2020 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #20 Fall Update # 7, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

Districts Affected: Yukon Area

The 2020 fall chum salmon inseason projection is for a run size of less than 300,000 fish and is currently tracking as the lowest run size on record. Using genetic analysis on all chum salmon that have passed the mainstem sonar site operated near Pilot Station since July 19, it is estimated that 174,000 fall chum salmon have entered the Yukon River as of August 30. The projected abundance is below the level needed to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals, and Canadian treaty objectives (see management strategies below). Fall chum salmon are typically dominated by age-4 fish however, that age class produced by the 2016 parent year, has shown extremely poor survival in chum salmon runs throughout the state.

09/01/2020
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Jeff Estensen, Area Management Biologist

(907) 459-7274

Toll free fishing schedule and counts: (866) 479-7387

In Fairbanks fishing schedule hotline: 459-7387

Fall chum salmon typically take 39 days to migrate from the mouth of the Yukon River to the U.S./Canada border, with estimated travel rates of 35 miles per day, though travel times may be a bit slower with this year’s sustained high water. The first identified sizeable fall chum salmon group that entered the Yukon River during the summer to fall transition on July 19 would be approaching the U.S./Canada border around August 31.

Coho salmon are entering the river weaker and later than average to date. Coho salmon returning this year are primarily offspring of the 2016 escapement. The projection of coho salmon run size passing the Yukon River mainstem sonar operated near Pilot Station using late run timing is less than 100,000 fish.

Fall Assessment Projects

Lower Yukon River Cooperative Fall Drift Test Fishing / ADF&G, YDFDA

The cumulative CPUE through August 30 was 1,156.13 for fall chum salmon, which is below the historical average of 1,531.35 for this date. The cumulative CPUE for coho salmon was 136.77, which is well below the historical average of 372.50 for August 30. This project will continue operations through September 10.

Mountain Village Drift Test Fishing / Asacarsarmiut Traditional Council

The cumulative CPUE through August 30 was 675.58 for fall chum salmon, which is well below the historical median of 1,867.11 for this date. The cumulative CPUE for coho salmon was 236.86, which is well below the historical average of 833.00 for August 30. This project will continue operations through September 12.

Sonar Project near Pilot Station / ADF&G

The cumulative chum salmon passage estimate from July 19 through August 30 was 247,000 fish, which is well below the median passage of approximately 725,000 fish for this date. The estimated fall chum salmon component of this count is approximately 174,000 fish after the application of genetic stock proportions. The cumulative coho salmon passage estimate through August 30 was 71,000 fish, which is below the median passage of approximately 129,000 fish for this date. The mainstem Yukon River sonar operated near Pilot Station will be counting through September 7.

Teedriinjik (Chandalar) River sonar project operated by USFWS and the Upper Porcupine River sonar project operated by DFO in the Yukon Territory of Canada are not operating this season.

Age Composition Fall Season / ADF&G

The preliminary chum salmon age composition from the LYTF 6-inch drift gillnets through August 11 consists of 47% age-4 and 49% age-5 (n=360), compared to the previous years’ average of 63% age-4 and 36% age-5. Females represent 55% of the fish sampled (n=631), which is below the average of 58%, as of August 31. The average length is 599 mm from a sample of 632 fall chum salmon, which is above the 10–year (2010–2019) average of 583 mm. Coho salmon average length, from the LYTF project, is 548 mm (n=125), which is below the 10–year (2010–2019) average of 565 mm.

Chum Salmon Stock Identification / USFWS, ADF&G

The fall chum salmon component was estimated using genetic mixed stock analysis (MSA) on chum salmon that passed the mainstem Yukon River sonar near Pilot Station from August 3-16, and was 88% of the chum salmon in that time period. The sample of fall chum salmon included 69% U.S.-origin and 31% Canadian-origin stocks. The samples from August 17-27 are headed to the lab; look for the results in the Yukon River daily update email later this week. To subscribe go to the following link:

http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/yukonriverdailyupdate.

Fall Season Management Strategy:

Within the Yukon River Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, a threshold of 300,000 fall chum salmon is needed to allow any fishing for fall chum salmon in the Yukon Area. The current inseason projection is below that threshold, therefore subsistence, commercial, sport, and personal use fishing for fall chum salmon are closed in the Yukon Area until further notice. In addition, the projected abundance would not achieve the lower end of the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, and likely not achieve any of the tributary escapement goals, and/or Canadian treaty objectives. Fishermen should continue to watch for advisory announcements regarding changes to the subsistence salmon fishing schedule.

Summer Assessment Projects

Eagle Sonar / ADF&G

The Eagle sonar began operations on July 1. Chinook salmon passage, through August 30, is estimated to be 33,562 fish. The Interim Management Escapement Goal for Canadian-origin Chinook salmon is 42,500-55,000 fish. The goal is assessed post-season using the Eagle sonar count minus the estimated U.S. and Canadian harvest of Chinook salmon above the sonar. Based on current passage, it is unlikely that the lower end of the escapement goal will be met. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) from the species composition test fishery will be used to determine switchover counting date from Chinook to fall chum.

ADF&G, USFWS, and TCC projects that did not operate in 2020

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions or funding concerns, these projects did not operate: East Fork Andreafsky Weir, Anvik River Sonar, Gisasa River Weir, Henshaw Creek Weir, and Salcha River tower/sonar.

Current Subsistence Management Actions

Coastal District (Naskonat Peninsula to 1 nautical mile south of the Black River, which includes Hooper Bay and Scammon Bay):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes live-release (manned) fish wheels and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Districts 1-3 (Black River, and communities of Emmonak, Nunam Iqua, Alakanuk, Kotlik, Mountain Village, Pitkas Point, St. Mary’s, Pilot Station, Marshall, Russian Mission and Holy Cross):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes hook and line, live-release (manned) fish wheels, and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Innoko River:

Fishing is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

District 4 (Grayling, Anvik, Kaltag, Nulato, Koyukuk, Galena, and Ruby):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes hook and line, live-release (manned) fish wheels, and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Note that only fishermen in Subdistrict 4-A downriver from the community of Nulato may use the hook and line gear.

Koyukuk River (Huslia, Hughes, Alatna, Allakaket, and Bettles):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes live-release (manned) fish wheels and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Subdistrict 5-A (Tanana; south bank only and begins at a point opposite the westernmost edge of Illinois Creek upstream along the south bank of the river to the easternmost edge of the Tanana River mouth and includes the following islands: Second, Corbusier, Sixmile, Deet’laa’, Swanson, Blind, Basco, Sword, Leonard, Still, Tanana, and Mission.):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes live-release (manned) fish wheels and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Subdistricts 5-B, 5-C, and 5-D (Rampart, Stevens Village, Beaver, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, Fort Yukon, Circle, and Eagle):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species.

Subdistricts 6-A and 6-B, and Old Minto Area (from the mouth of the Tanana River upstream to the Wood River, including Manley, Minto, and Nenana):

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes live-release (manned) fish wheels and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Kantishna River:

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed until further notice. Fishermen may use 4 inch or less gillnet gear to target non-salmon species. Subsistence fishermen may also use selective gear that includes live-release (manned) fish wheels and dip nets to target salmon other than fall chum salmon and non-salmon fish species. Fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately from the selective gear and bypass any livebox on a fish wheel.

Upper Tanana Area (the Tanana River from the confluence with the mouth of Volkmar River on the north bank and the mouth of the Johnson River on the south bank upstream to the Tanana River headwaters):

Fishing is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

Subdistrict 6-C Salmon (Personal use fishery from the regulatory marker at the mouth of the Wood River upstream to the downstream mouth of the Salcha River, which includes the communities of Fairbanks, North Pole, Salcha and surrounding area communities):

Personal use salmon fishing in is closed until further notice.

Subdistrict 6-C Whitefish and Sucker Personal Use Fishing

Personal Use whitefish and sucker fishing with gillnets and fish wheels follows the Subdistrict 6-C salmon fishing schedule and is closed until further notice. Fishing with other gear for whitefish and suckers in this area remains open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.

Subsistence and Personal Use Permit Areas

In the Tanana River up to the Wood River (Kantishna River and Subdistricts 6-A and 6-B) a subsistence permit is required for salmon fishing. A personal use permit is required to fish for salmon from the mouth of the Wood River upstream to the mouth of the Salcha River (Subdistrict 6-C).

A subsistence permit is also required for all species in the “Upper Tanana River” area from the confluence with the mouth of Volkmar River on the north bank, and the mouth of the Johnson River on the south bank, upstream to the Tanana River headwaters. A personal use permit is required to fish for whitefish and suckers in the Fairbanks Non-Subsistence area (from the Wood River upstream to the mouth of the Volkmar River on the north bank and the mouth of the Johnson River on the south bank). A subsistence permit is required for northern pike in the Tolovana River drainage, including Minto Flats.

Subsistence harvest calendars and subsistence fishing permits are available from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Fairbanks office (459-7274) or online at www.adfg.alaska.gov/store/.

This is an announcement by the ADF&G in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To reach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Fairbanks call 456-0406. Announcements will be shared on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG

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