Ruling might cancel Alaska commercial king salmon season

By GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — A ruling from a U.S. judge in Seattle could effectively shut down commercial king salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska — a valuable industry that supports some 1,500 fishermen — after a conservation group challenged the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. Fishing organizations condemned the decision, saying it threatens the region with economic disaster and would do little or nothing to benefit salmon or orcas. The state of Alaska quickly announced an appeal. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle ordered federal officials to redo a biological opinion that’s required for the fishery. The decision threatens to prevent the summer fishing season set for July 1.