Bulletin: Yukon Area Selective Gear Summer Chum Subsistence Fishing Schedule for District 4 and Koyukuk River Drainage

The Yukon River in-season Fisheries Manager issued an Emergency Special Action opening Federal public waters of District 4 and the Koyukuk River drainage to subsistence harvest and retention of summer chum salmon with selective gear only. The action includes dip nets, manned fish wheels, beach seines, and hook and line.

In Federal public waters, the summer chum salmon subsistence fishing opportunity is limited to federally qualified subsistence users in the Yukon River drainage.

While a fish wheel is operating, it must be manned at all times. Fish-friendly fish wheel construction is also required. Fish wheel basket sides and bottoms must be made of soft mesh material such as seine twine. Fish wheels must also have an adjustable or fixed slide or chute with a smooth bottom and closed cell foam lined sides that return Chinook salmon immediately back to the water. 

Expiration dates for the summer chum salmon subsistence opportunity align with the planned harvest closures of fall chum and coho salmon at the start of the fall management season in each fishing district. This year, the fall management season starts three days earlier in each fishing district to protect early fall chum salmon.  

Chinook salmon fishing remains closed (as announced in TSA 03-KS-03-26 and TSA 03-KS-04-26). All gillnets were previously closed to protect the migrating Chinook salmon run (as announced in ESA 03-KS-09-26 and ESA 03-KS-11-26). The gillnet closure is effective until the expiration date for each fishing district listed in the special actions.

Practice respectful and safe fish handling techniques and ensure any Chinook salmon caught in selective gear types are released alive so they may continue upriver to their spawning grounds. If it appears that Chinook salmon are targeted while fishing for summer chum, fishing will be further restricted. 

Though gillnets are more efficient than selective gear, the Chinook run cannot support incidental harvest of Chinook salmon that would occur in chum-sized gillnets. While 4-inch and smaller mesh gillnets will be allowed again after the bulk of the Chinook salmon run has passed, these gear may only be used to target non-salmon species.

Dates of summer chum salmon retention:

Effective Date:  Thursday, July 2, 2026, 6:00 p.m. for Subdistrict 4-A Lower and Upper

                              Monday, July 6, 2026, 6:00 p.m. for Subdistrict 4-BC and the Koyukuk River drainage              

Expiration Date:  Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 11:59 p.m. for Subdistrict 4-A Lower; 

                              Saturday, July 25, 2026, 11:59 p.m. for Subdistrict 4-A Upper and the Koyukuk River drainage; 

                              Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m. for Subdistrict 4-BC, unless superseded by subsequent special action

This action is taken in coordination with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fishery managers. The fishing schedules announced here match those issued concurrently by the ADF&G in State waters (Summer Fishery Advisory Announcement #22).

The emergency special action, 03-KS-15-26, can be found online at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries-special-actions.

Information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska. 

Missing out on the latest federal subsistence issues? To receive email updates on Federal Subsistence Management Program activities, send a request to subsistence@ios.doi.gov. 

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