Re-affirming our constitutional right to sustainable wild salmon management for Alaska
Alaska’s Constitution promises every Alaskan that our natural resources — including salmon — will be managed for sustained yield. This guarantee is a promise that our children and grandchildren will inherit thriving wild salmon runs, the backbone of Alaska’s culture, economy, and way of life.
But today, that promise is being broken. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game continues to allow hatchery programs in Prince William Sound (PWS) to flood wild spawning streams with hatchery-origin fish. These strays weaken the genetic strength of wild salmon and crowd them out in the Gulf of Alaska. The result? Fewer, weaker, and less resilient wild salmon — exactly the opposite of what our Constitution demands.
The Prince William Sound Wild Salmon Protection Act holds agencies and hatcheries accountable. It sets enforceable limits on hatchery-origin straying, and requires transparent monitoring to protect wild salmon populations in Price William Sound.
This Act restores balance by putting wild salmon first — where they belong.