A Widely Felt Impact
The effects are also felt further south where sportsmen have habitually flocked to rivers like the Kenai andKasilof, their summer rituals centering on pursuit of this prized fish. The closure of the King season year after year is affecting Alaska’s tourism and sportsman industries, bringing great attention to the agencies that regulate these fisheries. In addition to the four-part portrait of the way of life on the Lower Yukon River, we'll be tracking some of the stories below.
Fish Fight
The decline of King salmon is statewide and has ignited fierce political debates between commercial fisherman and the sport fishing industry, both of which bring revenue into local economies and appeal to their respective culinary and recreational enthusiasts. We will track this issue leading up to a historic measure bound for the ballot in 2016.
Plight of The Keta
Keta salmon, commonly referred to as Chum or Dog salmon, is is often stigmatized as a throwaway fish. But one tenacious entrepreneur from the United Kingdom has discovered how unique environmental conditions on the Yukon River have created one of Alaska’s best kept culinary secrets.
River Watchers
The management of salmon rivers is a fascinating science, but biologists often find themselves in the middle of user groups vying for access to this natural resource for personal, cultural, or economic reasons. Having deep access with fishery managers, this piece will compare the challenges and practices on three prominent Northern Pacific salmon rivers.
The Egg House
This is a challenging time to be a teenager in Emmonak. Information technology carries the echoes of Western culture and materialism that become increasingly attractive in this era of economic hardship on the Lower Yukon River. This piece will be an intimate portrait of three Yup'ik teens on the brink of adulthood as they reckon with what their future might hold.