Bulletin: Yukon Area Subsistence Fishing Open (Koyukuk and Innoko River Drainages)

The Yukon River in-season Fisheries Manager issued a Temporary Special Action opening subsistence harvest of salmon for federally qualified subsistence users of the Yukon River drainage in federal public waters of the Koyukuk and Innoko River drainages. Subsistence fishing for salmon is allowed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh, and all other legal subsistence gear is allowed. 

Based on migration timing, the Chinook salmon run is now 99% complete in these tributaries so there is unlikely to be harvest of Chinook salmon in these drainages. Historical genetic analysis confirms that the chum salmon present in the Koyukuk and Innoko River drainages are summer chum salmon. Some chum salmon may still be passing into these drainages at the time of this announcement. The summer chum run throughout the Yukon River drainage met or exceeded the drainage-wide escapement goal (of 500,000–1.2 million fish), so while we do not have escapement assessment in the Koyukuk and Innoko drainages, the strength of the summer chum run indicates it can support subsistence harvest in these drainages. Typically, there are not significant numbers of fall chum salmon in the Koyukuk and Innoko River drainages therefore, there are no conservation concerns requiring subsistence restrictions for chum salmon. We do not have conservation concerns for the limited harvest that may occur for coho salmon in these drainages. Because subsistence fishing opportunities have been severely restricted throughout the drainages, it is necessary to limit salmon fishing in Federal public waters to federally qualified subsistence users to provide for the continuation of subsistence uses. Existing management plan regulations restrict salmon gillnets to 6-inch or smaller mesh for the entire fall season. 

Dates of temporary special action: 

Effective Date:       Monday, August 17, 2026, 8:00 a.m. for Koyukuk and Innoko River drainages

Expiration Date:     Thursday, December 31, 2026, 8:00 a.m. unless superseded by subsequent special action

This action is taken in coordination with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). The fishing schedules announced here match those issued concurrently by the ADF&G in State waters (Fall Fishery Advisory Announcement #11).

The Temporary Special Action, 03-FC-07-26, 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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