Warming waters have reduced the harvest of Alaska's prized Copper River salmon to just a fraction of last year's harvest, Alaska biologists say. The runs of Copper River salmon were so low that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game shut down the commercial harvest last month, halting what is usually a three-month season after less than two weeks. Earlier this month, the department also shut down most of the harvest that residents along the river conduct to feed their families.
The total commercial harvest for Alaska's marquee Copper River salmon this year after it was halted at the end of May was about 32,000 fish, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported. That compares to the department's pre-season forecast of over 1.2 million and an average annual harvest of over 1.4 million fish in the prior decade.
State biologists blame warming in the Gulf of Alaska for the diminished run of Copper River salmon, prized for its rich flavor, high oil content and deep-red color.
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