Federal Subsistence Board News

The Federal In-season Manager, pursuant to delegated authority from the Federal Subsistence Board under Section 815 of Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), will issue an emergency special action (8-SS-01-20) to close Federal public waters of the Chignik River drainage to the harvest of Sockeye Salmon except by Federally qualified subsistence users, beginning 12:01 am on June 18, 2020, through July 31, 2020. 

In coordination with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group, Office of Subsistence Management, Western Interior RAC and Yukon Kuskokwim Delta RAC, the Federal In-season Manager announces the opening of a portion of the Kuskokwim River main- stem. 

Districts Affected: Yukon AreaThe 2020 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be slightly smaller than the 2019 run. An early trickle of Chinook is making its way upriver, but the first pulse of Chinook salmon has yet to be detected in LYTF or at the Pilot Station sonar. The average first quarter point for Chinook salmon at the sonar with normal run timing is June 19. For most districts, the subsistence fishing schedule is being reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule and gillnets are being restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh. This is intended to limit the harvest on Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe 2020 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be smaller than the 2019 run. The first subsistence-caught Chinook and summer chum salmon were reported on the Lower Yukon on May 27 and May 28. The subsistence fishing schedule is being reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule and gillnets will be restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh before the first pulse arrives. This is intended to limit the harvest on Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected.

In an effort to conserve Chinook Salmon in the Kenai River, the Federal subsistence rod and reel fishery for early-run Chinook Salmon in the Kenai River downstream from the outlet of Skilak Lake will be closed beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday, June 15, through 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2020. This closure prohibits all subsistence rod and reel fishing for Chinook Salmon. Chinook Salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately unharmed.

The Office of Subsistence Management reminds fishers that the Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River are only open to the harvest of Chinook Salmon by Federally Qualified Subsistence Users on June 12, 15 and 18 from 6 AM to 6 PM, with 6 inch or less gillnets (see 3-KS-03-20). Under the State ADF&G Emergency Openings on June 12 and 15, non-Federally qualified fishers cannot target or keep Chinook Salmon at any time, or by any methods or means, within Federal public waters.

District Affected: Yukon AreaThe 2020 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be slightly smaller than the 2019 run. The first subsistence- caught Chinook and summer chum salmon were reported on the Lower Yukon on May 27 and May 28. For most districts, the subsistence fishing schedule is being reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule and gillnets are being restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh. This is intended to limit the harvest on Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe 2020 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be smaller than the 2019 run. The first subsistence-caught Chinook and summer chum salmon were reported on the Lower Yukon on May 27 and May 28. Early fish should be traveling through District 4 at this time. For most districts, the subsistence fishing schedule is being reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule and gillnets will be restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh. This is intended to limit the harvest on Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected.

This emergency special action announces three 12-hour harvest opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users identified in the Section 804 subsistence user prioritization analysis, which includes residents of the Kuskokwim River drainage and the villages of Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Kongiganak, to the use of gillnets for the harvest of Chinook Salmon on Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River main stem, except for the section referred to as the Aniak Box (see 3-KS-01-20 or regulatory language below for description), on June 12, June 15, and June 18, 2020. The start time and end time for each of these three opportunities are from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaThe 2020 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be smaller than the 2019 run. The first subsistence-caught Chinook and summer chum salmon were reported on the Lower Yukon on May 27 and May 28. For most districts, the subsistence fishing schedule is being reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule and gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh. This is intended to limit the harvest on Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected.