By Diloola Erickson, Tribal Resource Stewardship Division Director
As you may recall, Tanana Chiefs Conference’s (TCC) Tribal Resource Stewardship (TRS) team has worked closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service over the past few years on the Chum Salmon Bycatch Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This EIS has now been finalized and published in the Federal Register.
To help explain this complex issue, TRS staff, in collaboration with partners, have created a 30-minute video that breaks down the EIS and its significance. The Chum Salmon Bycatch EIS video provides a clear, accessible overview of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), the purpose and history of the EIS, and the broader context of Western Alaska’s ongoing chum salmon crisis.
Developed in partnership with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC), with TCCserving as a formal cooperating agency on the EIS, the video connects federal fisheries management to the lived realities of Tribal communities. It highlights how chum salmon are essential to food security, cultural continuity, and regional stability. The video also explains the Council’s authority, the legal and scientific factors that led to the full EIS, and why Tribes and regional organizations have long called for stronger bycatch management.
The video then walks viewers through the five alternatives evaluated in the EIS, including the differences among fixed hard caps, abundance-based caps, sector-specific measures, corridor closures, and the no-action baseline. Each option is explained clearly, with attention to how it could affect Western Alaska chum stocks, subsistence access, and ecosystem health. This approach helps viewers understand the tradeoffs involved and consider which management options may offer the greatest protection.
The goal of this video is to support Tribes, community members, and the public in understanding the EIS process and engaging meaningfully in federal decision-making on this critical issue.
To stay informed about advocacy efforts or learn how to get involved, please email TRSP@tananachiefs.org
and ask to be added to the advocate email list. You can also find the video and additional information here.