caught due to low population.

MacDonald asks anglers to release sockeye salmon as quickly as possible to ensure they're not injured, and to make sure they stay wet while being released.

Until now, the season had been closed to everything except subsistence fishing.

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