FISHERIES UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 25 – July 1, 2017. Report #5.

The goal is to have the weekly report posted on the OSM website, https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/news/fishing, by the close of business the following Monday.  Additional information on a fishery of particular interest may be obtained by contacting the in-season manager, visiting the additional web links at the end of each area report, or by contacting George Pappas.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

To date, 160 permits have been issued for the 2017 subsistence salmon fishery for Southeast Alaska and Yakutat areas.

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

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

Falls Lake - The US Forest Service and the Organized Village of Kake operate the Falls Lake trap and video net weir which were installed on June 29^th. Sockeye Salmon typically begin moving into Falls Lake during the second week in July. The crew is currently surveying the subsistence harvest. The final escapement estimate in 2016 was 5,098 Sockeye Salmon while the final subsistence and sport harvest in the marine terminal area was 1,000. Subsistence harvest accounted for 99% of terminal area harvest.  

Klag Bay - The Sitka Tribe of Alaska operates the Sockeye Salmon monitoring weir at Klag Bay which was installed June 29^th. The first two sockeye were counted at the weir on July 1^st. In 2016, approximately 5,234 sockeye migrated past the weir while an estimated 2,605 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 was operational as of June 16^th. As of July 1^st, 3,987 Sockeye Salmon have passed the weir. In 2016, an estimated 22,937 Sockeye Salmon passed through the weir into Redoubt Lake. On July 14^th, in accordance with the Redoubt Lake Management Plan, the individual/household subsistence sockeye possession limit was set at 25 and the individual/household subsistence sockeye annual limit was set at 100. These limits were based on an in-season model prediction of about 33,000 sockeye returning. Subsistence sockeye harvest reported to ADF&G was 2,304. 

Wrangell/Petersburg Area Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, Contact to be announced.  

This year’s run of Chinook Salmon to the Stikine River is weak and likely less than the 18,300 fish forecasted.  Commercial, sport, or subsistence fisheries in the area are still being managed to reduce the take of this species.  Harvest rates were relatively low for Sockeye Salmon in the District 6 and 8 drift gillnet fisheries this week.

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), Tongass National Forest

Yakutat Area.  Alaska Department of Fish and Game has been counting fish through their weir on the lower Situk River since May 6.  Weir counts through July 2 are 80 large Chinook Salmon, 41,832 Sockeye Salmon, and 5,881 steelhead kelts.  Commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries for Chinook Salmon in the Situk River and estuary will remain closed unless weir counts climb within escapement goal ranges.  Moderate harvests of Sockeye Salmon were reported from the set gillnet openings this past week at the Alsek River, Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet, Manby Shore, and Yakutat Bay openings. Pink Salmon are just starting to run.

Northern Inside Waters. 

Sport fishing for Chinook Salmon in the Juneau area was closed until June 15^th to reduce harvests on Taku River stocks.  Sport fishers are now restricted from harvesting Chinook Salmon in release sites near DIPAC Macaulay Salmon Hatchery and Fish Creek due to concern with meeting brood stock goals.  Sport fishing for Chinook Salmon remains closed in the Haines area to protect stocks returning to the Chilkat River.

Taku and Lynn Canal drift gillnet fisheries had great harvests of hatchery Chum Salmon but poor harvests of wild Sockeye Salmon this past week.  Likewise, in the second commercial purse seine openings for the season at Point Augusta, Tenakee Inlet, and the Hidden Falls Hatchery there were moderate harvests of hatchery Chum Salmon and modest harvests of wild Pink and Sockeye Salmon.

To date, only 31 and 25 Sockeye Salmon have been counted through the video weirs at Neva and Kook Lakes, respectively.  Project personnel installed the video recording and remote monitoring equipment at Sitkoh Lake this past week and will install the video net weirs this week.

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

Update expected July 9.

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, (907) 822-7281, dave_sarafin@nps.gov

As of July 2, 2017 the ADF&G sonar at Miles Lake (located just downstream of the Million Dollar Bridge in the Copper River) estimated that 545,822 salmon had migrated upstream for the season.  This estimate is 21% more than the projected escapement of 452,395 for this date, or 93,427 more salmon. A daily estimate of 8,935 salmon migrated by the sonar counter on July 2.

The Chitina Subdistrict is currently open and scheduled to remain open through 8:00 a.m. July 9.  It is then tentatively scheduled to reopen at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 and remain open July 16.  The state and federal fisheries usually follow identical fishing schedules which are set by the state.  Eighty-nine (89) Federal Chitina Subdistrict permits have been issued on the FWS online data base.  Additional permits for this subdistrict have been issued in Chitina and Kennecott, NPS ranger stations that do not have internet connectivity.

The Glennallen Subdistrict opened for Federal subsistence users on June 1 and is expected to remain open until September 30^th.  Two hundred sixty-one (261) Federal Glennallen permits have been issued on the FWS online data base.  Additional permits for this subdistrict have been issued in Chitina and Kennecott, NPS ranger stations that do not have internet connectivity.  The state subsistence fishery in the Glennallen Subdistrict opened on June 1.

The Batzulnetas fishery is open.  One (1) Federal permits has been issued so far.

The Tanada Creek fish weir was installed and fish tight on June 7.  The first Sockeye Salmon was counted past the weir on June 11.  As of July 2, cumulative weir counts are 3,194 Sockeye Salmon and 3 Chinook Salmon.

As of July 1, 3,496 Chinook Salmon had been tagged at the two project fishwheels in Baird Canyon operated by the Native Village of Eyak.  The upriver fishwheels at Canyon Creek have captured 1,460 Chinook Salmon, of which, 137 were recaptured fish that had been tagged at the downstream wheels.

ADF&G’s counting tower in the Gulkana River began operation on June 2.  As of July 1, one thousand two hundred sixty-six (1,266) Chinook Salmon have been estimated past the site.

Seven Special Actions have been issued by the inseason manager this season:

• Delaying Upper Coper River District Federal subsistence fisheries until June 1.
• Reducing the Chinook Salmon harvest limit to 2 for the combined gear types of dip net or rod and reel in Upper Copper River District Federal subsistence fisheries.
• Delaying the starting date of the Chitina Subdistrict Federal subsistence salmon fishery to June 8 and setting the tentative pre-season schedule for this fishery.
• Allowing the use of bait and multiple hooks by Federal subsistence users while fishing with rod and reel in the mainstem Copper River.
• Revising the starting date for the Chitina Subdistrict Federal subsistence salmon fishery to June 7.
• Rescinding the Chinook Salmon harvest limit reduction for dip net or rod and reel and returning the limit to 5 taken by dip net and 5 taken by rod and reel, in the Upper Copper River District Federal subsistence fisheries.
• Increasing the period open to fishing in the Chitina Subdistrict during the week of July 3 through July 9.
•  

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

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

A total of 302 permits for Cook Inlet Federal subsistence fisheries have been issued to qualified households through June 29.  This includes 83 Kenai River permits (FFCI01) and 6 Designated Fisher permits to Cooper Landing households; 28 Kenai River permits (FFCI01) and 1 Designated Fisher permit to Hope households; and 91 Kenai River permits (FFCI01), 88 Kasilof River permits (FFCI02), and 5 Designated Fisher permits to Ninilchik households. 

The 2017 subsistence dip net fisheries for salmon opened on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers June 15 and June 16, respectively.  Harvest reported to date in the dip net fishery at Russian River Falls is 1,157 Sockeye Salmon.  The rod and reel fishery on the Kenai River also opened on June 11 with the same seasons and areas as for the taking of fish under Alaska sport fishing regulations.

The Kasilof River experimental gillnet fishery began on June 16 and continues through August 15.  Harvest reported through June 29 includes 148 Sockeye Salmon.  Regulatory periods for the Kenai River community gillnet fishery are from July 1 through August 15 and from September 10 – 30.

Fish counts at some Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Department)-operated assessment projects are available on-line at:

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

Alaska Department of Fish and Game emergency orders and news releases affecting upper Kenai Peninsula sport fisheries can be found at:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=area.list&Year=2017&AreaID=5

 

SOUTHWEST ALASKA

Kodiak Island Area – Michael Brady, Refuge Manager, - Kodiak NWR

(907) 487-0226 or michael_brady@fws.gov or Kevin Van Hatten (907) 487-0230 kevin_vanhatten@fws.gov 

The Buskin River Sockeye Salmon escapement has met its lower escapement goal (5,000 fish) earlier in the month; many subsistence users have ceased fishing at the mouth over the past week.  It has been reported that many subsistence users were having problems with seals and sea lions when their net was in the water.  For every fish they were able to get out of their net, they would lose up to 3 fish.  Subsistence users will an opportunity to fish Pasagshak Bay in early July to meet their needs.  The level of subsistence harvest in Port Lions and Ouzinkie has dropped off considerably over the past week.  The Sockeye Salmon run has been strong for these areas, and many of the subsistence users have met their needs for this year.

The Sockeye Salmon escapement for the Afognak drainage (Litnik) has not met the lower escapement goal. 

The Karluk and Ayakulik River Sockeye Salmon escapement continues to be strong but is slowing down, with the Ayakulik River Sockeye Salmon escapement exceeding its upper escapement goal and the Karluk River Sockeye Salmon escapement being close to exceeding its upper range.  Increased commercial fishing activities as well as subsistence harvest effort have controlled high numbers of Sockeye Salmon from entering their respective systems.  Discussions with villagers from Karluk and Larsen Bay have indicated catch per unit effort for subsistence harvest to be medium to strong.

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

These areas support abundant returns of salmon, particularly Sockeye Salmon; as well as some of the largest commercial fisheries for salmon in Alaska.  All of the assessments of salmon returns are conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and provide the basis for any inseason assessment and management.  None of the adjustments in commercial fishing management throughout any of these areas are anticipated to affect subsistence fishing in Federally-managed waters.

Bristol Bay:

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has strategies in place for all mixed stock districts to address differential run strength should that occur.  Gillnets are the primary gear used for most subsistence fishing for salmon.  A permit is required for subsistence harvest of salmon. 

Current escapement counts as of June 29:

Kvichak – 2,544 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 22.

Alagnak – Aerial surveys

Naknek – 63,186 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 19.

Egegik – 201,274 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 18.

Ugashik – 420 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 27.

Wood – 1,024,746 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 18.

Igushik – 85,908 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 24.

Nushagak – 33,818 Chinook Salmon and 1,047,130 Sockeye Salmon, counting began June 7.

Togiak – Escapement project not operational, typically begins in early July

The commercial salmon season in Bristol Bay opened on June 1 by regulation. Commercial fishing opportunities are being announced.  The total commercial harvest from the Ugashik (139,748 fish), Egegik (1,563,259 fish), Naknek-Kvichak (95,999 fish), Nushagak (4,085,269 fish), and Togiak (16,042 fish) is 5,923,367 with 89% of the harvest being Sockeye Salmon.  As each run develops and Sockeye Salmon run characteristics become defined within individual districts, fishing time will be adjusted accordingly. In the Nushagak District, management of the Chinook Salmon fishery will govern fishing time to minimize harvest as they move through the district. 

The Port Moller test fishery began on June 10 and has conducted three weeks of fishing.  The primary genetic stocks represented for Sockeye Salmon are 31% Egegik, 12% Nushagak, 8% Ugashik, 5% Wood based on 189 analyzed fish collected between June 26-27.

Chignik:

As of June 29, the escapement counts at the Chignik weir are 305,682 Sockeye Salmon and 67 Chinook Salmon with a total commercial harvest of 390,485 Sockeye Salmon and 840 Chinook Salmon.  The Chinook Salmon run typically begins in early to mid-July as measured at the Chignik River weir.

Alaska Peninsula:

As of June 21, the Nelson River escapement count is 31,971 Sockeye Salmon and the early run Bear Lake escapement count is 98,727 Sockeye Salmon.  The cumulative commercial harvest is approximately 5.1 million (5,500 Chinook Salmon, 2.8 million Sockeye Salmon, 38 Coho Salmon, 1.7 million Pink Salmon, and 608,000 Chum Salmon) for the Alaska Peninsula Management Area.

Aleutian Islands.

All fisheries are forecast to meet escapement goals and provide harvest opportunity.

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

 

YUKON REGION

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

Summer Season Outlook

The current Summer Chum Salmon run is projecting to be well above average and is expected to provide for all escapement needs and subsistence uses.  A surplus of over 1.5 million Summer Chum Salmon is anticipated to be available for commercial harvest. However, commercial harvest opportunity will depend upon available markets and the strength of the overlapping Chinook Salmon run.  The Summer Chum Salmon run is tracking on a record high through June 29.

The inseason Chinook Salmon assessment is projecting a run abundance above the upper end of the preseason forecast.  Subsistence conservation measures have been implemented to spread out the available subsistence harvest and meet escapement goals.  At this time, subsistence salmon fishing opportunities have been relaxed to allow for Chinook Salmon harvests.  No directed Chinook Salmon commercial fishery is anticipated, although there may be consideration for selling Chinook that are incidentally harvested in the Chum Salmon directed commercial fishery if the run continues above expectations. 

Assessment Information

With ice out earlier than average and climate modeling provided by NOAA, ADF&G, and AOOS, managers anticipated earlier entry timing for Chinook and Summer Chum Salmon.  The combined Big Eddy/Middle Mouth Chinook Salmon set gillnet test fishery CPUE of 34.87 through June 29 is above the average of 18.50, but behind the “early years” average of 25.27.  The Big Eddy Chinook Salmon drift gillnet test fishery CPUE of 537.87 through June 29 is ahead of the average of 350.43.  The Big Eddy/Middle Mouth combined Chum Salmon drift gillnet test fishery has a cumulative CPUE of 27,031 through June 29, well ahead of the average of 6,027.  The Pilot Station sonar Chinook Salmon passage estimate through June 29 is 211,000 fish, ahead of the average of 130,000, and ahead of the early year average of 179,000.  The Chinook Salmon run is likely past the ¾ point of the run.  The Pilot Station sonar Summer Chum Salmon passage estimate through June 29 is a record high of 2.35 million, well ahead of the median on this date of 996,000, and is approaching the ¾ point.  Pilot Station detected approximately four pulses of Chinook Salmon and three pulses of Summer Chum Salmon.  Efforts are being made to release Chinook Salmon alive that are caught in the test fisheries in order to conserve Chinook Salmon. The Anvik River sonar project began on June 16 and has passed 102,000 Summer Chum Salmon as of June 29, ahead of the median passage to date of 47,000.  The FWS escapement monitoring project at the Andreafsky River weir began operations on June 14 and passed their first Summer Chum Salmon on June 15 and their first Chinook Salmon on June 17. The Gisasa River weir project began operations on June 18 and passed their first Summer Chum Salmon on June 18 and their first Chinook Salmon on June 21.  The Henshaw Creek weir began operations on June 25 and passed the first Chinook Salmon on June 26 and the first Summer Chum Salmon on June 25. 

Management Actions

Managers have switched from management based on the pre-season projection to in-season assessment. Subsistence salmon management began in lower Yukon with restrictions to protect Chinook Salmon.  Fishing was open with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets early to allow for fishing for whitefish and other species.  As early Chinook Salmon entered the river subsistence fishing was restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnet gear to target Summer Chum Salmon, but allow for small harvests of smaller Chinook Salmon.  When the first pulse of Chinook Salmon was estimated to be entering the river, subsistence salmon fishing was restricted to selective types to target Summer Chum Salmon while protecting Chinook Salmon.  As the Chinook Salmon assessment showed a run coming in near or above the upper end of the pre-season projection, subsistence was relaxed to allow the harvest of Chinook Salmon. These actions began in the lower Yukon and were implemented chronologically through District 4 as the run progressed.  The Innoko River and Koyukuk River were not restricted this year as Chinook Salmon harvests in these rivers are less than in the mainstem portion of the river.  Subdistricts 6-A and 6-B were also not restricted and placed on their normal subsistence salmon fishing schedule as the Tanana River is managed under the Tanana River Salmon Management Plan and Tanana stocks have performed better than the mainstem Yukon River stocks in recent years.  Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C went directly from unrestricted gear to selective gear types timed with the first pulse, then relaxed back to 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnet gear after the pulse had passed. Subdistrict 5-D was not restricted this year because confidence in assessment has increased late in the season and is projecting enough Chinook Salmon to meet Canadian obligations as well as provide for normal subsistence salmon harvests.   

District 1 had 10 commercial fishing periods directed at Summer Chum Salmon with gear restricted to dip nets and beach seines, which were followed by four periods directed at Summer Chum Salmon with 5.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets no greater than 30 meshes deep.  The preliminary commercial harvests in District 1 through June 29 is 199,000 Summer Chum Salmon, 3,750 Chinook Salmon caught and released, and 2,750 Chinook Salmon caught and taken home for subsistence purposes.  District 2 had four commercial fishing periods directed at Summer Chum Salmon restricted to dip nets and beach seines.  The preliminary commercial harvests in District 2 are 30,000 Summer Chum Salmon, and 415 Chinook Salmon caught and released.   Commercial fishing in Subdistrict 4-A for Summer Chum Salmon with live release fish wheels has been open 24/7 since June 25.  Chinook Salmon must be immediately released alive in this fishery.  Preliminary harvest estimates are not yet available. 

Consultation

Extensive public outreach and consultation had occurred during the fall of 2016 and spring of 2017 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 Fairbanks that brought together representatives from most Alaskan Yukon River communities to discuss the run outlook and management options.  The fourth Yukon River Drainage Fishermen’s Association teleconference was held on June 18.  Participation was light, but fishermen in the lower and middle Yukon reported good numbers of fish on their fish rack, and were thankful for the opportunity to fish for Chinook Salmon. On June 26, the Yukon River Advisory Group (YAG) comprised of the Yukon River Panel delegation members teleconferenced with agency managers to discuss subsistence fishery pulse protection and potential options for selling incidentally harvested Chinook Salmon in the directed Summer Chum Salmon commercial fishery. There was support for not continuing pulse protection in Subdistrict 5-D and a majority opposition to selling incidental Chinook Salmon with these views guiding management actions this week.

 

KUSKOKWIM REGION

Kuskokwim River – Ken Stahlnecker, Refuge Manager, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Contact kenneth_stahlnecker@fws.gov; (907) 543-3151 or lewis_coggins@fws.gov

Summary:
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.

The waters of the Kuskokwim River from the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak downstream to a line formed from the northwest corner of the runway (latitude 61° 35’ 16” N, longitude 159° 33’ 28” W), due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W) are closed to subsistence gillnet fishing.

Subsistence fishing with dip nets, beach seines, fish wheels, and rod and reel may also be used during this opportunity.  Fish wheels are required to have a live box with no less than 45 cubic feet of water and must be checked at least every 6 hours.  Fish wheels must be equipped with a chute and must be closely attended while in operation.  All authorized gear types, except gillnets, must return Chinook Salmon to the water alive.

This limited opportunity has been implemented by Federal Emergency Special Action (3-KS- 04-17) under the delegated authority of the Federal Subsistence Board.

Test Fisheries:

As of June 3, the cumulative catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of Chinook salmon at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Bethel Test Fishery is 266. Cumulative CPUE on this date during 2016 and 2015 were 531 and 465, respectively.

Cumulative CPUE for chum salmon is at 2,747. Cumulative CPUE on this date during 2016 and 2015 were 943 and 829, respectively.

Cumulative CPUE for sockeye salmon is at 918. Cumulative CPUE on this date during 2016 and 2015 were 699 and 1,113, respectively.

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

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

Norton Sound District

All escapement counting projects in the District except the Snake River weir are operational.

Sport Fishing:

All freshwaters from Bald Head to Point Romanof remain closed to sport fishing for king salmon by Emergency Order issued by the ADF&G Division of Sport Fish. The closure includes, but is not limited to, the Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Inglutalik and Golsovia River drainages. The EO will remain in effect through August 15, 2017 or until inseason stock assessment indicates that the escapement goal for king salmon will be met on the Unalakleet River.

Nome (Subdistrict 1)

Subsistence Fishing: The Nome Subdistrict was placed on a subsistence salmon gillnet fishing schedule effective June 15. The marine waters east of Cape Nome will continue to be open seven days a week. All Nome subdistrict freshwater subsistence areas and the marine waters west of Cape Nome were opened to gillnet fishing for five days each week from 6 PM Wednesday until 6 PM Monday. This schedule is set by regulation. Beach seining for salmon was opened in all subsistence areas of the Nome subdistrict effective June 15 whenever subsistence gillnet fishing is open. Unless closed by emergency order, beach seining will remain open during gillnet fishing periods through August 15. Dip nets and cast nets can also be used anytime gillnet fishing is open. Also, effective June 15, all gillnet and beach sein fishing upstream of Boulder Creek on the Sinuk River was closed in order to protect migrating sockeye salmon that hold in the Sinuk River bridge area before reaching the spawning grounds.

Solomon River Weir - A fish and game projects. It has no escapement goals yet established. The cumulative count to June 28 is 2 chums.

Eldorado River Weir - A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish and Game. It has an escapement goal of 6,000-9,200 chum salmon. The cumulative count to June 28 is 413 chums.

Golovin (Subdistrict 2)

Subsistence Fishing: Subsistence fishing is open seven days a week with no mesh size restrictions and gillnets limited to 50 fathoms in length.

Fish River Tower - A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish & Game. No escapement goals have been established. The cumulative count to June 28 is 108 kings, 8,352 chums and 452 pinks.

Elim (Subdistrict 3)

Subsistence Fishing:  Subsistence fishing is open seven days a week with no mesh size restrictions, and gillnets limited to 50 fathoms in length.

Kwiniuk River Tower – Camp Joel – 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 count to June 28 is 3,864 chums.

Norton Bay (Subdistrict 4)

Subsistence Fishing: The Koyuk River is open seven days a week. In the marine waters and other fresh waters the schedule is from 6 AM Mondays until 6 PM Tuesdays with gillnets restricted to a mesh size of 6 inches or less, and from 6 AM Saturday until 6 PM Sunday with no mesh size restrictions. Gillnets are limited 50 fathoms in length.

Inglutalik River Tower – A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from ADF&G.  No escapement goals have been established. The cumulative count to June 28 is 1,074 36 kings, 4,692 chums and 36 pinks.

Shaktoolik (Subdistrict 5)

Commercial Fishing:  Because of restrictions to subsistence fishing in order to protect king salmon, there can be no commercial gillnet fishing periods until after June 30 by regulation.

Subsistence Fishing: There will be one 36-hour gillnet fishing period per week in the marine waters with gillnets restricted to a mesh size of 6 inches or smaller and 50 fathoms in length. ADF&G announced on June 23 a 24-hour fishing period from 6 PM Saturday, June 24 to 6PM Sunday, June 25. That was followed by an announcement on June 28 of a 36-hour period from noon Thursday, June 29 to midnight Friday, June30.

Shaktoolik Tower – A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish & Game has no escapement goals yet established. The cumulative count to June 28 was 219 kings, 2,784 chums and 609 pinks.

Unalakleet (Subdistrict 6)

Federal Regulatory Restriction: The Federal public waters of the Unalakleet River upstream from the mouth of the Chirosky River closed by federal regulation to the taking of Chinook (king) salmon by all users effective July 1. The closure will remain in effect to July 31 unless the run strength of king salmon warrants the BLM field manager announcing an earlier opening of the closed area to Federally qualified subsistence users or to all users.

Commercial Fishing:  Because of restrictions to subsistence fishing in order to protect king salmon, there can be no commercial gillnet fishing periods until after June 30 by regulation.

Subsistence Fishing: There will be one 36-hour gillnet fishing period per week in the marine waters with gillnets restricted to a mesh size of 6 inches or smaller and 50 fathoms in length. ADF&G announced on June 23 a 24-hour fishing period from 6 PM Saturday, June 24 to 6PM Sunday, June 25. That was followed by an announcement on June 28 of a 36-hour period from noon Thursday, June 29 to midnight Friday, June30.

Unalakleet River Floating Weir ‒ a cooperative project of Fish and Game, Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), Native Village of Unalakleet and BLM, with major funding provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management. The cumulative count to June 28 is 65 kings, 4,008 chums, 97 pinks, and 7 sockeyes.

North River Tower – Camp J. B. – A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from ADF&G. The cumulative count to June 28 was 15 kings and 845 chums.

For Other Eastern Norton Sound and Coastal Waters

All marine waters from the western tip of Cape Denbigh east to Point Dexter, and all marine waters from Black Point south to Wood Point, east of St. Michael were closed to subsistence salmon fishing effective June 8 at midnight. However, subsistence salmon fishing is open seven days a week in all waters from Wood Point west to Point Romanof.

Port Clarence District

Subsistence gillnet and beach seining are open seven days a week. The annual Pilgrim River subsistence catch limit is 25 sockeyes per household to ensure that everyone gets their first taste of the bounty. If the run strength is similar to last year, then the ADF&G will waive the sockeye limit later in the season.

Pilgrim River Weir – A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish and Game. It has an escapement goal of 4,000-8,000 sockeyes based on aerial survey at Salmon Lake & the Grand Central tributary to Salmon Lake. The cumulative count to June28 is 8 sockeyes/

Kotzebue District

Commercial Fishing: The ADF&G plans on opening commercial fishing any time after July 9 when buyers are ready or permit holders are ready to fish and a market is available. The commercial fishing season closes after August 31 by regulation. The ADF&G announced that two to three buyers are expected this season. For the first time since the 1990s, one buyer plans to bring in a floating processor and tender the first week of August. 

Kobuk River Test Fish - a Fish and Game project. The project is scheduled to start the third week of July.

Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for the Kotzebue Area

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

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