Federal Subsistence Board News

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2021 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #3 District 3 and Innoko River Subsistence Fishing Schedule

06/03/2021

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon Area

The 2021 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be smaller than the 2020 run and may not be strong enough to meet escapement objectives. When run forecasts are this weak, regulations require that salmon fishing be closed on the first pulse. In accordance with the preseason management strategy to take a conservative approach this season, subsistence fishing will be closed during the trickle and first pulse of the Chinook salmon run. This is intended to protect Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected. The first Chinook salmon have been caught in the lower river test fisheries, and salmon fishing closures began in the Coastal District and District 1 on June 2, and in District 2 on June 4. Closures in each subsequent district are based on average swim speeds.

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Situk River Federal subsistence Chinook Salmon fishery closed

05/24/2021

YAKUTAT, Alaska – Yakutat District Ranger Lee Benson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has announced that the Situk River will be closed to the harvest of Chinook Salmon from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2021 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2021 due to conservation concerns.

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2021 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #1 Yukon River Salmon Fisheries Outlook

05/14/2021


Districts Affected: Yukon Area


The drainage-wide Chinook salmon outlook is for a run size of 102,000 to 189,000 fish. The 2021 run may be as small as 2012 and 2013; despite very restricted fishing in those years, the Canadian Chinook salmon escapement objective was not met. Because of the poor projected run size, front end closures are required until inseason run strength estimates indicate a harvestable surplus beyond escapement needs. This will likely require closures through the midpoint of the run.

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Public hearing time extended for Temporary Wildlife Special Action Request WSA21-01 regarding caribou and moose in Units 23 and 26A

04/19/2021

A telephonic public hearing scheduled for Friday, April 23, 2021, to receive public testimony on a temporary special action request submitted to the Federal Subsistence Board (Board), will be extended by two hours. The hearing, originally scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., will instead begin at 3:00 p.m. and will last until 7:00 p.m., or until the end of public participation.

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