Federal Management Ends July 21, 2022

After consultation and consensus with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Manager, as In-Season Manager, announced on July 19 that all federal protections issued under Emergency Special Action (ESA) during the 2022 salmon season will be rescinded starting at 12:01 am on July 21, 2022.

This includes ESA 3-KS-01-22, issued May 02, 2022, which closed certain waters within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) to the harvest of salmon and certain fishing methods in order to ensure the continued viability of, and subsistence use of Chinook and Chum Salmon. The rescinding also includes ESA 3-KS-02-22 announced on June 18, 2022, and ESA 3-KS-03-22 announced on June 27th 2022. ESA 3-KS-04-22 offered rod and reel fishing in the Aniak Closed Area (Aniak Box), but that area will revert to Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) regulations. The last ESA 3-KS-05-22 was issued July 7th for fishing opportunities on the 9th, and that has expired and will be rescinded.

Justification

On July 19, 2021, at 10 am, KRITFC met with the Yukon Delta NWR staff to discuss next steps in salmon management on the Kuskokwim River. The YDNWR staff and KRITFC In-Season Managers agreed that due to a lack of fishing pressure and the estimated passage of approximately 90% of the Chum Salmon run (in the lower river), it is appropriate to relinquish Chum Salmon protections.

KRITFC and Yukon Delta NWR will continue to monitor the Chum and Coho Salmon runs to ensure enough protection is in place to conserve both species within the YDNWR and upriver of the Refuge. All residents along the Kuskokwim River should visit ADF&G’s Kuskokwim Management website during the remainder of the salmon season to be aware of further fishing regulation changes.

More information

View the full ESA to rescind Federal management here. With questions or for more information, please call Yukon Delta NWR at 907-543-1008.