Department of Fish and Game biologists are recovering tagged coho salmon which are part of a commercial research program in Southeastern Alaska.
More than 20,000 juvenile coho salmon in the Taku, Berners and Chilkat river systems were marked in the project in 1972. About 70 of the marked fish have been recovered this year.
Of the recovered fish, 27 came from the Taku river, three from the Chilkat river and one from Berners Bay.
In marking the fish, biologists removed one adipose fin and applied a fluorescent pigment which is visible only under black light.
The department expects the marking program to provide valuable information on the migration and timing of the local coho runs.
All sport and commercial fishermen in Southeastern Alaska are urged to notify the Department of Fish and Game then they find a coho salmon with a missing adipose fin. The fish should be saved so that biologists can examine it under black light to determine its river of origin.