Background Articles

A new study reports that Atlantic salmon exposed to the anti-anxiety drug clobazam during migration became bolder, passing through hydropower dams faster, though this behavior might increase predation risk later.

Salmon advocates have raised concerns over declining salmon numbers, blaming an oversupply of hatchery-reared fish that overwhelms natural stocks and disrupts ocean ecosystems.

An investigation into the death of roughly 100 fish near Alaska’s Kensington gold mine remains inconclusive months later, with both state regulators and Coeur Mining unable to pinpoint the cause despite extensive testing.

In recent years, researchers have documented salmon surviving in North Slope rivers, bowhead whales expanding their foraging grounds and humpbacks moving into the Arctic.

In Kotzebue, residents queued in freezing conditions to receive 5-pound bags of sockeye salmon distributed by Maniilaq Association in collaboration with SeaShare, following a dismal commercial salmon season.

The article explains how a severe decline in wild salmon, driven by climate change, is forcing Alaska mushers to abandon traditional subsistence feeding practices in favor of costly commercial dog food. This shift is altering both the practice and culture of dog mushing in the region.

A new study in Sweden finds that most of the approximately 1,600 power plant facilities lack fish passages, which sometimes leads to fish fatalities.

Long-term data from eight coastal stations over the past 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal waters have warmed by up to 2°C, impacting local fisheries and marine life.

Data collected over 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal water temperatures have increased by up to 2°C, a shift that is impacting marine ecosystems and local fishing practices.

The annual toss of salmon carcasses helps provide essential nutrients for Douglas Creek as part of restoration efforts.

Invasive northern pike, traditionally freshwater fish, have been found swimming through Alaska's Cook Inlet, marking the first documented North American case of such behavior, according to a new study.

Proposals have been submitted to the Alaska Board of Fisheries to establish a commercial jig fishery for magister squid in Southeast Alaska, potentially benefiting local fishermen and affecting marine ecosystems.

The EPA has designated portions of the Upper Columbia River as a Superfund site due to pollution primarily from Canadian industrial sites, opening up federal funding for cleanup.

In Ruby, Alaska, Indigenous families face cultural and nutritional challenges as climate change and fisheries management impact the availability of chinook and chum salmon, central to their traditions.

A study identifies shrinking salmon size as a factor affecting Chinook salmon productivity in Alaska's Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, impacted by conditions like extreme temperatures and high runoff.

The Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run exceeded forecasts in 2024, but fishermen earned lower-than-expected profits due to smaller fish sizes and poor market conditions.

A newly updated report titled 'Alaska's Changing Environment' explores the climatic shifts affecting Alaska, from landslides to late freezes, emphasizing the significant impact of climate change.

A University of Alaska Fairbanks study links king salmon decline in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers to climate change impacts such as warming temperatures, which decrease salmon body size and breeding efficiency.

Alaska's commercial salmon harvest in 2024 hit the third lowest recorded since 1985 both in fish quantity and financial returns.

Rehabilitation efforts have successfully brought spawning salmon back to urban streams in Metro Vancouver, highlighting the importance of conservation and community stewardship.