Thanks so much for bringing up these important issues. It’s very true that historic and ongoing commercial fishing has severely depleted many populations of Pacific salmon, and those travelling furthest south on their homeward migrations typically travel through the most fisheries so the pressure is additive (e.g. in recent years, 20-30% of the catch of several Columbia River and coastal Oregon Chinook stocks occurs in Southeast Alaska, then more occurs in Canadian fisheries as you mention). We understand and empathize with concerns for Washington & Oregon bound salmon caught in Canadian fisheries as well, and there have been significant reductions in Canadian commercial fisheries specifically to address some of those concerns (including a massive scaleback of the West Coast Vancouver Island troll fishery several years ago specifically to reduce pressure on Columbia River and other lower 48 salmon populations). Is there more work to do? Yes. The Pacific Salmon Treaty, which was intended to “share” the catch between Canada and the US equally, has proven ineffective and inadequate at protecting wild salmon and urgently needs major reform. Unfortunately, Alaska commissioners are unwilling to discuss these issues at the table, and salmon need action now. Similar to what you mentioned, fishers in Southeast Alaska intentionally target sockeye returning to the Skeena River on the outer coast - even though it is a pink salmon directed fishery - as sockeye are a more lucrative species. As an organization largely focused on conservation within the Skeena watershed, it is important to us to bring awareness to the largest and most imminent threats to our salmon and steelhead. We are also working on overall fisheries reform, and firmly believe that all fisheries (across borders) must demonstrate the ability to be selective, allowing threatened and endangered populations to rebuild. We believe we all need to work together on these issues and will continue to show up for these discussions at the Pacific Salmon Commission and publicly.

@@skeenawildinfo6393 I have been a fishing & hunting guide since 1978. When living in Alaska I decided to go see what is happening at the winter Alaska fisheries meetings when next summer's fishing regulations are set and what I seen was the very worst of all out corruption. The restroom breaks the state fisheries members head to the bathroom or hallway where cannery lobbyist and wealth commercial fishermen wait with envelopes and brief cases stuffed with thousands of dollars of 100-dollar bills to pay off Alaska state fisheries managers asking for special fishing favors. In the restroom is a real eye opened of just how corrupted the state fisheries managers are where seen openly new 100-dollar bills banded together in 1/2 inch stakes being handed to state fisheries managers by wealthy commercial fishermen and cannery lobbyist all asking for special favors for their area of fishing. Today every Alaska state fisheries board member is a commercial fisherman that take summers off from the state fisheries Thay work for to operate their own commercial fishing. The summer of 2013 & 2014 the state fisheries number 1 manager closed off all spirts fishing for cook inlet and 2 more areas of Alaska to all sports fishing then opened the same areas to an all-out no regulations of commercial fishing. In the fall this state fisheries manager was rewarded by the canneries with a 2-million-dollar home and a $500.000 European sports car. We the normal people can't come close to getting what we want from the Alaska fisheries, and this is also why Alaska salmon runs aren't returning like the fish runs used to do they have been wrecked so badly by commercial fishing!

We're so glad you're raising these questions and concerns, as we share them and raise these issues with DFO and the fishing community at every opportunity. The Southeast Alaska fishery is a very large issue for Skeena steelhead - in many years likely the single largest - which is why we continue to draw attention to it, but it is not the only one. Net fisheries, in general, are not selective and not the way to move forward. If you check out our action page, the letter addresses both Alaska and domestic net fisheries. As for selective fishing on the Skeena, there are many Indigenous-led selective fisheries occurring, and we will be sharing some content to showcase them very soon; stay tuned!

@@skeenawildinfo6393 I stopped and watched the fish wheel at Hells Gate this summer. It was great to see them selectvively releasing non-target species like Pink Salmon. What was rather disturbing was the gillnet located directley below the fish wheel. Two gentlemen in an aluminum boat were selectively keeping the target species (sockeye) and throwing the dead pink salmon in the river!

How about investigating DFO’s dirty little secret: brazen under-reporting or non-reporting of the dead incidentally caught steelhead in First Nations FSC gill net fisheries in the Skeena River…..No, wait--I’m guessing that’s a tougher sale to generate fund raising interest so more practical to point fingers at Alaska? Asking for a friend

On point 👌

I really hope all commercial ocean net fisheries end. I think the future is in the past. Indigenous ways of salmon management and fishing should be the way of the future. Harvest at end of migration points will allow for better management of individual stocks.

stop commercial fishing and do not worry for El Nino.

Alaska does have a huge impact but that being said, why are there even guides i'm a local and i have to work my but off to find steelhead,but i dont use a guide, so why do people from all over the world need a guide to catch fish, yes there is way too many guides and guides that are very disrespectful of our dying off steelhead. i watched a dead steelhead float by me this year because the guide and his client took too many pictures and kept it out the water for too long (fish molestation) disgusting and the amount of guides that come here from all over (alberta) to guide, doesnt make sense. i also caught a steelhead with 4 flies with barbs in its mouth not including my barbless fly. so really you all f*^&'n disgust me. soon there will be zero, hope your all happy as can be. Does nobody understand these amazing creatures????