Federal Subsistence Board News

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #4 Coastal District and Districts 1-3 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/29/2020

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

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BLM to Open Fall Fortymile Caribou Hunt on Aug. 1

07/28/2020

FAIRBANKS, AK — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, will open caribou hunting on federal public lands in Units 20E, 25C and 20F on Aug. 1, 2020, to provide opportunities for subsistence. The hunt, which is limited to qualified rural residents, includes federal public lands accessible from the Steese and Taylor highways.

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #3 Fall Update # 2, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

07/28/2020

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. Adjustments to the projection may occur, particularly if the summer chum salmon run extends into the fall season as was observed in 2019. Additionally, the age composition from the Lower Yukon Test Fishery (LYTF) will be important to determine if the age proportions are different than expected given that the summer chum salmon return of age-4 fish was extremely weak.

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #37 District 5 Subsistence Fishing Schedule

07/28/2020

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaDespite restrictive actions taken throughout the Yukon River and reported low subsistence harvests of Chinook salmon, poorer than expected fish passage at the Eagle sonar warrants a closure for fishing in District 5. Typically, the midpoint of the run at the Eagle sonar for late runs is around July 28, and current cumulative counts are less than half the average seen for this time of year. Current projections 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.

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #2 Fall Update # 1, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

07/22/2020

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. Adjustments to the projection may occur, particularly if the summer chum salmon run extends into the fall season as was observed in 2019. Additionally, the age composition from the Lower Yukon Test Fishery (LYTF) will be important to determine if the age proportions are different than expected given that the summer chum salmon return of age-4 fish was extremely weak.

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Situk River federal subsistence Chinook Salmon fishery reopened

07/21/2020

YAKUTAT, Alaska – Yakutat District Ranger Lee Benson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has announced that the Situk River will reopen to the harvest of Chinook Salmon from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2020, due to the Chinook Salmon run being projected to meet or exceed the upper end of the escapement goal. The use of gillnets remains prohibited in the Situk River though Thursday, July 30, 2020, to minimize the incidental mortality of Chinook Salmon beyond the allowable harvest.

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2020 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #36 District 6 Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Schedule

07/20/2020

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe drainage-wide Chinook salmon run size was below average this season, and genetic results indicated the stocks that spawn in the U.S. tributaries may have been weaker than average as well. The current counts of Chinook salmon at the Chena River tower and sonar project are low and indicate that the escapement goal may not be met. Like other areas of the drainage, Chinook salmon harvests are being limited. Fishing will be limited to selective gear (e.g. manned fish wheels and dip nets) as the majority of the Chinook salmon run moves through the Tanana River. Fishermen may keep chum and non-salmon species, but must release all Chinook salmon alive.

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