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In January, the Wild Fish Conservancy filed a petition with NOAA Fisheries to list Alaska Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to "the severe decline and poor conditions of Chinook populations" in Alaska. Following this, NOAA Fisheries conducted a legally required 90-day finding. Despite noting "numerous factual errors, omissions, incomplete references, and unsupported assertions" in the petition, NOAA Fisheries concluded that missed escapement goals and decreasing size and age at maturity warranted further investigation.
Federal scientists will now proceed with a status review report, with the agency required to publish its findings within 12 months. A public comment period will remain open through 23 July.
Wild Fish Conservancy Executive Director Emma Helverson expressed optimism, stating, “Wild Chinook are a public trust and an irreplaceable public heritage in Alaska and beyond. We are encouraged NOAA Fisheries has acknowledged the severe condition and threats facing Gulf of Alaska Chinook, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive conservation measures to safeguard the future of these iconic fish on which so many communities and ecosystems depend.”
The finding has sparked immediate concern from state and federal officials. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang criticized the decision, calling the petition "rife with significant factual errors" and asserting that it failed to accurately represent the status of Chinook salmon in Alaska. He expressed worry that this decision might encourage more frivolous petitions in the future.
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association also disputed the petition, arguing that it relied on cherry-picked escapement data and presented false information about Southeast Alaska Chinook stocks.
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) voiced her concerns regarding NOAA Fisheries’ 90-day finding. She emphasized the importance of considering the long-standing relationship between rural Alaskan communities and salmon, urging regulators and scientists to incorporate traditional knowledge with Western science in managing salmon populations.
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