Federal Subsistence Board News

A telephonic public hearing is scheduled for 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., or until the end of public participation, on Thursday, August 13, 2020, to receive public testimony on a temporary special action request submitted to the Federal Subsistence Board (Board).

Districts Affected: Yukon AreaThe 2020 fall chum salmon preseason projection, based on the relationship between summer chum and fall chum salmon runs, is for a run size of less than 450,000 fish. Chum salmon entering the Yukon River now appear to be mostly fall chum salmon. The front of the fall season chum salmon run migration is expected to be approaching Nulato August 3, Ruby August 6, Tanana August 10, Stevens Village August 15, Fort Yukon August 20, and U.S./Canada border August 31. The pulse that entered the lower Yukon on July 29 would be approaching Holy Cross August 4, Kaltag August 9, Galena August 11, Rapids August 17, Fort Yukon August 26, and U.S./Canada border September 5. Some Tanana summer chum salmon stocks may be in the first group, but most of the chum salmon should be fall stocks headed to the upper Yukon River.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaBased on run timing, the Chinook salmon run should be nearly complete in the Tanana River and summer chum salmon should be present. In the subsistence fishery, the requirement for manned wheels and selective gear is being removed. Gillnets, dip nets, beach seines, and fish wheels may be used during open periods and fishermen may retain Chinook salmon. Because of the poor summer chum run, fishing will remain on half schedule for the remainder of the summer season in the Tanana River. As a reminder, fishing for non-salmon species is allowed during open and closed periods; however, gillnets must have 4-inch or smaller mesh.

The purpose of the weekly fisheries update is to provide the reader with an overall summary of the status of subsistence related fisheries throughout the state of Alaska.  The target audience is the Federal Subsistence Board and its Staff Committee.  The report was compiled with the assistance of the Federal in-season managers and OSM staff that provided weekly updated information by the close of business on Friday of the reporting week.  My goal is to have the report sent by the close of business the following Monday.  Web links have been included to provide additional information.  You may obtain additional information on a fishery of particular interest by contacting the in-season manager, provided contacts, follow the provided web links, or contact George Pappas.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaCurrent cumulative counts of Chinook salmon at the Eagle sonar indicate the lower end of the spawning escapement objective in Canada (42,500-55,000) may not be met. Therefore, it is imperative that all Chinook salmon moving through District 5 escape to the spawning grounds. Fishermen can expect salmon fishing to open when fall chum are present in the area. Based on average swim speeds, the early fall chum are not expected in Tanana until approximately August 11, and the first pulse should arrive around August 16.

COPPER CENTER, AK – This week plans for the 2020 federal subsistence hunt for the Chisana caribou herd were announced by Wrangell-St. Elias Superintendent Ben Bobowski, the designated federal manager for the hunt. The Federal Subsistence Board authorized a limited harvest from the Chisana caribou herd at its January 2012 meeting. 

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) voted to defer WSA19-15, which requested an emergency moose season for the community of Koyukuk in Unit 21D. The Board voted to defer WSA19-15 until well-defined criteria and guidance are developed to determine how and when food security concerns become a demonstrable and imminent threat to public safety. Federal subsistence regulations authorize the Board, in emergency situations, to open public lands for the taking of wildlife for subsistence uses, under certain circumstances, including for public safety reasons.

On July 16, 2020, the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) adopted Temporary Wildlife Special Action WSA20-03 with modification to close the Federal public lands that are open to Federal subsistence hunting in Units 13A and 13B to moose and caribou hunting by non-Federally qualified users for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons.  This factsheet answers common questions and concerns about the closure.

YAKUTAT, Alaska - USDA Forest Service Yakutat District Ranger Lee Benson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the 2020 Federal subsistence mountain goat hunting season for a portion of Unit 5A. The closure will be effective Friday, July 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., and will remain in effect until January 31, 2021.

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. Consequently, the subsistence fishing schedule is being reduced to limit the harvest of fall chum salmon and to allow more fall chum salmon to reach their spawning areas.