Closure to harvest of Chinook Salmon in the Karluk River Basin

Under Authority of:   50 CFR Part 100.10 and .19

 36 CFR Part 242.10 and .19

EXPLANATION: This Special Action closes the Federal public waters of the Karluk River under Federal subsistence fisheries jurisdiction to Federal subsistence fishing for Chinook (king) Salmon. Only 766 Chinook Salmon have been counted through the Karluk River weir as of June 18.    It is unlikely, based on the current  rate of escapement,  that the lower value (3,000)  of the escapement goal for Karluk River Chinook Salmon will be achieved.

Chinook Salmon 28 inches or greater in length taken in the commercial salmon fishery, may not be retained and must be returned to the water unharmed. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sportfish closed fishing for Chinook Salmon in the Karluk Lake drainage.

In an effort to conserve Karluk River Chinook Salmon, in accordance with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Federal Subsistence Board, Chinook Salmon in the Karluk River drainage may not be retained in the subsistence fishery and must be returned to the water unharmed.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 21 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2017, Chinook Salmon in the Karluk River drainage may not be retained in the subsistence fishery unless superseded by a subsequent Special Action.

REGULATION:  50 CFR Part 100.27 (e) (9) (v)(B) is amended to read: (8)  In the remainder of the Kodiak Area not described in paragraph (e)(9)(v)(A) of this section, there is no annual harvest limit for a subsistence Salmon fishing permit holder. Chinook (king) Salmon may not be harvested from the Federal  public waters of  the Karluk River or the submerged  land and water of the Pacific Ocean (Sheliokof Strait) extending  3,000 feet from the shoreline between a point on the spit at the meander corner common to Sections 35 and 36 of Township 30 South, Range 33  West, and a point approximately  1 1/4 miles east of Rocky  Point  within Section 14 of Township 29 South, Range 3I, West, Seward Meridian as described in Public Land Order 128, dated June 19, 1943; effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2017, Chinook Salmon in the Karluk River drainage may not be retained in the subsistence fishery unless superseded  by a subsequent Special Action.

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