For thousands of years, Indigenous communities in Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory have depended on Chinook salmon—a large, nutrient-rich fish essential for Arctic living. Beyond being a critical food source, Chinook salmon shape Indigenous traditions, cultural practices, and languages passed down through generations.
However, over the last three decades, many Indigenous villages have faced devastating Chinook population declines, forcing them to stop traditional fishing. Now, climate change is accelerating the crisis: warming Arctic rivers are stunting salmon growth, threatening both ecosystems and food security, according to a new Scientific Reports study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.
Indigenous Communities Losing a Cultural Lifeline
Researcher Peyton Thomas from the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research emphasizes that salmon are more than food—they are integral to cultural heritage. During field visits to Alaskan tribal communities, Thomas heard from locals who can no longer teach their children traditional fishing practices or the Indigenous names of salmon species.
The shift has forced many families to rely on expensive store-bought food, which often lacks the essential nutrition that wild salmon provides.
Climate Change Reshaping the Arctic
The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average over the past 50 years. This warming has:
- Melted sea ice and thawed permafrost.
- Eroded coastlines and disrupted traditional travel routes.
- Made winter travel dangerous as rivers fail to freeze.
- Increased extreme weather events like powerful typhoons, further damaging fragile infrastructure.
For species like Chinook salmon—adapted to cold waters—rising river temperatures are particularly harmful. Juvenile Chinook typically spend their first one to two years in frigid streams, bulking up before a long ocean migration. But warmer water stresses young fish, reducing their survival rates.
In Alaska’s Yukon River, Chinook populations plummeted over 57% between 2003 and 2010, and some villages report being unable to fish Chinook for 30 years.
Dolly Varden Trout: A Possible Alternative
The study also modeled how two key Arctic fish species—Chinook salmon and Dolly Varden trout—might respond to future temperature shifts. Results showed:
- Summer river temperatures could rise by 1.26 °C (2.27 °F) by mid-century.
- Four of seven major river basins could exceed Chinook salmon’s temperature tolerance.
- Dolly Varden trout, which prefer slightly warmer waters, might nearly double their growth in many rivers.
While Dolly Varden could provide an alternative food source, many communities prefer Chinook salmon due to cultural significance and taste. Protecting refuge rivers like the Aniak and Andreafsky, which are projected to remain suitable for Chinook, could help restore populations.
Conservation Actions and Uncertain Future
In response to declining stocks, Alaska and Canadian authorities have paused Chinook salmon fishing for seven years to allow recovery—though the ban applies only to Canadian-origin Chinook. Commercial fishing for Alaskan Chinook continues.
Meanwhile, conservationists like the Wild Fish Conservancy are urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to list Alaska Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act, which could halt commercial harvests altogether.
Thomas and her team are working closely with local communities to provide actionable information—such as identifying when and where rivers may become too warm for salmon. This knowledge will help guide sustainable fishing practices and adaptation strategies.
Why It Matters
The future of Arctic fisheries, Indigenous food sovereignty, and Alaska’s ecosystems depends on balancing conservation with cultural traditions. Protecting refuge rivers, managing fisheries sustainably, and addressing climate change impacts are vital to preserving both the Chinook salmon and the communities that rely on them.
Source: Peyton A. Thomas et al., Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-14711-8