Federal Subsistence Board News

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2017 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 24 Districts 1 and 2 Commercial and Subsistence Fishing Schedule

06/27/2017

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaInseason assessment indicates that nearly 2 million summer chum have entered the Yukon River. In order to harvest summer chum salmon from this strong run while still protecting Chinook salmon, two commercial openings with 5.5-inch or smaller mesh are being announced in District 1 and three openings with selective gear are being announced in District 2. Commercial fishermen should confirm their market before they fish and stand by for the announcement of additional periods.

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Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River will be opened to gillnet fishing June 24, 2017 from Noon to Midnight

06/23/2017

In consultation with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Federal In-season Manager announces a 12-hour gillnet opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users to harvest fish other than Chinook Salmon on Federal public waters of the mainstem of the Kuskokwim River. During this opportunity, Federally qualified subsistence users may fish from 12:01 p.m. (noon) June 24, 2017, until 11:59 p.m. (midnight) June 24, 2017 using set or drift gillnets with 6 inch or less stretched mesh and not exceeding 45 mesh in depth. Nets cannot exceed 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length. Federally qualified subsistence users identified in the ANILCA Section 804 subsistence user prioritization may retain Chinook Salmon incidentally harvested in gillnets.

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2017 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 22 Subdistrict 5-D Subsistence Fishing Schedule

06/23/2017

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe 2017 management strategy is to protect the first pulse of Chinook salmon as they travel to spawning grounds in Canada. Therefore, subsistence salmon fishing is being closed as the first pulse of Chinook salmon travels through Subdistrict 5-D. After the first pulse has passed, fishing will reopen with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels on the regulatory schedule.

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2017 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 21 Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C Subsistence Fishing Schedule

06/23/2017

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon AreaThe 2017 management strategy is to protect the first pulse of Chinook salmon as many of these fish are heading to spawning grounds in Canada. Subsistence salmon fishing to harvest summer chum salmon with selective gear only will be allowed as the first pulse of Chinook salmon travels through the area. Summer chum salmon may be kept, but all Chinook salmon must be released from dip nets, beach seines and fish wheels.   After the first pulse of Chinook salmon has passed, fishing will reopen with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels on the regulatory schedule and all salmon may be kept.

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2017 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 20 District 1 Commercial Fishing Schedule

06/23/2017

Districts Affected: Lower Yukon AreaInseason assessment indicates that nearly 1 million summer chum have entered the Yukon River. In District 1 commercial fishing with selective gear will close and fishing with summer chum gillnets will begin. Two 4-hour commercial periods are being announced with 5.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets not exceeding 30 meshes in depth. This restricted gear option is to allow for summer chum salmon commercial opportunity that is more efficient than dip nets and beach seines, while also minimizing the incidental harvest of Chinook salmon. All Chinook salmon caught in the commercial fishery must be kept for subsistence use and recorded on your fish ticket. 

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Federal Subsistence Board approves partial closure of Federal public lands to caribou hunting in Unit 23

06/22/2017

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) has approved Temporary Special Action Request WSA17-03 with modification to close all Federal public lands within a 10 mile wide corridor (5 miles either side) along the Noatak River from the western boundary of Noatak National Preserve upstream to the confluence with the Cutler River; within the northern and southern boundaries of the Eli and Agashashok River drainages, respectively; and within the Squirrel River drainage to caribou hunting except by Federally qualified subsistence users for the July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 regulatory year. 

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