Yukon First Nation calls emergency meeting on salmon

The Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation has called an emergency meeting today to talk about voluntary salmon fishing restrictions.

Chief Eddie Skookum said something needs to be done and he hopes citizens will approve a voluntary cutback on fishing to promote salmon recovery efforts on the Yukon River.

"It's the very, very low numbers that we've been hearing this year, probably one of the worst salmon situations that we have had so far and we would like to really see a recovery plan of some type with the Alaskans," he said.

The State of Alaska imposed some of its toughest-ever fishing restrictions on the Yukon River salmon this year in response to low numbers.

His community has cut back on fishing in other years and at todays meetinglocal peoplewill look at doing it again.

"We're thinking if we don't do something, then we won't see [salmon] again next year," said Skookum. He wants people to bring their ideas for additional measures to the meeting at the First Nation's offices Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Jeff Grout with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said for now there will be no commercial or recreational fishing of Chinook salmon on the Yukon River and that the department is in discussions with First Nations about reducing catch.

"We are going to continue to monitor the situation in season and we can respond as appropriate," he said.