When hooligan start running in Southeast Alaska at the end of winter, the Wagner family heads to the mouth of the Unuk River. Tazia Wagner steers the skiff as her uncle throws a weighted cast net into the muddy water. He hauls up a net full of wriggling, oily little fish. They’re aiming to fill…
Subsistence
Yukon River communities balance conservation, survival amid near-total salmon fishing closures
This year, there will once again be little-to-no opportunity for communities along the Western Alaska river to harvest any salmon.
Suit asserting Metlakatla tribal members’ right to fish off-reservation heads for trial
The case could have broad implications for fishermen throughout Southeast Alaska.
Peltola sponsors a bill to limit salmon bycatch. The pollock industry calls it ‘unworkable.’
Peltola acknowledges that her bills are unlikely to become law this year, but she says they elevate the national discourse on fish.
For one Utqiaġvik family, spring bowhead whaling marks an important milestone
For Inupiat communities on the North Slope, bowhead whaling is a central part of spring. But climate change is adding an extra element of uncertainty to the whaling season.
Scientists, Alaska Native leaders say the Arctic faces a growing crisis from plastic waste
The authors of a new report will join representatives from more than 180 other countries to negotiate a United Nations plastics treaty.
Alaska and Canada agree to moratorium on Yukon River chinook salmon fishing
The agreement sets a 71,000 Canadian-origin chinook annual border passage target, and allows for consideration of limited subsistence harvest if the target is projected to be reached.
Alaska school year could start in September under new proposal
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, introduced the bill and said the later start date would allow students to spend more time on subsistence activities and working in construction or tourism jobs.
Amid salmon crash, Alaska’s Yukon River residents say a new pact with Canada leaves them behind
The plan could close fishing for seven more years and open the door for hatcheries. In villages along the river, tribal leaders say the state has cut them out of the process.
Bill backed by Southeast communities would tighten hunting and fishing residency requirements
The deputy director of Alaska Wildlife Troopers said current residency requirements make it difficult to prosecute people suspected of illegally obtaining resident licenses.