Thursday October 3, 2024
The Seattle Times —
Nearly 20,000 Chinook salmon were caught inadvertently as bycatch in the pollock fishery in the Gulf of Alaska, shutting it down early and sparking outrage among orca scientists and wild salmon advocates.
Chinook salmon are the most prized food for endangered southern resident orcas that frequent the Salish Sea.
While genetic tests are not yet analyzed for the fish caught, Chinook from Washington rivers would almost surely be in the mix of Chinook accidentally caught. The fishers were out for pollock, a white fish typically made into fish sticks and other mild-flavored fish products, such as the fried fish sandwiches sold at fast-food restaurants.