2025 Presentation on Kuskokwim Salmon Co-Management

Tribes & Refuge Partners Address Salmon Crisis on the Kuskokwim

A recent presentation highlighted how Tribes and the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge are working together to confront the ongoing salmon collapse on the Kuskokwim River. The event, featuring Spencer Rearden of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge and Kevin Whitworth of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, focused on the urgent need to protect dwindling Chinook salmon and ensure continued subsistence opportunities for Kuskokwim communities.

Speakers emphasized that while sockeye runs have remained strong, Chinook salmon populations have dropped dramatically over the last decade—reaching the lowest numbers on record in more than 45 years. Tribal leaders and managers stressed how difficult conservation measures are for families who rely on salmon for their primary food source.

The Yukon Delta Refuge, spanning 20.4 million acres, contains more subsistence users than all other national wildlife refuges combined. However, staffing shortages and recent funding cuts have reduced the number of river weirs and limited on-the-ground monitoring. Tribes, the refuge, and federal partners are increasingly using tools like camera-based fish counts, drones, and eDNA sampling to strengthen monitoring despite budget constraints.  

The Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, representing 33 Tribes, continues to serve as a co-equal manager with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, advocating for conservation-first decision making. Together they aim to rebuild Chinook, chum, and coho populations while maintaining equitable subsistence harvest opportunities across the entire watershed.

 Major concerns raised include commercial bycatch in the Pollock fishery, lack of restrictions in Area M, climate-driven river warming, and the long-term impacts these pressures place on the ecosystem. Despite these challenges, partners remain committed to protecting salmon for future generations and ensuring traditional harvests continue.

Get Involved: Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges

The Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges invite community members to join their statewide volunteer and advocacy network. Membership donations of $30 or more support conservation, education, and outreach across Alaska’s 16 national wildlife refuges.

Friends meet every third Tuesday of the month and regularly host speakers discussing wildlife, conservation, and refuge updates. Their advocacy work includes supporting adequate budgets and staffing for refuges—especially important as agencies face hiring freezes and resource shortages.

To join or learn more, visit: alaskarefugefriends.org/join

Q & A

With 80%+ of harvested fish in the lower Kuskokwim River area, What is being done to allow more fish to reach the headwaters and also to allow the middle & upper Kuskokwim people the opportunity to harvest the much-needed food source?

Answer: Spencer Rearden : that issues at the forefront of all of the meetings.  Goal is to provide equitable opportunities.  The federal/state dotted line is tricky.  Fish commission has representatives from the middle/upper River areas to provide input.  Opportunities have been significantly better since 2017.  Kevin Whitworth: Equitable harvest is key.  80-90% within the refuge, affects the upper River.  Allowing more fish to pass the refuge & meet escapement targets.  Numbers have dropped dramatically.  “People on the River are fighting for crumbs.”