Lands and Resources - Fish Management

Salmon (T’á) is an important resource for Teslin Tlingit Citizens, being both culturally significant and important for subsistence. Through the Lands and Resources Department, Teslin Tlingit Council (TTC) has been proactive in the management of salmon for over a decade.

With over a 3000 km long journey for salmon from the Bering Sea to Teslin Lake, salmon management for TTC is not only challenging, but also requires collaboration at the international, national and territorial level. Teslin Tlingit Council works with the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee and the federal Department of Fisheries & Oceans to co-manage the Yukon River Chinook salmon population, and is currently working on an international campaign. 

Conservation Measures

TTC has taken a proactive approach to salmon management and has implemented conservation measures for over 12 years to respond to the rapid decrease in salmon population. Recently, conservation measures have become more stringent in order to respond to this crisis. In 2009, fishing was restricted to weekends and the year’s total harvest was set at 225 fish. There was a complete conservation closure in 2010, and in 2011 there was a five-day conservation closure. Salmon remains important culturally, and each summer Taku River salmon is shipped into Teslin via floatplane.  {link most recent GC resolution}

Community Salmon Management Plan 

In close cooperation with Teslin Tlingit salmon harvesters, the Lands and Resources Department has developed a salmon management plan named Gunalchéesh Gunalchéesh  T’á Kei.óowax'á Gunalchéesh The Salmon Are Here. The plan seeks to assist and enhance the recovery of local salmon stocks and to meet some of the subsistence harvest and culture needs of the community.

The Salmon Management Plan provides guiding principles and flexibility in establishing fishing limits based on the most accurate numbers. This plan will assist managers and leadership in managing salmon for the community.