Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River will be opened for three 24 hour periods to the Harvest of Chinook Salmon with 6-inch set gillnets by Federally Qualified Subsistence Users

In coordination with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Western Interior RAC, Office of Subsistence Management, and Yukon Kuskokwim Delta RAC, the Federal In-season Manager announces three 24-hour set gillnet opportunities for 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, to harvest Chinook Salmon on Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River main stem, except for the waters of the Kuskokwim River mainstem referred to as the Aniak Box (see 3-KS-01-20). 

05/29/2020
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Ray Born

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

vernon_born@fws.gov

The start and end times for this opportunity are from:

Opportunity*

Effective Date

Expiration Date

1

June 3, 2020, 11:00 AM

June 4, 2020, 11:00 AM

2

June 6, 2020, 11:00AM

June 7, 2020, 11:00 AM

3

June 9, 2020, 11:00 AM

June 10, 2020, 11:00AM

Salmon tributaries of the Kuskokwim within the boundaries of the Refuge, including the Eek, Kwethluk (starting at its confluence with the Kuskokuak Slough), Kasigluk, Kisaralik, Tuluksak, and Aniak rivers will remain closed to fishing for Chinook Salmon, as will the Old Kuskokuak Slough where the Kisaralik and Kasigluk drain (to protect Chinook bound for the Kasigluk and Kisaralik Rivers).

The following restrictions apply in the mainstem Kuskokwim River:

  • Set gillnets ONLY, must be attached to the bank and oriented perpendicular to the river;
  • 6-inch or less mesh;
  • May not exceed 45 meshes in depth;
  • May not exceed 60 feet in length in the water;
  • May not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark

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

These harvest opportunities are unlikely to exceed the in-season managers harvest limit because it allows fishing for only 72 hours of total fishing; restricts using Chinook Salmon conservation gear to 6-inch or less stretched mesh gillnets; restricts net length and operational requirements to 60 feet net length; and may not be operated more than 100 feet from ordinary high water mark. This is a conservative management action that protects the viability of the Chinook Salmon population, while allowing for the continuation of subsistence uses.

This limited opportunity has been implemented by Federal Emergency Special Action (3-KS-02-20) under the delegated authority of the Federal Subsistence Board.

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.

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