Yukon River Fall Subsistence Fishing Schedule for District 6

Temporary Special Action No: 2-FC-10-24 Issued at: Fairbanks, Alaska, September 24, 2024

Effective Date: Friday, September 27, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. for Subdistrict 6-A and the Upper Tanana

Expiration Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. for Subdistrict 6-A and the Upper Tanana

Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. for the Kantishna and Nenana river drainages
 

REGULATION:
Pursuant to 2-FC-05-24 and 2-FC-06-24, subsistence salmon fishing remains closed for Chinook, chum, and coho salmon. Fishing with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets for nonsalmon is only allowed from 12:01 a.m. Fridays through 11:59 p.m. Sundays and gillnets are restricted to 60-feet or less in length and must be operated as a set net near shore.
50 CFR 100.27(e)(3)(ii) is further amended to read:
In Federal public waters of the following areas, the Chinook, chum, and coho salmon closures and use of 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets for nonsalmon on a weekend-only schedule, will be extended until the following expiration dates.
(U) Subdistrict 6-A, which includes waters within the Denali National Park, but excludes the Kantishna River drainage:
(1) Wednesday, October 30, 8:00 a.m., all Federal action and restrictions are lifted, and subsistence fishing will open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week with all legal gear.
(V) Upper Tanana, which includes the communities of Northway and Nabesna and waters within Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve:
(1) Wednesday, October 30, 8:00 a.m., all Federal action and restrictions are lifted, and subsistence fishing will open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week with all legal gear.
(W) Kantishna and Nenana river drainages, excluding Lake Minchumina:
(1) Wednesday, October 30, 8:00 a.m., subsistence fishing for nonsalmon will be relaxed to 24 hours per day, seven days per week with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets (60 feet or shorter).
(2) Tuesday, December 31, 11:59 p.m., all Federal action and restrictions are lifted, and subsistence fishing will open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week with all legal gear.

As a reminder, fishermen should use nonsalmon gear in areas where resident species are more likely to be encountered and should avoid fishing in areas where they are catching salmon.

JUSTIFICATION:
Escapement goals are not expected to be met for Chinook and fall chum salmon, and the coho salmon run is well below average; therefore, closures are necessary for the rest of the salmon season. Additionally, nonsalmon subsistence fishing with 4-inch gillnets or smaller has been put on a limited schedule, in order to reduce incidental harvest of salmon in this gear.

Pursuant to Section 816 of ANILCA, this Temporary Special Action (2-FC-10-24) extends the closure for Chinook, chum and coho salmon and keeps the use of 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets on a fishing schedule in Federal public waters of the Yukon Subdistrict 6A and the Upper Tanana until dates in which the migrating or spawning salmon are expected to be completely through the area. Upon expiration of this Temporary Special Action in each fishing district, all Federal action expires, and subsistence fishing restrictions are being removed based on fall chum salmon travel time.

CONSULTATION AND OUTREACH:
The Yukon River salmon outlooks and management strategies were discussed at the Eastern Interior, Western Interior, and Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Regional Advisory Council meetings; Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association (YRDFA) annual Preseason Fisheries Meeting; Yukon River Panel meeting; and Yukon River Intertribal Fish commission meeting. The Federal manager held formal preseason management strategy Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation meetings with Yukon River drainage Tribal Governments on April 1 and 2. Tribal Consultations will continue when possible and when requested by Tribal Governments. The Federal fishery outlook and management strategy was sent to all Yukon Tribal and City governments on May 10. Approximately 3,500 copies of the ADF&G and USFWS Preseason Outlook flier were mailed to Yukon River fishing households in May.

This action was taken following coordination with the ADF&G fishery managers. The fishing schedules announced here match those issued concurrently by the ADF&G in state waters (Fall Fishery Advisory Announcement #20). The Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Chairs for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Eastern Interior, Western Interior, and Seward Peninsula Regional Advisory Councils were notified as was the Chair and vice-chair of the Yukon River Intertribal Fish Commission. Review was provided by the Office of Subsistence Management.

Federal Subsistence Board by delegation to: Holly C Carroll
Holly Carroll
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Yukon River Inseason Fisheries Manager
Northern Alaska Fish and Wildlife Field Office
For additional information concerning Yukon River Federal Special Actions contact Yukon River Federal Manager Holly Carroll at (907) 351-3029.
For information concerning State management actions, contact Yukon River Summer Season Manager, Deena Jallen, and Fall Season Manager, Christy Gleason, in Fairbanks at (907) 459-7274.

If you’d like to receive emails and notifications on the Federal Subsistence Management Program you may subscribe for regular updates by emailing subsistence@ios.doi.gov, with "SUBSCRIBE" as subject. Fishery special actions can be found online here: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries-special-actions

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