2017 Yukon River Fall Salmon Fishery News Release # 51 District 1 Commercial Period 16

The preliminary cumulative commercial harvest for Districts 1 and 2 combined through August 29 is 446,865 fall chum salmon and 104,609 coho salmon. The 2017 Districts 1 and 2 combined fall chum salmon harvest set a lower river record for the second consecutive year, eclipsing 2016’s harvest of 438,801 fish. The department congratulates District 1 and District 2 fishermen for a productive and record setting fall commercial season.

District 1 Commercial Fishing:

Commercial fishing will be open for one period in District 1, including the Set Net Only Area, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 31. This will be a 6-hour commercial fishing period with gillnets restricted to six-inch or smaller mesh.

The sale of Chinook salmon is prohibited. Commercial gillnet fishermen can release live Chinook salmon or use them for subsistence purposes. Chinook salmon retained from commercial gillnet gear must be recorded on a fish ticket as retained but not sold.

Reminders to fishermen in District 1:

During subsistence salmon fishing closures in District 1, the Pastolik and Pastoliak rivers near Apoon Pass are closed. These 2 rivers are also closed to commercial fishing, including 500 yards around the mouths.

District 1 Subsistence Fishing:

Subsistence salmon fishing is open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets, except for closures before, during, and after commercial fishing periods. In District 1, for this commercial period subsistence salmon fishing will be closed on Thursday, August 31 from noon until 10:00 p.m. Fishermen may use 4-inch or smaller mesh size gillnets to target non-salmon species during subsistence salmon closures.

Recorded fishery announcements and updates will be available 24 hours a day, toll free at 1-866-479-7387. If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Emmonak ADF&G office at 949-1320 or the Fairbanks office at 459-7274. The Emmonak ADF&G office will stand by on VHF channel 7A.

This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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