Alaska’s Southeast commercial salmon troll fleet is the target of a federal lawsuit that alleges the fishery threatens the chinook salmon food stock of endangered orca whales off the coast of Washington. The suit was brought against the federal government but seeks to shut down the 30 million dollar fishery this summer. Critics say it will decimate the livelihoods of Southeast troll fishermen and suggest other causes are depleting the whale’s food supply. We discuss the fight over fish and who has the right to them on this Talk of Alaska.
LISTEN:
HOST: Lori Townsend
GUESTS:
- Paul Olson – Board Member, Alaska Trollers Association
- Emma Helversen – Executive Director, Wild Fish Conservancy
- Max Graham – Journalist based in Haines who has reported on the lawsuit
Relevant Links:
- A lawsuit targets a Southeast Alaska salmon fishery to save 73 orcas. Critics say the Washington-based plaintiffs should look closer to home
- The big problem for endangered orcas at center of Southeast Alaska salmon suit? Inbreeding
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LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, March 21, at 10 a.m. on Alaska public radio stations statewide.
Lori Townsend is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452. Read more about Lori here.
