Federal Subsistence Board Closes Stikine River Chinook Salmon Subsistence Fishery

The Board closed the May15−June 20, 2017 subsistence Chinook Salmon fishery on the Stikine River and delegated authority to the Wrangell District Ranger, the Federal In-season Manager for this area, to reopen the fishery if the in-season Chinook Salmon terminal area abundance allows a directed fishery.

The 2017 Stikine River pre-season terminal area abundance forecast is 18,300 large (>30 inches total length) Chinook Salmon.  The U.S./Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty stipulates that a directed Chinook Salmon subsistence fishery is not authorized if the pre-season run estimate is less than 28,100 large Chinook Salmon.  As a result, the Board has closed the 2017 subsistence Chinook Salmon fishery.  The Board has also authorized the Wrangell District Ranger to re-open the season if the weekly in-season abundance exceeds 24,500 large Chinook Salmon, as allowed for in the Treaty.  The closure of the Chinook Salmon fishery does not affect other Stikine River Federal subsistence fisheries beginning June 21, 2017.

For more information, contact Robert Dalrymple, U.S. Forest Service, Wrangell District Ranger, P.O. Box 51, Wrangell, Alaska 99929.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

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