Background Articles

Alaska's Yukon River residents feel neglected by a new Canada-U.S. agreement aimed at rebuilding salmon stocks, as the pact requires a seven-year fishing halt that exacerbates their economic and cultural struggles.

Alaska receives $2.6M from the USDA to enhance local food production, aiming to bolster food security in a state where 95% of food is imported.

Subsistence hunters living in Northwest Alaska and parts of the North Slope are now only allowed to hunt up to 15 animals a year, only one of which can be a cow. This is a considerable change from five caribou a day, and it goes into effect on state-managed lands on July 1.

Peter Pan's King Cove plant closure during the winter will impact local revenue and fishermen, amid industry-wide financial struggles and delayed payments.

Experts discuss strategies for ensuring the health and sustainability of Alaska's caribou amidst environmental and developmental challenges.

An Anchorage beekeeper has learned how to help his honeybee colonies survive to see spring, and he’s teaching others to do the same.

Alaska's predator control measures and wildlife management strategies are under scrutiny as tensions rise over state and federal jurisdiction, with calls for more inclusive decision-making and realistic goals amidst rapid climate change.

Knik Tribe data reveals high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin in some Alaskan subsistence shellfish harvests, with variability in toxin levels across different locations.

A comprehensive analysis of over 200 studies reveals that fish hatchery programs have predominantly negative impacts on wild salmon populations, reducing genetic diversity and overall health.

The Western Arctic Caribou Herd continues to decline, now at about a third of its 2003 population, with hunting restrictions likely as part of conservation efforts.

Experts argue that transforming food systems through structural changes, Indigenous knowledge, and data sharing is essential for long-term food security and sustainable development.

Residents in Western Alaska are experiencing a salmon crisis that is not only affecting their physical health due to the lack of exercise from salmon harvesting, but also their mental health and cultural well-being, as salmon harvesting is seen as a vital part of their way of life and recovery from substance abuse.

The Kenai borough Assembly has passed a resolution asking the governor to declare an economic disaster for set-netters on the east side of Cook Inlet in Alaska, due to the closure of the fishery this year resulting in significant economic losses.

The Western Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska has continued to decline, with a 7% decrease in population from the previous year, prompting concerns about the need for harvest reduction to preserve the herd.

Nipissing First Nation in Ontario, Canada is using innovative methods, such as aerating water and replacing invasive species with wild rice, to heal environmental damage and improve the ecosystem.

If puffin hunting is banned, that population is expected to decrease by over 10% over the next decade. If hunting continues to be permitted, however, the population is expected to decrease by 30% or even as much as 50% within that same period.

Amid declining salmon runs, Coastal Villages Region Fund has shifted away from subsidizing village-based seafood processing. Coastal Villages used to pursue that mission in large part by operating smaller commercial fisheries for salmon and halibut. Each year, the fishing season was an opportunity to earn wages at the group’s processing facilities or for local fishermen to earn cash selling their catch — an economic lifeline for many families in one of the state’s poorest regions.

Moose in Southeast Alaska are being harvested in new areas, indicating a potential expansion of their population and distribution.

More than 80 per cent of B.C.'s water basins are experiencing level 4 or 5 drought conditions, with salmon in many parts of the province struggling to make it to their spawning grounds.

A "weed smackdown" at an Anchorage park is part of a long-running campaign to stop the spread of plants that are harming the natural ecosystem.