He handles 18,000 to 45,000 fish each year and records the number of tagged and untagged fish before releasing them to continue to the spawning grounds. Analyzing the tagging data from fish examined at Rampart allows fisheries scientists to estimate the run size for each passing week. Run estimates from this project have proven to be very useful to State and Federal fisheries managers and have accurately documented salmon runs since 1996. Having the abundance estimate from this project provides managers with additional opportunities to provide the proper escapement to the spawning grounds for the future. Pacific salmon support important subsistence, commercial and personal use fisheries throughout the Yukon River drainage.
Complexity is added by the mosaic of native, state, and federal interests in fish stocks.
The status of these fisheries have recently been the source of controversy among user groups and between countries. Allocation issues are the root of controversy, but despite the controversy U.S. Canada Salmon Treaty negotiators have found grounds for compromise. The U.S. Canada Salmon Treaty's Interim Agreement sets out a management structure and restoration goals for the Yukon River salmon stocks. Fall chum salmon support a significant portion of these fisheries. Federal interest in fall chum stocks are driven by the need of technical support of the US- Canada Salmon Treaty negotiations, federal involvement in subsistence use issues, and public trust responsibilities on two National Wildlife Refuges as set out in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.