Federal Management Action: Next Subsistence Fishing Opportunities

Photo by Megan Leary.

KRITFC’s Tribal In-Season Managers met with Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge on July 6, 2022, to review the latest in-season salmon data, including harvest estimates from the set gillnet opportunities on June 29–30 and July 3–4.

Background & Justification

Our Federal-Tribal management team agrees that our concern for Chinook salmon has decreased, since around 92% of the Chinook salmon run has passed through the lower Kuskokwim River at this point in the season.

Right now, chum salmon conservation is guiding Federal-Tribal management decisions. Our team shares a concern for this season’s chum salmon return, which appears to be coming in as one of the lowest chum runs on record. Based on historical information from Bethel Test Fish and local knowledge, we estimate the midpoint of the chum salmon run is happening around now (July 7), meaning we must continue to be conservative in our management approach to protect the chum salmon passing through the lower Kuskokwim.

At the same time, we are committed to providing some customary and traditional harvest for subsistence users of the Kuskokwim. In particular, there are some fishing families who have waited to fish for sockeye salmon, which appear to be coming into the Kuskokwim in high numbers. We hope these families and other fishermen will be able to target and harvest sockeye during the fishing opportunities listed below, though all salmon species caught with gillnets may be kept. Ultimately, our goal is balancing salmon conservation for future generations with our current needs for fish.

Next Fishing Opportunities

With this in mind, and after consultation and consensus with KRITFC’s In-Season Managers, the Yukon Delta NWR Federal In-Season Manager, Boyd Blihovde, announced the following subsistence fishing opportunities on July 7, 2022, via emergency special action (ESA) 3-KS-05-22. These fishing opportunities are only for Federally qualified subsistence users of the Kuskokwim drainage, and they apply to Federal waters of the main stem Kuskokwim (within Yukon Delta NWR bounds) from the mouth to the Kalskag bluffs.

(1) DRIFT GILLNET OPPORTUNITY

• Saturday, July 9, 2022, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm

During this opportunity, drift gillnets must have 6-inch or less mesh and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth. Gillnets utilized in areas above the Johnson River may not exceed 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length, and gillnets utilized in areas below the Johnson River may not exceed 50 fathoms (300 feet) in length.

(2) SET GILLNET OPPORTUNITIES

• Sunday, July 10, 2022, from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

• Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

During these two opportunities, set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh, may not exceed 75 feet in length and 45 meshes in depth. Set gillnets may not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark, (the bank/shoreline where vegetation is growing), must be attached to the bank, and substantially fished perpendicular to shore.

TRIBUTARY DETAILS: Salmon bearing tributaries listed in ESA 3-KS-01-22 remain closed to the use of gillnets and the harvest of Chinook and chum salmon by all users before, during, and after these listed opportunities.

Alternative Ways to Fish

Want to keep fishing when the lower Kuskokwim is restricted to gillnets? You can:

• Fish using alternative gear types, including dip nets, rod and reel, beach seines, and fish wheels. We have heard many fishermen having successful sockeye harvests using dip nets. Please note: (1) The Aniak Box is open only to rod and reeling with a Chinook salmon bag limit of 2 per day, 2 in possession, as per Federal ESA 3-KS-04-22, and all chum salmon must be released; (2) Chum salmon caught using beach seines or fish wheels in State waters above Aniak must be returned to the water alive, as per ADF&G Fishery Announcement #5.

• Fish with gillnets in non-salmon bearing tributaries, like the Johnson and Gweek Rivers.

• Fish with gillnets in the Kuskokwim Bay or above the Kalskag bluffs. Please note: (1) The Kuskokwim Bay is closed to subsistence fishing on Sundays, as per ADF&G Bay Fishery Announcement #1, and gillnets are restricted to 50 fathoms and 6-inch mesh; (2) Gillnets above the Kalskag bluff are restricted to 25 fathoms (150 feet) and 6-inch mesh, as per Federal ESA 3-KS-02-22.

For more information, please view ESA 3-KS-05-22 or call Yukon Delta NWR at 907-543-3151.