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-01-19) to close Federal public waters of the Chignik River drainage to the harvest of Sockeye Salmon except by Federally qualified subsistence users, beginning June 26, 2019, through July 31, 2019. This action is necessary to ensure the conservation of healthy populations of Chignik River Sockeye Salmon and the continuation of subsistence uses. Sockeye Salmon may only be harvested by Federally qualified subsistence users who are residents of Chignik Bay, Chignik Lagoon, Chignik Lake, Ivanof Bay, or Perryville who are in possession of a Federal Subsistence Harvest Permit during this time.

Districts Affected: Yukon AreaChinook salmon run timing and abundance appear to be similar to 2018, a year with normal run timing (Figure 1). The average first quarter point for Chinook salmon for a run with normal run timing at Pilot station sonar is June 18 and the midpoint is typically June 24th. The run appears to be coming in near the lower end of the preseason projection range of 168,000 to 241,000 fish. Like 2018, subsistence harvest restrictions are necessary in order to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives.

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaSo far, the 2019 Chinook run appears similar to the 2018 Chinook run size. Similar to 2018, harvest on Chinook runs of this size needs to be restricted in order to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives. Like last year, fishing is reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule, gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh, and one fishing period per week is being cancelled, as needed, to allow fish to pass upriver. The 2019 summer chum salmon run is very late and weak. Therefore, there is unlikely to be commercial fishing for summer chum this season. 

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaSo far, the 2019 Chinook run appears similar to the 2018 Chinook run size, and restrictions to harvest are required to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives. 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. The 2019 summer chum salmon run is coming in abnormally late and weak, therefore less overlap of the summer chum and Chinook salmon runs is expected, and commercial fishing for summer chum salmon is not likely this season.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaSo far, the 2019 Chinook run appears similar to the 2018 Chinook run size. Similar to 2018, harvest on Chinook runs of this size needs to be restricted in order to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives. Like last year, fishing is reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule, gillnets are being restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh, and one fishing period per week is being cancelled, as needed, to allow fish to pass upriver.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaSo far, the 2019 Chinook run appears similar to the 2018 Chinook run size, and restrictions to harvest are required to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives. 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. The 2019 summer chum salmon run is coming in abnormally late and low, therefore less overlap of the summer chum and Chinook salmon runs is expected.  

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaSo far the 2019 Chinook appears similar to the 2018 Chinook run size, and restrictions to harvest are required to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives. Similar to 2018, a subsistence fishing period is being cancelled in order to let more fish escape upriver.Due to the abnormally late and low summer chum salmon run, no commercial periods are being scheduled at this time.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Bingo Hall in Quinhagak, to receive public testimony on a Wildlife Temporary Special Action request received by the Federal Subsistence Board. 

In consultation with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Federal In-season Manager announces the opening of the Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River main-stem within the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the use of gillnets for the harvest of Chinook Salmon by 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, for 12 hours effective June 22, 2019 from 06:00 AM until 06:00 PM.

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaSo far the 2019 Chinook appears similar to the 2018 Chinook run size, and restrictions to harvest will likely be required to meet escapement goals and harvest share objectives. The subsistence fishing schedule remains reduced to half the regulatory (windows) fishing schedule and gillnets are being restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh. The 2019 summer chum salmon run is coming in late, but strong tides of chum salmon are entering the lower river now.