Federal Subsistence Board News

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is critically low, worse than last season’s fall chum salmon run that was the lowest on record. As of August 12, the Yukon River mainstem sonar near Pilot Station estimated 83,000 chum salmon (summer and fall) have passed upriver. Genetic mixed stock analysis results indicate only 39,000 of those were fall chum salmon, which is well below last year’s genetic estimate of 99,000 fall chum salmon for that date. Based on inseason assessment projects at the midpoint of the run, the current projection indicates a run size of approximately 100,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the inseason projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence fishing. In addition, the projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon and tributary escapement goals. Therefore, subsistence salmon fishing will be closed to begin the fall season. Subsistence fishermen should prepare for continued closures.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is critically low, worse than last season’s fall chum salmon run that was the lowest on record. As of August 12, the Yukon River mainstem sonar near Pilot Station estimated 83,000 chum salmon (summer and fall) have passed upriver. Genetic mixed stock analysis results indicate only 39,000 of those were fall chum salmon, which is well below last year’s genetic estimate of 99,000 fall chum salmon for that date. Based on inseason assessment projects at the midpoint of the run, the current projection indicates a run size of approximately 100,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the inseason projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence or personal use fishing. In addition, the projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon and tributary escapement goals. Therefore, subsistence and personal use salmon fishing will be closed to begin the fall season. Fishermen should prepare for continued closures.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is critically low, worse than last season’s fall chum salmon run that was the lowest on record. As of August 12, the Yukon River mainstem sonar near Pilot Station estimated 83,000 chum salmon (summer and fall) have passed upriver. Genetic mixed stock analysis results indicate only 39,000 of those were fall chum salmon, which is well below last year’s genetic estimate of 99,000 fall chum salmon for that date. Based on inseason assessment projects at the midpoint of the run, the current projection indicates a run size of approximately 100,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the inseason projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence fishing. In addition, the projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals and Canadian treaty objectives. Therefore, subsistence salmon fishing will be closed to begin the fall season. Subsistence fishermen should prepare for continued closures.

Districts Affected: Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is anticipated to be critically low, similar to this season’s summer chum salmon that was the lowest on record. The fall chum salmon projection based on inseason assessment projects indicates a run size of less than 300,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence fishing. In addition, the current run projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals and Canadian treaty objectives. Lower Yukon River assessment projects are tracking well below average for fall chum salmon. The fall chum salmon run is at the historical midpoint at the sonar project near Pilot Station.

SITKA, Alaska – Sitka District Ranger Perry Edwards, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the Lisa Creek Zone to the harvest of mountain goats. The closure will be effective Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. and will remain in effect through the rest of the 2021 season which ends December 31.

Districts Affected: Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is anticipated to be critically low, similar to this season’s summer chum salmon that was the lowest on record. The fall chum salmon preseason projection, based on the relationship between summer chum salmon and fall chum salmon run sizes, is for a run size less than 300,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the preseason projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence fishing. In addition, the current run projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals and Canadian treaty objectives. Lower Yukon River assessment projects are tracking well below average for fall chum salmon. The fall chum salmon run is past the historical quarter point at the sonar project near Pilot Station.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is anticipated to be critically low. The fall chum salmon preseason projection, based on the relationship between summer chum salmon and fall chum salmon run sizes, is for a run size less than 300,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the preseason projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence fishing. In addition, the current run projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals and Canadian treaty objectives. Therefore, subsistence salmon fishing will be closed to begin the fall season. Subsistence fishermen should prepare for continued closures.

YAKUTAT, Alaska–Yakutat District Ranger Lee Benson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the 2021 Federal subsistence mountain goat hunting season for a portion of Unit 5A.

This special action is valid for federal public lands occurring in portions of Units 17A and 17C consisting of the Nushagak Peninsula south of the Igushik River, Tuklung River and Tuklung Hills, west to Tvativak Bay – communities of Manokotak, Aleknagik, and Dillingham

For Immediate Release:

July 23, 2021

The Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Manager and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, have announced a joint Emergency Order closing the 2021-2022 caribou season throughout the range of the Mulchatna Caribou herd due to biological concerns.