Federal subsistence fishery for eulachon closed in Federal waters within District 1

KETCHIKAN, Alaska – Ketchikan-Misty Fjords District Ranger Susan A. Howle, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the Federal public waters that flow into District 1 to the taking of eulachon from 12:01 a.m. on February 24, 2018, until 11:59 p.m. on April 26, 2018, due to anticipated low eulachon returns. Any eulachon caught in this area must be immediately returned into the water unharmed. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is also closing the State-managed eulachon fisheries in District 1 on February 24.

02/20/2018

Last edited 01/25/2022

Contact Information

Susan Howle
USDA Forest Service
Phone: (907) 228-4100
Fax: (907) 225-8738
showle@fs.fed.us

Few eulachon have returned to the Burroughs Bay area since 2005. Similar closures have been issued by the USDA Forest Service for eulachon within the Burroughs Bay area from 2005 through 2017.

The eulachon life cycle is typically a five year period. Based on returns observed the last three years, it is not likely a harvestable surplus will be present in 2018. It is anticipated that all eulachon returning to District 1 during 2018 will be needed for spawning to rebuild area populations.

The Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District, in cooperation with ADF&G, will continue to monitor returns to the District 1 systems and will provide a further update in the event that a change occurs.

For additional information, please contact Susan Howle at 907-228-4100, Jon Hyde at 907-228-4137, or Jeff Reeves at 907-826-1649. Maps of District 1 are available at U.S. Forest Service offices. Maps and additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence.

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