Alaska: Colder water, weather may have cut salmon runs

Colder water, weather may have cut salmon runs: Money | adn.com

COOL WEATHER?

Theories abound as to why so many of Alaska's salmon returns have been weak this year, but many blame it on cooler water and weather.

"That transition from fresh water to the marine environment is a really critical time period for juvenile salmon, and we haven't had very good springs in Alaska for several years. I believe that the early marine stage has had high mortality," Bruce said.

The cold weather, scratchy catches and skyrocketing fuel prices resulted in fewer salmon fishermen out on the water this year. Just 60 seiners are participating at Kodiak, for example, compared with 141 last year.