Federal Subsistence Board News

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #13 Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C Subsistence Fishing Schedule

08/13/2020

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe 2020 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 300,000 fish, which is the second lowest run size since the year 2000. Mixed stock genetic analysis was applied to the passage estimates to remove summer chum salmon and resulted in an estimate of 99,200 fall chum salmon having passed the mainstem sonar near Pilot Station as of August 12. The mid-point of the fall chum salmon run at the mainstem sonar typically occurs on August 11. 

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #12 Fall Update #4, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

08/11/2020

Districts Affected: Yukon AreaThe 2020 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 300,000 fish, which is the second lowest run size since the year 2000. Mixed stock analysis was applied to the passage estimates to remove summer chum salmon and resulted in an estimate of 81,000 fall chum salmon in the river as of August 10. The mid-point of the fall chum salmon run at the mainstem sonar operated near Pilot Station typically occurs on August 11. The projected abundance is below the level needed to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals, and Canadian treaty objectives (see management strategies below). Fall chum salmon are typically dominated by age-4 fish however, the 2016 parent year that produced that age class has shown extremely poor survival in chum salmon runs throughout the state.

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #11 District 4 and Koyukuk River Drainage Subsistence Fishing Schedule

08/11/2020

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area The 2020 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 300,000 fish, which is the second lowest run size since the year 2000. Mixed stock analysis was applied to the passage estimates to remove summer chum salmon and resulted in an estimate of 78,000 fall chum salmon in the river as of August 9. 

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #10 Districts 1-3, Coastal District, and Innoko River Subsistence Fishing Schedule

08/11/2020

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaThe 2020 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 300,000 fish, which is the second lowest run size since the year 2000. Mixed stock analysis was applied to the passage estimates to remove summer chum salmon and resulted in an estimate of 78,000 fall chum salmon in the river as of August 9. 

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #9 Subdistrict 5-D Lower and Middle Subsistence Fishing Schedule

08/11/2020

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area Subdistrict 5-D Lower and Middle have transitioned to fall season management. The 2020 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 300,000 fish, which is the second lowest run size since the year 2000. Mixed stock analysis was applied to the passage estimates to remove summer chum salmon and resulted in an estimate of 78,000 fall chum salmon in the river as of August 9. 

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Results from Federal Subsistence Board Work Session

08/07/2020

During their August 4, 2020 work session, the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) discussed and approved Regional Advisory Council (Council) Annual Report Replies, and revisions to the Board’s nonrural determination policy, closure policy, and Tribal Consultation Implementation Guidelines.  The Board deferred the process for individual Customary and Traditional Use Determinations until their January 2021 meeting to allow time for Councils to review and comment on the process during their Fall 2020 meetings. 

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #8 Revised: Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C Subsistence Fishing Schedule

08/07/2020

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe 2020 fall chum salmon preseason projection is for a run size of less than 450,000 fish. This level of abundance is not likely to meet escapement goals and treaty objectives. The 2016 parent year that produced this year’s age- four age class has shown exceptionally poor survival in all chum salmon runs in all western Alaska. Without the age-four fish that typically dominate a fall chum salmon run, the overall return is expected to be much lower than forecasted. Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C are transitioning to fall season management. Consequently, the subsistence fishing schedule is reduced to limit the harvest of fall chum salmon to allow more fish to reach their spawning areas.

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #7 Districts 1-3 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

08/07/2020

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaThe 2020 fall chum salmon preseason projection is for a run size of less than 450,000 fish. This level of abundance is not likely to meet escapement goals and treaty objectives. The 2016 parent year that produced this year’s age- four age class has shown exceptionally poor survival in all chum salmon runs in all western Alaska. Without the age-four fish that typically dominate a fall chum salmon run, the overall return is expected to be much lower than forecasted. Consequently, a subsistence fishing period is being cancelled to limit the harvest of fall chum salmon to allow more fish to reach their spawning areas.

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