State Management Action: Kuskokwim River Opens to Gillnets

Photo Lisa Hupp/USFWS.

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Federal In-Season Manager, and after consultation and consensus with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, rescinded all federal protections issued under Emergency Special Action (ESA) during the 2022 salmon season starting at 12:01 am on July 21, 2022.

This means that the State of Alaska, Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) now is the in-season management authority for the Kuskokwim salmon fishery.

State Management Action

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, ADF&G announced the following management action:

In the Kuskokwim River Drainage (Subsistence Sections 1-5, Mouth of Kuskokwim River to Headwaters) the following management actions will be in effect beginning 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022:

• Subsistence fishing will open with gillnets (set or drift) until further notice from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River upstream to the headwaters of the Kuskokwim River.

  • Gillnets may be up to 50 fathoms in length and unrestricted mesh size.

  • The waters around the mouth of the Aniak River (Aniak box) will be open to gillnets.

• Chinook salmon may be retained while fishing with hook and line, dip nets, fish wheels, and beach seines within the Kuskokwim River.

• Chum salmon may be retained while fishing with hook and line, dip nets, fish wheels, and beach seines within the Kuskokwim River.

As Previously Announced: Subsistence fishing with gillnets will remain closed in the following tributaries until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2022.

• The Eek River to its confluence with the Kuskokwim River.

• The Kwethluk River drainage to its confluence with Kuskokuak Slough.

• The Kasigluk and Kisaralik River drainages to their confluences with Old Kuskokuak Slough.

• The Tuluksak River drainage including its confluence with the Kuskokwim River and downstream approximately 1-mile to ADF&G regulatory markers.

• The Aniak River drainage to ADF&G regulatory markers at its confluence with the Kuskokwim River.

In addition: Live release requirements for Chinook salmon while fishing with hook and line, dip nets, fish wheels, and beach seines remain in effect within the Eek, Kwethluk, Kasigluk, Kisaralik, Tuluksak, and Aniak River drainages until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2022. Any Chinook salmon caught must be returned to the water alive.

Justification

On July 23, an average of 98-100% of the king salmon run, 98-100% of the sockeye salmon run, 90-97% of the chum salmon run, and 1-5% of the coho salmon run will have passed through Bethel. Therefore, relaxing subsistence fishing restrictions on the mainstem Kuskokwim River is warranted.

MORE INformation

Further announcements will be made from the Bethel Fish and Game office, on the State of Alaska web site, local radio stations, and Kuskokwim River Facebook Page. Advisory Announcements will be faxed to area villages.

For additional information or questions regarding Kuskokwim Area fisheries, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Bethel at 543-2433 or toll free at 1-855-933-2433.

For additional information concerning this advisory announcement: ADF&G Bethel Office: Nicholas Smith 907-543-2709 or Ross Renick 907-543-2331