Federal Subsistence Board News

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2021 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #3 Subdistrict 4-A Lower Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/23/2021

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, except for the use of selective gear to target salmon other than Chinook and chum.

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Plans Announced for 2021 Federal Subsistence Hunt of Chisana Caribou Herd

07/23/2021

COPPER CENTER, AK – This week plans for the 2021 federal subsistence hunt for the Chisana caribou herd were announced by Wrangell-St. Elias Superintendent Ben Bobowski, the designated federal manager for the hunt. Consistent with the cooperative management plan for the herd, the harvest quota will be 7 bull caribou. The hunt will open on August 10 and close on September 30 or when the quota has been reached. Hunters are asked to report back within three days of harvesting an animal or at the end of the season if unsuccessful. The hunt area is Federal public lands in Unit 12 that lie east of the Nabesna River and Glacier and south of the Winter Trail running southeast from Pickerel Lake to the Canadian border. 

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2021 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #2 Coastal District and Districts 1-3 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/22/2021

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon Area

Yukon River Chinook, summer and fall chum salmon runs continue to be poor resulting in subsistence fishing closures for these species. The department acknowledges the hardship and food security issues created by these fishing closures. In response to requests and suggestions from fishermen calling local field offices and weekly teleconferences hosted by the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, the department will allow the use of selective gear to target salmon other than Chinook and Chum.

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Mountain goat harvest closed in South Baranof Zone on Baranof Island

07/22/2021

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

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BLM to Open Fall Fortymile Caribou Federal Subsistence Hunt Aug. 1

07/20/2021

FAIRBANKS, AK — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, will open caribou hunting on federal public lands in Units 20E, 25C and a portion of 20F on Aug. 1, 2020, to provide opportunities for federal subsistence. The hunt is limited to federally qualified rural residents hunting on federal public lands only, including federal public lands accessible from the Steese and Taylor highways.

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2021 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #16 Summer Update #7, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

07/20/2021

Districts Affected: Yukon Area

The Chinook salmon run is more than 90% complete in the lower Yukon. The drainage-wide Chinook salmon run is projected to be at the lower end of the forecast range and is the fourth smallest since 1995. The drainage- wide run size is so small that escapement goals may not be met in many tributaries. Counts of Chinook salmon at each individual assessment project are all below average.

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Situk River Federal subsistence Chinook Salmon fishery reopened

07/19/2021

YAKUTAT, Alaska–Yakutat District Ranger Lee Benson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has announced that the Situk River will reopen to the harvest of Chinook Salmon at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 16, 2021 due to the Chinook Salmon run being projected to meet or exceed the upper end of the escapement goal.

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2021 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #1 Coastal District and Districts 1-3 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/14/2021

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon Area

Yukon River Coastal District and District 1 will transition to fall season management on July 16. The remaining upriver districts and subdistricts will transition to fall season management as the fall chum salmon migration reaches those areas. Assessment projects will begin counting fall chum salmon on July 16 at the Lower Yukon Test Fishery, July 18 at the Mountain Village Test Fishery and July 19 at the mainstem sonar near the community of Pilot Station.

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