Fishing News

The report was compiled with the assistance of the Federal in-season managers and OSM staff that provided weekly updated information by the close of business on Friday of the reporting week.  My goal is to have the report sent by the close of business the following Monday.  Web links have been included to provide additional information.  You may obtain additional information on a fishery of particular interest by contacting the in-season manager, provided contacts, follow the provided web links, or contact me.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

 

Sitka and Hoonah Area, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest

 

This will be the final weekly summary for season for this portion of Southeast Alaska.

 

Klag Bay - The Sitka Tribe of Alaska operates the Sockeye Salmon monitoring weir at Klag Bay which began operating on June 28^th and was removed on September 2^nd.  As of August 30^th, 5,218 Sockeye Salmon have been counted and about 2,400 have been harvested in the bay. The average annual Sockeye Salmon return from 2001-2015 is about 12,500.  In 2015, approximately 3,304 sockeye migrated past the weir while an estimated 1,344 sockeye were harvested in the marine terminal area subsistence and sport fishery. Subsistence harvest accounted for over 99% of terminal area harvest.

Redoubt Lake - The Forest Service operates the Redoubt Lake weir which began operating June 13^th and is scheduled to be removed September 5^th. On August 31^st, 105 Sockeye Salmon were counted bringing the season total to 22,458. The long term average Sockeye Salmon escapement since 1982 is 31,429. The Coho Salmon count of 4,938 is well above average for this date, indicating that the final run will be well above the long term average for the 2^nd consecutive year. In 2015 we estimate about 30,000 Coho Salmon returned to Redoubt Lake and this year we are predicting about 15,000 will return. The long term average is around 5,000. 

Falls Lake - The Forest Service and the Organized Village of Kake operate the Falls Lake trap and video net weir which began operating on July 1^st and were removed on August 29^th. Five Sockeye Salmon were counted at the trap above the fish pass on August 28^th bringing the season total to 3,636. Since sockeye also use the falls to enter the lake and are not included in the trap count, we estimate the escapement is around 4,500. About 1,100 sockeye were harvested in the subsistence fishery. The average annual Sockeye Salmon escapement since 2001 is 2,848. The final escapement estimate in 2015 was 4,716 Sockeye Salmon while the final subsistence and sport harvest in the marine terminal area was 1,031. Subsistence harvest accounted for 99% of terminal area harvest.   

 

Yakutat, Juneau, and Admiralty areas of Northern Southeast Alaska

Neva Lake. On August 25, the Hoonah Indian Association crew that runs the pair of video weirs at the outlet of Neva Lake had to move out of their cabin with the Ocean Beauty Seafood plant closing for the season.  The video recording and review computer was then moved from Excursion Inlet to the HIA office in Hoonah where project personnel will continue counting the number of salmon, trout, and Dolly Varden char that migrate into Neva Lake.  As of August 26, the escapement of Sockeye Salmon into Neva Lake was only 1,648 fish and the total escapement for the season is projected to be less than 2,000 – the lowest observed.

 

(L-R) George Mills, Gerard White, and Michael Williams, Sr. at their cabin in Excursion Inlet with the always-on computer in the background that is used to remotely monitor the Neva Lake video weirs and record and review motion triggered footage from the four video chute cameras and four site surveillance cameras.

 

Kook Lake.  Angoon Community Association employees have now counted 3,531 Sockeye Salmon through the pair of video net weirs at the outlet of Kook Lake as of August 26.

Sitkoh Lake.  The ACA employees, who work at Kook Lake,  have now counted 7,546 Sockeye Salmon through the pair of video net weirs at the outlet of Sitkoh Lake as of August 15.

 

Prince of Wales and Ketchikan District Area

 

The 2016 Federal subsistence salmon fishery for Southeast Alaska and Yakutat areas is on-going.  To date, 238 permits have been issued.

 

The Hydaburg Cooperative Association projects at both Hetta Lake and Eek Lake are on-going.  There have been 1,089 Sockeye Salmon counted at Hetta to date and 132 at Eek.  The Klawock Lake project has had 2,598 Sockeye Salmon counted to date.

 

Commercial seining has ceased, except for hatchery terminal harvest areas.  Drift gillnet openings are still occurring weekly in District 1.  The commercial troll fishery is primarily targeting Coho Salmon.  Commercial harvest to date is 29,230 Chinook Salmon, 570,035 Sockeye Salmon, 253,400 Coho Salmon, 11,798,700 Pink Salmon and 1,435,900 Chum Salmon from Districts 1-4.

 

 

Sitka and Hoonah Area – Justin Koller, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest

Justin Koller, (907)747-4297 jpkoller@fs.fed.us

Wrangell/Petersburg Area – Bob Larson, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest (907) 772-5930, robertlarson@fs.fed.us

Reporting complete for 2016, please contact author with questions.

 

Yakutat, Juneau, and Admiralty areas of Northern Southeast Alaska - Ben Van Alen (907-789-6257; bvanalen@fs.fed.us) and Jake Musslewhite (907-789-6256; jgmusslewhite@fs.fed.us), Forest Service, Tongass National Forest

 

Prince of Wales and Ketchikan District Area – Jeff Reeves, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest. (907) 826-1649 jreeves@fs.fed.us

 

 

Southeast Alaska Web Links

 

Tongass National Forest News Room http://www.fs.usda.gov/news/tongass/news-events

 

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Southeastern Alaska Area http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Southeast.pdf

 

ADF&G Sport and Personal Use Fishing News Release and Emergency Order Link http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R1

 

ADF&G Commercial Fisheries News Release and Emergency Order Link http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main

 

Weekly ADF&G Sport Fishing Reports for Southeast Alaska http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R1.home

 

Statewide ADF&G Fish counts

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

 

 

 

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA

 

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND – COPPER RIVER

 

Copper River – Dave Sarafin, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park/Preserve

 

Deployed in field, will return in two weeks. 

 

 

Links

ADF&G Miles Lake daily sonar estimates

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareacopperriver.salmon_escapement

 

NVE’s Chinook Escapement Monitoring project in the Copper River    http://eyak.fishscan.com/Summary/DailySummary.aspx

 

ADF&G Copper River Inseason Commercial Harvest Estimates

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareacopperriver.harvestsummary

 

Gulkana River counting tower – ADF&G

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.LocSelectYearSpecies

 

 

PWS and Copper River Delta – Milo Burcham, Chugach National Forest, Cordova.

(907) 424-4759 mburcham@fs.fed.us

 

A total of 77 Federal Subsistence fishing permits have been issued for freshwaters within the Prince William Sound of Chugach National Forest to date.  One-hundred and two permits were issued in 2015.  Harvest by this year’s permit holders will not be known until reports are returned this winter.  In 2015, 878 Coho and 172 Sockeye Salmon were reported harvested on Copper River Delta fresh waters in this fishery.

 

Copper River District will open at 7:00 am on Monday, August 22 for a 24-hour commercial fishing period.  An aerial survey of Copper River District Coho Salmon index systems in anticipated later this week, weather dependent.

 

 

Cook Inlet Area – Jeff Anderson, Field Supervisor, Kenai Fish and Wildlife Field Office (907) 260-0132 Jeffry_Anderson@fws.gov

 

Reporting complete for 2016, please contact author with questions.

 

Kodiak Island Area – Anne Marie La Rosa, Refuge Manager, - Kodiak NWR

(907) 487-2600/0230 AnneMarie_LaRosa@fws.gov or

Kevin Van Hatten (907) 487-0230 Kevin_VanHatten@fws.gov 

 

Reporting for the 2016 season is complete.  Please contact the Refuge manager with any questions.

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Kodiak Area

http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/pdf/fishregs13/kodiak.pdf

 

 

 

Bristol Bay and Chignik – Johnathon Gerken Fisheries Branch Chief Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office

(907) 271-2776 Jonathon_Gerken@fws.gov

 

Reporting complete for 2016, please contact author with questions.

 

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Bristol Bay Area

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Bristol.pdf

 

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Chignik Area

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/chignik.pdf

 

 

Southcentral Alaska Web Links

 

Federal Subsistence Management Fisheries News Releases

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/news/fishing/index.cfm

 

ADF&G Sport and Personal Use Fishing News Release and Emergency Order link

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.R2

 

ADF&G Commercial Fisheries News Release and Emergency Order Link

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main

 

Weekly ADF&G Sport Fishing Reports for Southcentral Alaska

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R2.Home

 

Statewide ADF&G Fish counts:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

 

 

Yukon River – Gerald Maschmann, Fish Biologist USFWS Fairbanks Office.

Gerald_Maschmann@fws.gov or

Fred Bue Fredrick_Bue@fws.gov

Emmonak Summer Office (907) 949-1798

The Emmonak Field Office is closed for the season.  For management questions call the Fairbanks office at (907) 455-1849.

 

Fall Season Outlook and Management Strategies

The current 2016 Fall Chum Salmon inseason run projection is for a run size of nearly 1,400,000 fish. This level of abundance should be sufficient to provide for escapement, an above average subsistence harvest, and a surplus available for commercial and personal use purposes.  Subsistence salmon fishing was initially relaxed to the normal regulatory salmon fishing schedule and gear which allows gillnets with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh. Commercial fishing has generally continued on a standard schedule of 2 periods per week in each of Districts 1 and 2 with some juggling to target pulses of Fall Chum Salmon as warranted based on assessment.  The Fall Chum commercial season ended in the lower Yukon on August 31and a directed Coho Salmon commercial fishery will continue until the regulatory end of September 10.

 

Assessment

The Lower Yukon Test Fishery (LYTF) fall season assessment through September 5 has a cumulative Fall Chum CPUE of 1,799.33 which is below the average of 2,076.36.  The Mt. Village Test Fishery (MVTF) has a cumulative CPUE of 2,838.83, above the average at this time of 1,952.44.  The Pilot Station sonar shifted to fall season assessment on July 19 and has a cumulative estimated passage thru August 31, the last day of sonar operations, of 991,919 Fall Chum Salmon which is well above the median estimated passage of 669,483.  This is the third largest Fall Chum Salmon passage past the sonar on record. The first pulse of approximately 366,000 Fall Chum passed the sonar on July 19 through 28.  The second pulse of approximately 90,000 Fall Chum Salmon passed the sonar on August 1-4.  A third, large pulse of approximately 372,000 passed the sonar for eight days on August 14-21.  A fourth pulse of approximately 92,000 fall chum passed the sonar on August 23-24, and a fifth pulse of approximately 69,000 fall chum passed on August 26-27.

 

The Chandalar River sonar began operations on August 8 and has an estimated passage through September 5 of 92,876 Fall Chum Salmon, well above the average of 64,283 fish.

 

The Eagle sonar switched to Fall Chum Salmon assessment on August 18.  The cumulative estimated passage through September 5 is 19,648, above the average of 10,653.

 

The Canadian Porcupine River sonar at Old Crow has an estimated cumulative passage of 18,245 Fall Chum Salmon.  This is well above the 2011-2015 average of 5,719 Fall Chum Salmon.  This is a relatively new project and its relationship to the Fishing Branch weir is not clear at this time.

 

The first four pulses of Fall Chum Salmon have been genetically analyzed.  None of the reporting groups have deviated from expectations, which, indicates no weakness in the major stock portions of the run.

 

Coho Salmon passage rates started to increase on August 12 at LYTF. Through September 5, the cumulative Coho CPUE is 440.72 is below the average of 491.21.  The Mt. Village Test Fishery (MVTF) has a cumulative CPUE of 706.04, below the average at this time of 1,028.92.  The Pilot Station sonar has a cumulative estimated Coho passage of 167,960 fish, above the median estimated passage of 132,929.

 

Management Actions

Subsistence fishing in the Coastal District, Districts 1- 3, and Subdistrict 5D has been relaxed to their normal schedule of 24 hours per day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnet gear at the beginning of the their fall season.  District 4 and Subdistricts 5A, 5B, and 5C were liberalized to 24 hours per day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnet gear when it became apparent that surplus Fall Chum were available which could mitigate lost summer season opportunities.  District 6 remains on its normal regulatory schedule. Commercial fishing for Fall Chum Salmon began in District 1 on July18 and District 2 on July 20.  Tweny-four periods in District 1 have an estimated harvest of 217,619 Fall Chum Salmon and 94,795 Coho Salmon. Nineteen periods in District 2 have an estimated harvest of 203,241 Fall Chum Salmon and 58,024 Coho Salmon.   A total of 420,860 Fall Chum Salmon and 152,819 have been harvested in Districts 1 & 2 so far this season, this is the largest Fall Chum and Coho Salmon commercial harvests on record.   One commercial fishing period in Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C has an estimated harvest of 2,106 fall chum salmon.  Six commercial fishing periods in Subdistricts 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C has an estimated harvest of 475 Fall Chum Salmon and five Coho Salmon.

 

The Porcupine River fall chum salmon stock abundance has been low in recent years when compared to other stocks in the Yukon River drainage. Fall chum salmon escapements into the Canadian Fishing Branch River, a tributary of the Porcupine River, have fallen short of meeting the escapement objective agreed upon by U.S. and Canadian representatives in 4 of the last 6 years despite other Yukon River stocks meeting or exceeding their escapement goals or objectives. Similar to the action taken last year, in an attempt to improve fall chum escapement into the spawning grounds in Canada, subsistence salmon fishing in the Alaska portion of the mainstem Porcupine River was closed on August 31. Porcupine River tributaries in Alaska remain open for subsistence salmon fishing and subsistence fishing for non-salmon species in the mainstem Porcupine River is allowed with gillnets having a mesh size 4-inches or smaller. If inseason information from the mainstem Porcupine River sonar and from the Fishing Branch River escapement monitoring projects indicate the fall chum salmon goal will be met, the department may relax subsistence fishing restrictions.

 

Consultation

Extensive public outreach and consultation occurred during the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016 to inform and seek input from Yukon River fishermen and stakeholders.  Run outlook and possible management strategies were discussed at Federal RAC meetings and State AC meetings, the Yukon River Panel meeting and at the annual Yukon River Drainage Fishermen’s Association Board meeting.  In April, a pre-season planning meeting was held in Anchorage that brought together representatives from most Alaskan Yukon River communities to discuss the run outlook and management options.  Assessment and management actions were discussed on the twelveth (and final) YRDFA teleconference on August 30.  Alaska members of the Yukon River Panel, their alternates, and advisors (YAG) teleconferenced with State and Federal managers on June 22 and July 12. Participants were brought up to date on current run assessment, mid-season run expectations, and summarized management actions to date.  Management options and strategies were discussed with concerns and suggestions identified for management consideration.  A teleconference was held on Tuesday, August 30, with managers and fishermen from Fort Yukon and Chalkysik to discuss the Porcupine River subsistence closure.  Fishermen were generally disappointed with the closure, but also understood the need for the closure. 

 

 

Kuskokwim River – Ray Born, Refuge Manager, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Contact Vernon_Born@fws.gov; (907) 543-3151 or Lewis_Coggins@fws.gov

 

Reporting complete for the season, please contact manager with questions.

 

Yukon-Kuskokwim-Interior Alaska Web Links

 

Federal Subsistence Management Fisheries News Releases:

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/news/fishing/index.cfm

 

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Yukon–Northern Area

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Yukon.pdf

 

NEW = Kuskokwim River Updates Hosted on OSM Website

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/kuskokwim.cfm

 

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Kuskokwim Area

http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Kusko.pdf

 

ADF&G Sport and Personal Use Fishing News Release and Emergency Order link:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R3

 

ADF&G Commercial Fisheries News Release and Emergency Order Link:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main

 

Weekly ADF&G Sport Fishing Reports for Interior Alaska:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R3.home

 

Statewide ADF&G Fish counts:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

 

 

Northwest Alaska – Ken Adkisson, National Park Service, Nome.

(907) 443-2522 Ken_Adkisson@nps.gov

 

The salmon runs in the Norton Sound, Port Clarence and Kotzebue districts are coming to an end, and the commercial fishing season is coming to a close.  Therefore this will be the last report for this year from northern Alaska. Final season summaries and season results can be included in the beginning report for next year, along with season projections for next year for comparison purposes.

 

Norton Sound District

 

The recent commercial fishery focus has been on Coho (silver) salmon. The silver salmon catches in the commercial fishery have continued to be good, and the final catch number may go to over 100,000 silvers. That would be the fifth time in the last 10 years, and the eighth time since statehood. Water levels continue to be high in southern Norton Sound, but with improving weather aerial surveys will be flown in northern Norton Sound.

 

Unalakleet (Subdistrict 6)

 

Commercial Fishing: Commercial fishing periods are from 6 PM Friday until 6 PM Sunday, and from 6 PM Monday until 6 PM Wednesday. The commercial catch so far this season has been 1,200 sockeyes, 12,000 chums, 86,500 pinks and 52,000 silvers by 64 permit holders. The silver catch ranks eleventh highest in history.

 

Subsistence Fishing: Subsistence fishing is open 7 days a week.

 

North River Tower  – Camp J.B. -  A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish & Game has escapement goals of 1,200-2,600 kings; 25,000 pinks; 550-1,100 silvers (aerial survey); and no goal yet established for chums. The crew was unable to count for 2 ½ days last week because of high water. Counting had resumed on August 20 after a month of no counts because of high water, and counts through August 29 were 1,600 silvers. The silver count was similar to most years during the last week of August.

 

Shaktoolik (Subdistrict 5)

 

Commercial Fishing: Fishing periods are from 6 PM Friday until 6 PM Sunday, and from 6 PM Monday until 6 PM Wednesday. The commercial catch this season is 360 sockeyes, 10,000 chums, 21,000 pinks and 20,700 silvers by 24 permit holders. The silver catch ranks eighth highest in history.

 

Subsistence Fishing: Subsistence fishing is open 7 days a week.

 

Norton Bay (Subdistrict 4)

 

Commercial Fishing: The commercial fishing periods are from 6 PM Friday until 6 PM Sunday, and from 6 PM Monday until 6 PM Wednesday. The commercial catch this season is 90 kings, 100 sockeyes, 9,000 chums, 22,000 pinks and 6,000 silvers by 14 permit holders. The silver catch ranks third highest in history.

 

Subsistence Fishing: Subsistence fishing is open 7 days a week.

Elim (Subdistrict 3)

Commercial Fishing: The last fishing period ended on August 31. The commercial catch this season is 60 kings, 550 sockeyes, 6500 chums, 39,000 pinks and 12,400 silvers by 24 permit holders. The silver catch ranks third highest in history.

Subsistence Fishing: Subsistence fishing is open seven days a week.

Kwiniuk River Tower – A Fish & Game project with assistance from NSEDC has escapement goals of 250 kings; 11,500 – 23,000 chums; 8,400 pinks; and 650-1,300 silvers (aerial survey goal). The cumulative counts through August 29 were 138 kings, 12 sockeyes, 8,500 chums, 1.9 million pinks and 4,400 silvers. The silver count is half the 10-year average. The historical average 90% point of the run past the tower is September 1.

 

Golovin (Subdistrict 2)

Commercial Fishing: The silver catch in the Golovin Subdistrict remained marginal the previous week, so the ADF&G closed the subdistrict to further commercial salmon fishing. The commercial catch this season was 12 kings, 150 sockeyes, 5300 chums, 15,000 pinks and 750 silvers by 10 permit holders.

 

Subsistence Fishing: Subsistence fishing is open seven days a week.

 

Nome (Subdistrict 1)

Commercial Fishing: The last commercial fishing period for the season ended at 6 PM Sunday, August 28. The commercial catch this season was 10 sockeyes, 800 chums, 1,400 pinks and 120 silvers by 5 permit holders.

 

Subsistence Fishing:  Until September 1 the subsistence net fishing schedule had been from 6 PM Wednesday until 6 PM Monday in all freshwater subsistence areas. Effective September 1, subsistence fishing is open 7 days a week in the freshwater subsistence areas. The marine waters are open 7 days a week. There are no catch limits when fishing a marine waters. Subsistence catch limits for the freshwater subsistence areas vary by river and may be found on the back of the subsistence permit. Beach seines can no longer be used in the Nome subdistrict. Cast nets and dip nets can be used during the gillnet fishing schedule, but only in the subsistence areas.

 

Nome River Weir – A Fish & Game project with assistance from NSEDC has an escapement goal of 2,900 – 4,300 chum salmon and 13,000 pink salmon. The cumulative counts through August 29 were 22 kings, 230 sockeyes, 6,900 chums, 1.18 million pinks and 465 silvers. The silver passage was less than half the 10-year average, but more silvers likely passed when the weir was out for 4 days because of high water. The historical average midpoint past the weir is August 31.

 

Snake River Weir – A cooperative project between Fish & Game and NSEDC has an escapement goal of 1,600 – 2,500 chum salmon. The cumulative counts through August 29 were 14 kings, 66 sockeyes, 3600 chums, 207,000 pinks and 312 silvers. However, the aerial survey count on August 30 had nearly 600 silvers counted upstream of the weir and nearly 1000 silvers in the river total. The weir had been out for several days the previous weekend because of high water and many silvers passed by uncounted. The historical average midpoint for silvers is August 31.

 

Port Clarence District

 

Subsistence gillnet and beach seining are open 7 days a week, and sockeye salmon limits have been waived.

 

Pilgrim River Weir –A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish & Game has an escapement goal of 4,000 – 8,000 sockeyes based on aerial survey at Salmon Lake & Grand Central tributary to Salmon Lake. The project is complete. The cumulative counts through August 23 were 33 kings, 15,188 sockeyes, 22,110 chums, 2,986 pinks and 547 silvers. The sockeye count was eighth highest in 14 years.

 

Kotzebue District

 

The commercial catch was 399,000 chum salmon after 7 ½ weeks of fishing. That ranks seventh highest in history. Although this year salmon run has been average, this year’s catch is the second highest in over 30 years as the buyer was able to handle higher catch volumes this year. The last fishing period of the season was on August 31.

Kobuk River Test Fish - Fish & Game project. The project is complete. The chum salmon catch index was the tenth highest in 24 years of fishing.

 

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for the Kotzebue Area

http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/pdf/fishregs11/norton.pdf

The purpose of the weekly fisheries update is to provide the reader with an overall summary of the status of subsistence related fisheries throughout the state of Alaska.  

The purpose of the weekly fisheries update is to provide the reader with an overall summary of the status of subsistence related fisheries throughout the state of Alaska.  

Based on numerous inquiries from the public, the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) is providing more detailed information concerning the recently authorized 2016 Kenai River Community Gillnet Fishery.  This announcement supplements the information in the News Release issued by the Board on July 28, 2016.

The purpose of the weekly fisheries update is to provide the reader with an overall summary of the status of subsistence related fisheries throughout the state of Alaska.  The target audience is the Federal Subsistence Board and its Staff Committee.  The report was compiled with the assistance of the Federal in-season managers and OSM staff that provided weekly updated information by the close of business on Friday of the reporting week.  

The purpose of the weekly fisheries update is to provide the reader with an overall summary of the status of subsistence related fisheries throughout the state of Alaska.  The target audience is the Federal Subsistence Board and its Staff Committee.  The report was compiled with the assistance of the Federal in-season managers and OSM staff that provided weekly updated information by the close of business on Friday of the reporting week.  George Pappas' goal is to have the report sent by the close of business the following Monday.  Web links have been included to provide additional information.  You may obtain additional information on a fishery of particular interest by contacting the in-season manager, provided contacts, follow the provided web links, or contact George Pappas at (907)786-3822 or george_pappas@fws.gov.