Chignik River Federal Subsistence Fishery for Chinook Salmon

The Federal Ineason Manager, pursuant to delegated authority from the Federal Subsistence Board, will issue an emergency special action to restrict  fishing for Chinook Salmon to only federally qualified users in federal public waters of the Chignik River drainage, effective 12:01 a.m. Monday July 24.  This action provides a subsistence priority for federally qualified users as provided by Title VIII of ANILCA.  In an effort to conserve Chinook Salmon, a second emergency special action will be issued to close subsistence fishing for Chinook Salmon by federally qualified users in federal public waters of the Chignik River drainage, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday July 28 if the Chinook Salmon return does not improve.  This action prohibits all fishing for Chinook Salmon and they may not be retained or possessed.  Chinook Salmon accidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be live released immediately. 

07/21/2017
Last edited 07/25/2017
Contact Information

Jonathon Gerken

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Inseason Manager

(907) 271-2776

jonathon_gerken@fws.gov

The Federal Ineason Manager, pursuant to delegated authority from the Federal Subsistence Board, will issue an emergency special action to restrict  fishing for Chinook Salmon to only federally qualified users in federal public waters of the Chignik River drainage, effective 12:01 a.m. Monday July 24.  This action provides a subsistence priority for federally qualified users as provided by Title VIII of ANILCA.  In an effort to conserve Chinook Salmon, a second emergency special action will be issued to close subsistence fishing for Chinook Salmon by federally qualified users in federal public waters of the Chignik River drainage, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday July 28 if the Chinook Salmon return does not improve.  This action prohibits all fishing for Chinook Salmon and they may not be retained or possessed.  Chinook Salmon accidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be live released immediately.

The biological escapement goal for Chinook Salmon in the Chignik River drainage is 1,300 to 2,700 fish. The weir count as of July 20 was 702 Chinook Salmon. Based on historical run timing, approximately 75% of the escapement has occurred by July 21, and the current projected total escapement is approximately 900 fish.   The Alaska Department of Fish and Game fishery managers have already implemented restrictions to sport and commercial fisheries.  Effective July 14, the Chignik River sport fishery was restricted to catch and release for Chinook Salmon; effective July 16, the Chignik Bay District commercial fishery was restricted to non-retention of Chinook Salmon greater than 28 inches; effective July 23, the Central District commercial fishery will be restricted to non-retention of Chinook Salmon greater than 28 inches; effective July 23, the Chignik River sport fishery for Chinook Salmon will be closed; effective July 24, the Chignik River Chinook Salmon fishery for non-federally qualified users will be closed.

For additional information, contact Federal Inseason Manager Jonathon Gerken at (907) 271-2776.  Additional information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the Web at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/index.cfml.

View full news release /sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/fsb_news_release_july_final.pdf

-FSB-

Was this page helpful?

Please provide a comment