Yukon River salmon is one of the keystone species

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Should re-wielding species be keystone species? How could re-wielding be made successful?

Recent developments regarding restrictions on the Yukon River salmon are encouraging from a conservationist point of view. It is, however, essential that the chinook salmon be recognized as a "keystone species" in the Northwest ecosystem as it is a vital food source for a diverse group of predators.

The ongoing depletion of the chinook stocks affects not only the fisheries, but the stability of many other animal populations.

The U.S. government is attempting to avoid extinction by restricting commercial and subsistence harvests of this species. However, decreasing gillnet size by one inch might not prove sufficient to avoid bycatch nor might it ensure upstream migration to spawning sites.

The government should reduce gillnet fishing in favour of more selective fishing techniques such as fish traps and wheels. Also, hatchery-raised chinook salmon can be released into the Yukon River to increase population size. It is imperative that stocks recover and that affected river fishermen receive the government help for which they are eligible.