2021 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement # 27 Fall Update # 10, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery Districts Affected: Yukon Area

The Yukon River fall chum and coho salmon runs are the lowest on record. The fall chum salmon run is approximately 102,000 fish compared to a historical run size of 870,000 fish based on median timing. The coho salmon run is approximately 37,000 fish compared to a historical run size of 240,000 fish. The coho salmon run came in late and was extremely weak. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the run size did not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence, personal use, sport or commercial fishing. The drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon, tributary escapement goals and Canadian treaty objectives are not expected to be achieved.

10/04/2021
Last edited 10/04/2021
Contact Information

Christy Gleason, Area Management Biologist

Bonnie Borba, Fall Season Research 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. The last identified fall chum salmon group that entered the Yukon River on September 3 should be approaching the U.S./Canada border around October 12. Coho salmon are smaller than fall chum salmon, and typically travel 30 miles per day. Both salmon species tend to slow down their migration speed when nearing spawning areas, based on past radio telemetry studies, assessment projects and local fishermen’s reports. Monitored water levels and water temperatures are near average and should not adversely affect salmon migration.

Fall Assessment Projects

Lower Yukon assessment projects have completed for the season. Upper Yukon assessment projects will be begin closing for the season in early to mid-October. Daily, cumulative and historical data for most of the assessment projects listed in this section can be accessed online at www.adfg.alaska.gov/yukonfishcounts.

Lower Yukon Test Fishery / ADF&G, Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association

This project concluded operations September 10, 2021. The fall chum salmon cumulative catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 125.72 which is well below the average of 1,588.86 for this date. The coho salmon cumulative CPUE was 14.09 which is well below the average of 414.56 for this date. This year’s run timing for both fall chum and coho salmon are late compared to median timing at this project.

Mountain Village Drift Test Fishery / Asacarsarmiut Tribal Council

This project concluded operations September 12, 2021. The fall chum salmon cumulative CPUE was 450.29 which is well below the average of 2,038.58 for that date. The coho salmon cumulative CPUE was 117.00 which is well below the average of 1,084.58 for this date. This year’s run timing for both fall chum and coho salmon are late compared to median timing at this project.

Sonar Project near Pilot Station / ADF&G

This project concluded operations September 7, 2021. The preliminary cumulative passage estimate of chum salmon from July 19 through September 7 was 146,172 fish, which is well below the median passage of 723,413 fish for this date. The estimated fall chum salmon component of this count was approximately 102,000 fish after the application of preliminary genetic stock proportions. The run timing for fall chum salmon was near median at this project. The preliminary cumulative passage estimate of coho salmon is 37,257 fish through September 7, which compares to the median cumulative passage of 147,456 coho salmon for this date. This year’s run timing for coho salmon is 5 days late compared to median timing at this project.

Teedriinjik (formerly Chandalar River) sonar / United States Fish and Wildlife Service

This project concluded operations September 28, 2021. As of September 27, the cumulative passage estimate is 19,907 fish which is well below the historical median of 202,000 fish for that date. Note this year’s count includes a preseason expansion and a post season expansion will also be calculated to represent the fish still migrating into the system when the sonar operations ceased due to the onset of winter. The run timing for fall chum salmon was near median at this project. The sustainable escapement goal of 85,000 to 234,000 fall chum salmon for this river was not achieved.

Eagle Sonar / Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Department of Fisheries and Oceans

The transition from counting Chinook to fall chum salmon occurred on September 1. As of September 30, the cumulative passage is 14,312 fall chum salmon which is well below the median of 132,863 fish for this date. The third-quarter point of the fall chum salmon run at this project was September 30 based on median timing. The Interim Management Escapement Goal for Canadian-origin fall chum salmon is 70,000-104,000 fish and was not achieved in 2021. Except for last year, the escapement goal was met, and the majority of the time exceeded, in the previous 18 years.

Porcupine River Sonar / Yukon Territory Canada / Department of Fisheries and Oceans

This project concluded operations September 29, 2021. This project transitioned to counting fall chum salmon on August 15. The cumulative passage of fall chum salmon provided through September 20 was 2,895 fish, which is well below the average passage of 22,000 fish for this date. Post season the final counts and possible expansion to represent the end of the run will be provided.

Fishing Branch River Weir/Sonar / Yukon Territory Canada / Department of Fisheries and Oceans

The project became operational on September 7 and the cumulative fall chum salmon passage estimate through September 30 is 1,903 fish, which is below the median passage of 20,600 for this date. The three-quarter point of the fall chum salmon run at this project was September 30 based on median timing. The Interim Management Escapement Goal of 22,000 to 49,000 fall chum salmon will not be achieved in 2021.

Tanana River Escapement Assessment (ADF&G)

Escapement foot surveys begin the first week of October in the Delta River and typically occur weakly through the end of November. The Delta River is an index of escapement in the Tanana River and has a sustainable escapement goal of 7,000 to 20,000. Last year (2020), the Delta River was the only fall chum salmon escapement goal achieved in the drainage. Aerial surveys will also be conducted in various other area in the Tanana River drainage for both fall chum and coho salmon in late October or early November during typical peak spawning times.

View Full News Release here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1338263750.pdf

Was this page helpful?

Please provide a comment