Southeast trollers and communities are awaiting a federal judge's decision on a lawsuit that could close down the region's chinook troll fishery. If the lawsuit prevails, Southeast trollers would be denied access to the highest-priced salmon available to the commercial fleet.

The lawsuit seeks to ensure more of the salmon make it to an endangered population of killer whales in Washington state.

The Southeast winter troll fishery is underway and will close March 15; the summer season is slated to open on July 1, pending the judge's ruling.

On April 16, 2020, the Wild Fish Conservancy, a Washing...