2017 Yukon River Fall Salmon Fishery News Release # 58 Porcupine River Subsistence Fishing

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

Based on the current fall chum salmon passage and favorable projections at the Fishing Branch River weir and Porcupine River border sonar projects, the subsistence fishing time restriction is being relaxed to the regulatory fishing schedule on the Porcupine River. The estimated fall chum salmon passage at the Porcupine River border sonar through September 18 is 42,160 fish, which is above the 6-year median of 17,600 fish for that date. 

09/25/2017
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Jeff Estensen, Area Management Biologist
Christy Gleason, Asst. Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 459-7217

At the Fishing Branch River weir, the fall chum salmon passage is 18,000 fish through September 18, which is above the historical median of 10,900 fish for that date. Based on inseason run assessment, there is now high confidence that the Fishing Branch River interim management escapement goal (22,000 to 49,000) will be achieved with a sufficient surplus available for local Canadian harvest sharing. Therefore, the department is relaxing the subsistence salmon fishing schedule in the U.S. portion of the Porcupine River and areas of the mainstem Yukon River near the mouth to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Managers will continue to closely monitor fall chum escapement into the Fishing Branch River.

Porcupine River: Subsistence salmon fishing is currently on a 96-hour subsistence fishing schedule from 12:00 noon Mondays to 12:00 noon Fridays in the Porcupine River, including those portions of the mainstem Yukon River around the 3 mouths of the Porcupine River.

Effective 12:00 noon, Friday, September 22, subsistence fishing in the Porcupine River, including those portions of the mainstem Yukon River around the 3 mouths of the Porcupine River, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Subsistence fishermen may use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels during the fishing periods.

Recorded fishery announcements and updates will be available 24 hours a day at 1-866-479-7387 (toll free). If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Fairbanks ADF&G office at (907) 459-7274 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Fairbanks at (907) 455-1845.

This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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