The Teslin Tlingit Council announced last week it is supporting a limited fishery for Yukon River chinook salmon.

The Teslin Tlingits have not fished for chinook over the last 15 years because of the depressed state of the chinook stocks.

There is an indication this summer’s run is strong enough to support a fishery, according to numbers recorded at the Eagle, Alaska, sonar just below the Yukon-Alaska border, downriver from Dawson City.

The council issued a press release indicating a limited fishery for a total harvest of 40 chinook at two separate fish camps was approved by resolution on July 14 during the council’s annual general assembly.

While Yukon First Nations have implemented conservative fishing measures in recent years, they’ve also expressed deep concern over maintaining their cultural ties to the chinook which they’ve depended on for thousands of years.

“TTC understands the importance of keeping the connection between the salmon and our culture,” Nha Shade Neni Richard Sidney, the chief, said in last week’s release.

“Conservation of the chinook salmon remains a priority for TTC. The future of the Yukon River chinook salmon remains uncertain and so we must continue to conserve the chinook salmon.”

While the Teslin Tlingits acknowledge the count at Eagle has surpassed the minimum target of 48,750 to provide for spawning escapement, they’ve also noted the annual runs in recent years are much weaker than they use to be.

The First Nation is again funding the cost of importing salmon from the Taku River so its citizens can still enjoy salmon, the release points out.

The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in of Dawson City have maintained a closure of their aboriginal food fishery. Other First Nations have indicated a cautious and conservative approach to their fisheries.

While scientists have not pinpointed the reason behind the decline in chinook stocks, they have suggested changing environment conditions on the high seas are likely a major contributor.

As of midnight, the count at Eagle was at 65,761.

According to the agreed-upon pre-season management strategy, once the count at Eagle exceeded 55,000, there was to be a green light for a normal aboriginal food fishery and opportunities for commercial fishing and the retention of one chinook by anglers.

Mary Ellen Jarvis, of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said this morning the run status is being maintained in the cautionary yellow category because of the lower than normal number of females making up the run.

Sampling has shown approximately 30 per cent are females when a normal run would be made up of about 45 per cent females and 55 per cent males, she explained.

Therefore, she explained, there’ll be no commercial opportunities and the sport fishery will continue under a catch-and-release requirement.

The resource manager for the Yukon River said the migration past Eagle is likely between 80 and 85 per cent done.