2021 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #12

A short subsistence fishing period is being provided to target currently migrating Sheefish with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets in a portion of the Koyukuk River. Sheefish are traditionally harvested in tributaries of this section of the Koyukuk River, the run of sheefish run appears strong, and sheefish are traditionally harvested in this portion of the river where salmon are not abundant. The timing of this opening is during sheefish passage and before the first pulse of Chinook salmon is expected to arrive in early July. Fishermen should set their 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets in sloughs and side channels with high abundance of sheefish and other non-salmon and avoid incidental harvest of summer chum and Chinook salmon.

06/28/2021
Last edited 06/28/2021

Due to the conservation concern for salmon, 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets will be restricted to a maximum length of 60-feet.

Subsistence Management Actions

In the Dulbi River and Koyukuk River area upstream of the Dulbi River (including Huslia, Hughes, Allakaket, Alatna, and Bettles):

From 6 p.m., Saturday, June 26, to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 30; gillnets of 6-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target sheefish and other non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

Effective 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 30, gillnets larger than 4-inch or smaller mesh must be removed from the water. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

While any salmon caught in 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets may be kept, if it appears salmon are being targeted with this gear, fishing could be further restricted. Fishermen are reminded to set this gear in areas where non- salmon species are abundant to avoid incidentally harvesting Chinook and summer chum salmon.

 

COVID-19

 

This is an announcement by the ADF&G in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Emmonak USFWS office is not open. To reach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yukon

River Subsistence Fishery Manager call 351-3029.

Announcements will be shared on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG

Under Alaska’s Health Advisories 1, 2, 3, and 4, subsistence and commercial fishing is considered essential and is part of Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure. Commercial fishermen should ensure that all travel and other activities in support of commercial fishing operations follow protocols in Alaska COVID-19 Health Advisories. COVID-19 Health Advisories may be found here: https://covid19.alaska.gov/health-advisories/.

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View full news release: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1277728650.pdf

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