Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River will be opened to the Harvest of Salmon by Federally Qualified Subsistence Users For 12 Hours on July 5

The opening is restricted to the main-stem from the mouth to a line downstream of Kalskag at the south edge of Uknavik Slough and then due east to the edge of the bluff line within the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge boundary, including waters within 100 yards of the non-salmon spawning tributaries. The opportunity is restricted to 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.

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 confluence with the Kwethluk River. This is to protect Chinook bound for the Kwethluk, Kasigluk and Kisaralik Rivers.

When using gillnets, the following restrictions apply:

• 6-inch or less mesh;
• May not exceed 45 meshes in depth;
• May not exceed 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length above the Johnson River to the boundary of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge at Aniak;
• May not exceed 50 fathoms (300 feet) in length below the Johnson River to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River.

This harvest opportunity is to provide for the continuation of subsistence uses of salmon that are critical to cultural and traditional needs.

This limited opportunity has been implemented by Federal Emergency Special Action (3-KS- 09-18) under the delegated authority of the Federal Subsistence Board.