Emergency Special Action No.: 3-KS-01-21

Issued at: Bethel, Alaska May 7, 2021

Effective Date: June 01, 2021 12:01 a.m.

Federal Action + Closure

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Manager determined that Federal management is necessary for the conservation and the continuation of subsistence uses for Chinook salmon within the Kuskokwim River drainage. This action is based on the provisions of Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and delegation of authority letter from the Federal Subsistence Board. Plans to manage the salmon fishery are intended to take an adaptive management approach while coordinating with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and local interest groups.

Regulation: 50 CFR 100.27(e)(4)(ii) is amended to read:

(A) Unless re-opened by the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Manager, the Federal public waters of the mainstem Kuskokwim River and salmon spawning tributaries within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge are closed to the harvest of all salmon by using gillnets by all users effective June 01, 2021.

Subsistence fishing in the main stem Kuskokwim River for Salmon with live release of Chinook salmon using dip nets, beach seines, fish wheels with live release wells, and rod and reel will remain open throughout the closure.

Federally Qualified Subsistence Fishing Opportunities

Set gillnet opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users will be open in Federal public waters of the main stem in the Kuskokwim River during the following dates and times:

• June 2, 2021 from 06:00 AM to 10:00PM

• June 5, 2021 from 06:00 AM to 10:00PM

• June 9, 2021 from 06:00 AM to 10:00PM

During these three opportunities, gillnets are restricted to set gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh, 60 feet or less in length, and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth.

Gillnet (set or drift) opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users will be open in Federal public waters in the main stem of the Kuskokwim River during the following dates and times:

• June 12, 2021 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM

• June 15, 2021 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth and 50 fathoms (300-feet) in length below the Johnson River and 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length above the Johnson River.

Justification

The closure of Federal public waters to the harvest of salmon with gillnets beginning June 1 is based on conservation concerns and provisions of opportunity for subsistence uses. Based on the 2021 ADF&G pre-season forecast of 94,000-155,000 Chinook salmon, the depressed run in recent years, and the historical Chinook salmon harvest (67,200-109,800 for years 1990-2009), it is evident that restrictions will be necessary to meet tributary and drainage-wide escapement goals.

Restricting the use of gillnets during the timing of the Chinook salmon run (mainly in June) is intended to conserve Chinook salmon. It is understood that this will impact the harvest of other salmon species, namely chum and sockeye, present due to overlapping run timing but is considered necessary as gillnets are not selective.

For more information, see the KRITFC-USFWS 2021 Draft Management Strategy and 2021 Draft Harvest Strategy by contacting YDNWR at (907) 543-3151.

Read the full ESA here.