This May 5-6, 2020 meeting was teleconferenced, and quorum was established. The next KRSMWG meeting is currently scheduled for Monday June 8, 2020- 6:00- 8:00 PM.
“An audio recording and all other meeting materials will be made available within the next 2 weeks on the ADF&G Working Group webpage at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareakuskokwim.kswg”
May 5-6 Meeting Motions (as provided by ADF&G) :
Motion 1: Approve the agenda as amended. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 2: Adjourn May 5 at 11:55 a.m. for lunch Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 3: For the 2020 front-end closure for king salmon fishing on the Kuskokwim River to begin May 30 in sections 1 and 2. Vote was taken to support friendly amendment below.
A friendly amendment was made to move the start date to June 1 in sections 1 and 2. (See language in Motion 4). Motion to support friendly amendment Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 4: For the 2020 front-end closure for king salmon fishing on the Kuskokwim River to begin June 1 in sections 1 and 2. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 5: To recommend that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game enacts rolling closure dates starting June 3 for section 3 and June 9 for section 4. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 6: To recommend that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game enact a rolling closure date of June 11 for section 5. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 7: To allow 3-24 hour set gillnet period(s) during the front-end closure on June 3, 6, 9 Passed (7 yes, 1 no)
Motion 8: To set an 11:00 am start time for the 3-24 hour set gillnet periods occurring June 3, 6, 9 Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 9: To support the Alaska Department of Fish and Game pre-released fishing schedule of 5-24 hour, 6” or less mesh drift-gillnets, 25-fathoms in length above the Johnson and 50-fathom in length nets below the Johnson. These 5 periods would occur every other day between June 12 and 20th in the mainstem Kuskokwim River, sections 1 and 2. Failed (4 yes, 4 no)
Motion 10: To amend the Alaska Department of Fish and Game pre-released fishing schedule of 5-24 hour periods to 3-24 hour periods, fishing would take place with 6” or less mesh drift-gillnets, 25-fathoms in length above the Johnson and 50-fathoms in length below the Johnson. These 3 periods would occur on June 12th, 15th, 18th and then ADF&G and the Working Group will reevaluate for future openings. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 11: Adjourn the first day of meeting May 5 at 5:00 p.m. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 12: To support the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s recommendation to open subsistence sections 3, 4, and 5 until further notice beginning June 12 with 6” or less mesh nets, 25 fathoms in length. Chinook salmon may be retained if caught with fish wheels, dip nets, beach seines, and hook and line. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 13: To support the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s recommendation to close the Aniak Box to fishing with gillnets, to allow selective methods from June 12 to the 23 (with kings being released to the water), and beginning June 23, until further notice, allow the subsistence retention of king salmon with rod and reel in the Aniak Box. Failed (2 yes, 4 no, 1 abstention)
Motion 14: To support the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s recommendation to close the salmon spawning tributaries to fishing with gillnets, allow selective methods until June 12 (with kings being returned to the water), and after June 12 to allow subsistence retention of king salmon with rod and reel. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 15: To reconsider Motion 13. Failed (4 yes, 3 no)
Motion 16: To close the Aniak Box to fishing for king salmon with gillnets and selective gear types from June 12 to the 23, but to allow for fishing for other species with selective gear types during that time (kings must be released to the water). Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 17: To support the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s recommendation to allow king retention with all selective gear types in the mainstem Kuskokwim River beginning June 12. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 18: To table discussion for chum and sockeye fisheries management until a later meeting date. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 19: For the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to continue adhering to Travel and Social Distancing mandates 11 and 12 as it relates to the 2020 Sport Fishing Season. Passed (Unanimous)
Motion 20: For the Working Group to support Resolution 01-20, which has the intent to protect the long-term viability of the rainbow smelt run of the Kuskokwim River. Passed (7 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention)
Motion 21: To elect Mary Peltola, Alissa Rodgers, Barbara Carlson, Lamont Albertson, and Fritz Charles to serve as the 2020 Working Group co-chairs. Passed (8 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention)
Motion 22: To schedule inseason Working Group meetings for Mondays during the hours of 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and for the first meeting to take place June 8, 2020. Passed (8 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention)
Motion 23: To nominate Lamont Albertson as the Working Group representative to serve at KRITFC inseason meetings. Passed (8 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention)
Motion 24: To support the language that is in option 1 for Working Group Bylaw additions regarding use and distribution of materials on behalf of the Working Group. Passed (9 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention)
Motion 25: Adjourn meeting May 6 at 12:52 p.m. Passed (Unanimous)