The Mighty Yukon King Falls Victim to Pollock Trawlers

There will be no Yukon Kings this year.

Jon Rowley, the seafood marketing wizard behind the original Copper River salmon craze and last year's all-too-brief mania for Yukons, sent Seattlest an email this afternoon: "I want to let you know that there won't be any Yukon kings. Somber time in the Yukon Delta villages."

Jack Schultheiss of the native cooperative, Kwikpak Fisheries, confirms the dour assessment. "Life is not good here," he tells Gourmet's blog, Politics of the Plate. "The fish are not running. And things are going from bad to worse." Only half as many fish as expected, not enough to replenish the run.

What happened? Blame the demand for fish sticks and "krab," both made from pollock, a billion-dollar fishery that indiscriminately traps migrating salmon as about 100 pollock trawlers troll the shallow mouth of the Yukon River. Tens of thousands of Yukons have been lost, half the run, and a run that was unusually low to begin with.

There's more here, with links to confirmation by CBC News.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ronald in Food on June 25, 2008 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

JT

I worked on a pollock trawler, F/T Endurance out of Dutch Harbor, AK, and that rust bucket RAPED EVERYTHING....

I totally expect to hear things like the salmon dying off because of this type of fishing. Once those fish are in the net bag, they are as good as dead, with no escape. Although the boat I was on caught minimal salmon while I was aboard, we still, none the less killed an amazing amount of fish besides pollock, including sharks.

It's just another billion dollar industry that doesn't care wo gets in the way of the pigs and their bottom line...$$$. And yes, I am totally guilty.

fdg

That really sucks as Yukon King is my favorite salmon.

On the bright side, I'll be up in Alaska next weekend so I'll just grab some fresh line caught salmon up there.

MvB

Smelt, J, smelt and sardines! Mmmm. Presse has a grilled sardine sandwich that will warm your bottom-feeding heart.

jseattle

Talking to myself here --

Also been meaning to read this -- Bottomfeeder: How to eat ethically in a world of vanishing seafood. anybody recommend? I'm assuming it tells you not to eat any of the big fishies.

jseattle

Tough news all around this week for the northlands. At least Alaskans got something from XON -- doubt Yukon will be left with anything but empty waters from disasters like this.

In the meantime, consider other efforts to promote sustainable salmon fisheries -- http://www.kenaiwild.org is one to consider.

And eat more Alaska halibut. The pacific fishery is relatively strong, well managed and still involves a lot of smalltime operations.

(posted from Anchorage airport on my way home :) )