Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River will be opened for one 12 Hour opportunity on June 24th, 2020 to the Harvest of Chinook Salmon by Federally Qualified Subsistence Users

This emergency special action announces one 12-hour harvest opportunity for Kuskokwim River residents identified as Federally qualified subsistence users 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, to the use of gillnets for the harvest of Chinook Salmon on Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River 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 (see regulatory language below), except for the section referred to as the Aniak Box (see 3-KS-01-20 or regulatory language below for description), on June 24, 2020. The start time and end time for this opportunity is from 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM.

06/23/2020
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Ray Born

(907) 543-1003 or (800) 621-5804

vernon_born@fws.gov

This action was made after coordination to the extent possible with the Kuskokwim River Inter- Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC), Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group (KRSMWG), Office of Subsistence Management (OSM), and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Further Chinook

Salmon fishing openings, closings, and fishing methods for Federally qualified subsistence users will be announced by subsequent emergency special action, after consultation and coordination with the partners listed above.

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 Aniak Box and the Old Kuskokuak Slough where the Kisaralik and Kasigluk drain to protect Chinook bound for the 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.

Other means and methods (rod and reel, dipnets, fish wheels, and beach seines) remain open to harvest of Chinook Salmon in the mainstem Kuskokwim River.

When each of these 12-hour harvest opportunities expire, Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River, identified in Federal Special Action 3-KS-01-20 and issued on May 15, 2020, will remain closed to the harvest of Chinook Salmon with gillnets by Federally qualified subsistence users.

Access up-to-date information on fishing opportunities by calling 907-543-1008 or visit 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.

View Full News Release

-###-

Was this page helpful?

Please provide a comment