Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River will be opened to gillnet fishing July 3, 2017 from Noon to Midnight

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 a 12-hour gillnet opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users to harvest fish other than Chinook Salmon. During this opportunity, Federally qualified subsistence users may fish from 12:01 p.m. (noon) July 3, 2017, until 11:59 p.m. (midnight) July 3, 2017 using set or drift gillnets with 6 inch or less stretched mesh and not exceeding 45 mesh in depth. Nets cannot exceed 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length. Federally qualified subsistence users identified in the ANILCA Section 804 subsistence user prioritization may retain Chinook Salmon incidentally harvested in gillnets.

06/30/2017

Last edited 01/25/2022

Contact Information

Ken Stahlnecker

(907) 543-3151 or (800) 621-5804

kenneth_stahlnecker@fws.gov

Salmon tributaries of the Kuskokwim within the boundaries of the Refuge, including the Eek, Kwethluk, Kasigluk, Kisaralik, Tuluksak, and Aniak rivers will remain closed to fishing for Chinook Salmon, as will the Old Kuskokuak where the Kisaralik and Kasigluk drain and the Kuskokuak between the lower confluence with the Kuskokwim River and the upper confluence with the Kwethluk River. This is to protect Chinook bound for the Kwethluk, Kasigluk and Kisaralik Rivers.

The waters of the Kuskokwim River from the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak downstream to a line formed from the northwest corner of the runway (latitude 61° 35’ 16” N, longitude 159° 33’ 28” W), due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W) are closed to subsistence gillnet fishing.

Subsistence fishing with dip nets, beach seines, fish wheels, and rod and reel may also be used during this opportunity. Fish wheels are required to have a live box with no less than 45 cubic feet of water and must be checked at least every 6 hours. Fish wheels must be equipped with a chute and must be closely attended while in operation. All authorized gear types, except gillnets, must return Chinook Salmon to the water alive.

This limited opportunity has been implemented by Federal Emergency Special Action (3-KS-06-17) under the delegated authority of the Federal Subsistence Board.

Access up-to-date information on fishing opportunities visiting the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page or www.fws.gov/refuge/yukon_delta/. Questions? call the Refuge at (907) 543-3151 or at (800) 621-5804.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

Missing out on the latest Federal subsistence issues? If you’d like to receive emails and notifications on the Federal Subsistence Management Program you may subscribe for regular updates by emailing fws-fsb-subsistence-request@lists.fws.gov.

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