Federal Subsistence Board News

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaAt this time, a precautious management approach to the harvest of Chinook salmon will remain in effect. Commercial fishing will remain open in Subdistrict 4-A to target summer chum salmon with live-release fish wheels. These commercial fishing periods do not affect current subsistence management actions and fishing schedules.

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaThe 2018 Chinook salmon run is below average and similar in size to 2015. The sale of Chinook salmon is not allowed. However, commercial summer chum salmon fishing periods with gill nets are being announced between subsistence fishing periods. Any Chinook salmon kept for personal use from commercial gillnet periods must be recorded on a fish ticket.

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaEstimated Chinook salmon passage at Pilot Station is well below average to date. Subsistence periods will remain on half the regulatory schedule with most gillnet openings limited to 6-inch or smaller mesh. These actions are intended to reduce harvest on incoming Chinook salmon while allowing harvest of summer chum salmon.  As a reminder, dip nets are not legal for subsistence harvest of salmon. During subsistence salmon fishing closures, fishing for non-salmon species is allowed. However, only gillnets with 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe Chinook salmon abundance estimates are well below average at the Pilot Station sonar to date. This news release puts Subdistricts 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C on a reduced salmon fishing schedule and restricts gillnets to 6-inch or smaller mesh. The fishing times have been changed as a response to feedback from fishermen.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThis news release announces the next two subsistence fishing periods in Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B and 5-C. Gear will be restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets to limit the harvest of Chinook salmon. Chinook salmon passage at the Pilot Station sonar is well below average and appears to be similar to 2015 in run timing and abundance and the 2018 Chinook salmon run may be coming in below the lower end of the preseason projection. The current management strategy is to provide some limited Chinook harvest opportunity.  Fishermen may need to adjust their Chinook salmon harvest goals to account for this weaker than expected run size.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaChinook salmon passage at the Pilot Station sonar is well below average and appears to be similar to 2015 in run timing and abundance. Current assessment is indicating the 2018 Chinook salmon run may be coming in below the lower end of the preseason projection. Subsistence restrictions including reduced fishing time and restricted gillnet mesh size are necessary. The current management strategy is to provide some limited Chinook harvest opportunity. Fishermen may need to adjust their Chinook salmon harvest goals to account for this weaker than expected run size.

Districts Affected: Yukon AreaThe estimated Chinook salmon passage at the Pilot Station sonar is well below average. Chinook salmon run timing and abundance appear to be similar to 2015, a year with normal run timing (Figure 1). This indicates that the run may come in below the lower end of the preseason projection range of 173,000 to 251,000 fish. While a run of this size should be large enough to meet escapement goals, subsistence restrictions are necessary. The summer chum run appears to be above average, with over 1 million fish projected for the season. Fishermen may need to adjust their Chinook harvest goals, and may want to plan to harvest more chum salmon to meet their subsistence salmon needs.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaAt this time, a precautious management approach to the harvest of Chinook salmon will remain in effect as the run abundance of Chinook salmon is being assessed.The summer chum run is projected to be around 2 million fish. Currently there is a market for summer chum salmon and based on run strength, commercial fishing is being opened in Subdistrict 4-A to target summer chum salmon with live-release fish wheels.

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaChinook salmon passage at the Pilot Station sonar is well below average and appears to be similar to 2015 in run timing and abundance. Current assessment is indicating the 2018 Chinook salmon run may be coming in below the lower end of the preseason projection. While a run of this size should be large enough to meet escapement goals, subsistence restrictions including further reduced fishing time and restricted gillnet mesh size are necessary.

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaAt this time, a precautious management approach to subsistence harvest of Chinook salmon will remain in effect as the run abundance of Chinook salmon is being assessed. However, commercial summer chum salmon fishing periods with selective gear (dip nets and beach seines) are being announced between subsistence fishing periods to allow for harvest of summer chum. All Chinook salmon caught in dip net and beach seine gear must be released alive immediately and recorded on a fish ticket.