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Weyhrauch, a Republican, has asked the attorney general to see whether the state has a basis for a lawsuit against Virginia-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA operates a Web site, FishingHurts.com, which includes links to pages that contend all seafood is full of toxins. The Web site doesn't differentiate between wild fish and farmed fish, and that's what concerns Weyhrauch.

"PETA would just as soon everyone think all fish are that way," Weyhrauch said. "Their motive is to get people to not eat fish."

PETA spokesman William Rivas-Rivas said the organization isn't interested in touting wild fish as healthier than farmed fish.

Fishing "is still a degradation to the environment and it's still bad for the animals so we would never say, 'If you're going to eat salmon, go eat wild salmon,' " Rivas-Rivas said. "Our charter is that we're here for animal rights. We shouldn't be eating them, we shouldn't be wearing them."

Rivas-Rivas acknowledged he's read the "Science" study and knows studies have found wild salmon does not contain the levels of toxins found in farmed fish.

"We don't make any apologies for not telling people to go eat wild salmon," he said.

State Attorney General Gregg Renkes said his office will decide this week whether the state has grounds to sue.

"The governor's looking for every opportunity to distinguish Alaska salmon from farmed salmon. We'll try to see if there is an action that could be filed; it doesn't jump right out at you," Renkes said.

State attorneys must determine whether there is a cause of action and whether the state has standing, meaning the right to sue on that particular issue. If attorneys find cause and standing, they will have to come up with a measure of damages.

"At a minimum, we ought to cry foul here and object to this PETA campaign that is damaging the livelihoods of Alaska fishermen," Renkes said.

• Masha Herbst can be reached at masha.herbst@juneauempire.com.