Tribes’ Salmon Season Cut Short After Report

Columbia River Indian tribes have closed their ceremonial and subsistence salmon fishing seasons after the latest estimate on the spring chinook run predicted historic low fish returns.

The technical advisory committee that monitors the runs for the tribes and the National Marine Fisheries Service said only 9,800 chinook are expected to cross Bonneville Dam, down from the record low 12,000 fish projected earlier.

The early closure, effective Friday, will leave four tribes with just 490 fish this spring. The tribes had hoped to catch at least 600 fish.

The affected tribes are the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Yakama and Nez Perce.