Coast Range Radio
At Coast Range Radio, we interview folks who work to build just communities that provide for people and the natural world. We are particularly interested in the connections between Pacific Northwest forests, social justice, and the climate crisis.
Coast Range Radio is an independent radio show and podcast hosted by Michael Gaskill. Michael is a lifelong rural Oregonian and climate justice organizer.
Coast Range Radio
Why Are Chinook Salmon Shrinking, and What is a "Terminal Fishery??"
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Have you ever heard of a June Hog??
June Hogs were legendary, gigantic summer run Chinook salmon that could weigh up to 100 pounds on their way up the Columbia river. These days, the average Chinook caught on the Columbia weighs between 10 and 20 pounds. So what happened to these giants?
You may be familiar with some of the reasons: dams, overfishing, habitat destruction, climate change, and hatchery fish. But what about where the fish are caught?
I’m joined today by Misty MacDuffee of Raincoat Conservation Foundation and Nick Gayeski with the Wild Fish Conservancy to talk about new research of theirs examining the effects of ocean based fishing on Chinook size and populations.
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Show Notes:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-49054-5
- https://www.raincoast.org/2026/06/how-harvesting-chinook-shrink-size-106500/
- https://www.newsdata.com/clearing_up/environment/study-ocean-fishing-reduces-chinook-size-sustainability/article_024b1c2a-83d0-4a53-908d-559d08b5d2fb.html
- https://wildfishconservancy.org/staff/dr-nick-gayeski/
- https://www.raincoast.org/team/misty-macduffee/