Federal Subsistence Board News

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Public hearing regarding mountain goat management in Unit 4

07/11/2019

SITKA, Alaska – The Sitka District Ranger, under authority granted by the Federal Subsistence Board, will hold a public meeting and hearing to share information and solicit comments to help guide Federal subsistence mountain goat management in Unit 4. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will review the current management strategy and present information related to mountain goat harvest and population trends.

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2019 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release #33 Districts 1 and 2 Subsistence and Commercial Fishing Schedule

07/10/2019

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaWith passage at Pilot Station sonar of over 1,100,000 summer chum salmon, a commercial surplus is available for harvest. The Chinook salmon run is over 95% complete in the lower river.  Current passage at Pilot Station sonar is over 200,000 Chinook salmon and indicates run sizes coming in near the upper end of the preseason forecast. Escapement goals and harvest share objectives are likely to be met, and unrestricted subsistence opportunity to harvest Chinook salmon is being provided. The department, after consideration of the data and discussion with the U.S. section of the Yukon River Panel, will allow the sale of incidentally caught Chinook salmon during commercial openings for chum salmon. This is in accordance with the Yukon River King Salmon Management Plan and the management strategy presented and discussed with fishermen at preseason planning meetings for Chinook runs coming in near the upper end of the forecast.

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2019 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release #32 Summer Update # 6, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

07/09/2019

Districts Affected: Yukon AreaThe Chinook salmon run is currently coming in stronger than the run observed in 2018 and toward the upper end of the preseason outlook range of 168,000 to 241,000 fish. (Figure 1). In accordance with the pre-season management strategy, a run of this size warrants subsistence salmon fishing on a full regulatory schedule with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets. The Chinook salmon run is approximately 93% complete at the Pilot Station sonar, based on normal run timing. The 2019 summer chum salmon run is late and weaker than expected. However, summer chum salmon passage at the Pilot Station sonar is near the upper end of the drainage-wide escapement goal of 1,200,000 fish. A commercial surplus of summer chum is available for harvest (Figure 2). The summer chum salmon run is likely 82% complete at the Pilot Station sonar, based on late run timing.

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2019 Yukon River Salmon Fishery News Release #31 District 5 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/09/2019

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe Chinook salmon run is coming in stronger than the 2018 run, and towards the upper end of the preseason forecasts. Fishing times are being returned to the regulatory schedule to allow more fishing opportunity. The requirement to use 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets is being removed; fishermen may choose to use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

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2019 Yukon River Salmon Fishery News Release #27 Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/03/2019

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaChinook salmon are still entering the river and the run appears to be coming in stronger than the 2018 run. Fishing times are being returned to the regulatory schedule in most districts to allow more fishing opportunity. Gillnets will remain restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh to allow fish to pass upriver while border passage is being assessed.

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2019 Yukon River Salmon Fishery News Release #26 District 4 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/03/2019

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe summer chum run projections have improved with strong late groups of chum moving into the river. The lower end of the drainage-wide escapement goal of 500,000 to 1.2 million summer chum is likely to be met. Chinook salmon are still entering the river and the run appears to be coming in stronger than the 2018 run. Subsistence fishing times are being returned to the regulatory schedule to allow more fishing opportunity.

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2019 Yukon River Salmon Fishery News Release #25 District 3 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/03/2019

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaThe summer chum run projections have improved with strong late groups of chum moving into the river. The lower end of the drainage-wide escapement goal of 500,000 to 1.2 million summer chum is likely to be met. Chinook salmon are still entering the river and the run appears to be coming in stronger than the 2018 run. Subsistence fishing times are being returned to the regulatory schedule to allow more fishing opportunity.

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