Chinook salmon returning to Chilkat River spawning grounds this year failed to meet the state’s targets, troubling Alaska Department of Fish and Game experts with the lowest estimated numbers since 1991.
Preliminary fish and game department surveys estimated only 1,373 large fish returned to Chilkat River spawning grounds in 2016, which was well below—even factoring in margins of error—the minimum goal of 1,750 spawning fish.
Even state fishing limits enacted earlier this year were unable…
