A Salmon Festival on the Northern California Coast won’t be serving any salmon this weekend (August 20), a first in the event’s 54-year history.
Yurok Tribal Officials say dire conditions in the Klamath River prompted the menu change.
A parasite that thrives in warm, slow-moving water is being blamed for mass die-offs of juvenile fish in the Klamath River, and an economic crisis on the Yurok reservation. The tribe’s annual Salmon Festival on Saturday is expected to draw thousands of visitors, but they won’t enjoy a traditional meal as in years past.
Yurok Tribe Senior Attorney Amy Cordalis says, "There’s literally not enough fish in our allocation this year for every one of our tribal members to have one fish. We’re on the brink of extinction."
The Yurok Tribe canceled its own commercial fishing season this year. Cordalis says the tribe declared a state of emergency and is seeking federal aid.
