After historic crash, Yukon River's iconic king salmon run shows early signs of rebound

After a historic crash in salmon numbers devastated smokehouses and food supplies in the Yukon River village of Anvik, early signs of recovery have appeared this summer. Smoke once again returned to Anvik, about 350 miles west of Anchorage, as chinook and chum counts showed an uptick. Despite Alaska regulations banning fishing for chinook, local fishermen caught dozens of chinook and even more salmon from other species, enabling shares with elders and storage for smokehouses and freezers. Former Anvik Tribal Council chief Robert Walker said it was the first time smokehouses had been smoking in five years. Scientists caution numbers remain low and more data is needed, while the chinook harvest reignited debate over a seven-year Canada–Alaska ban and tribal involvement.