Several Interior Fisheries Shutting Down For King Salmon Fishing

The following press releases are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Tanana River photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Tanana River Drainage King Salmon Sport Fishery Closed

(Fairbanks) – To protect king salmon during periods of low abundance and provide future sport fishing opportunities, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has issued an emergency order closing all waters of the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, September 30, 2023. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing, in all waters of the Tanana River drainage, including the Chena, Goodpaster and Salcha Rivers. In addition, when fishing for other species anglers may not use bait in tributaries (i.e., rivers and streams) of the Tanana River. All king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The 2023 Yukon River drainage king salmon run is expected to be similar to the 2021 (129,180 king salmon) and 2022 runs (51,000 king salmon), neither of which was large enough to meet minimum escapement objectives. The 2023 preseason forecast is for a total Yukon River drainage run size of 62,000–104,000 king salmon. A run of this size is not expected to meet escapement goals for spawning and will require reduced subsistence fishing opportunity in the Tanana River drainage. Prohibiting bait within tributaries is also a conservative measure to reduce the chance of king salmon being caught while fishing for other species.

While streams in Canada produce about half of the Yukon River king salmon run, the Chena and Salcha Rivers are the two largest contributors to king salmon on the Alaska side of the border, producing approximately 30 percent of the total Yukon River king run. The escapement goal for the Salcha River is 3,300 – 6,500 king salmon and for the Chena River is 3,300 – 5,700 kings. Last year, only 1,130 kings salmon were estimated in the Salcha River and just 355 kings were estimated in the Chena River, which was the lowest estimate on record.

As has been the case the past two years, a conservative management approach is being taken to protect the 2023 king salmon run by closing sport fishing. Restricting the Tanana River king salmon sport fisheries is warranted in order to help meet the king salmon escapement goals on the Chena and Salcha Rivers and is consistent with the conservation measures being taken in Yukon River drainage sport fisheries. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that king salmon escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Tanana River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

For additional information contact Andrew Gryska, Tanana Area Management Biologist at (907) 459-7339 or andy.gryska@alaska.gov.

Yukon River Drainage Closed to Sport Fishing for King Salmon

(Fairbanks) – To protect king salmon during periods of low abundance, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the Yukon River drainage (excluding the Tanana River drainage) to sport fishing for king salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, 2023. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. In addition, when fishing for other species anglers may not use bait in Yukon River tributaries. All king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

King salmon runs throughout western Alaska continue to be poor. The 2023 preseason forecast is for a total Yukon River drainage run size of 62,000–104,000 king salmon. A run of this size is not expected to meet escapement goals for spawning, will require reduced subsistence fishing opportunity, and will likely result in a failure to achieve treaty obligations for Canadian-origin king salmon. Therefore, a preseason closure of sport fishing for king salmon in the Yukon River drainage is warranted. Prohibiting bait within tributaries is also a conservative measure to reduce the chance of king salmon being caught while fishing for other species. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that king salmon escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Yukon River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

For additional information contact Lisa Stuby, Yukon Area Management Biologist at 907-459-7202 or lisa.stuby@alaska.gov.

Kuskokwim River Drainage Closed to Sport Fishing for King Salmon

(Fairbanks) – To help protect king salmon during periods of low abundance and provide future sport fishing opportunities, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the entire Kuskokwim River drainage (including all tributaries) to sport fishing for king salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, April 5 through Sunday, December 31, 2023. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. This does not include the Kuskokwim Bay drainages of the Arolik, Goodnews and Kanektok Rivers. In addition, when fishing for other species anglers may use only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Kuskokwim River drainage. All king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 07.365) allows for sport and commercial harvest opportunity on surplus king salmon in excess of escapement and subsistence needs. Indications are that the Kuskokwim River king salmon run in 2023 will be similar to the 2022 run. In 2022, the estimated total run for Kuskokwim River king salmon was approximately 143,622 and the spawning escapement was approximately 106,000, above the lower bound of the drainagewide escapement goal range (65,000 – 120,000). However, there were substantial closures of the subsistence fishery, and restrictions to the subsistence king salmon fishery are expected again in 2023. If the 2023 king salmon run materializes as expected, there will not be enough fish for subsistence needs, and the sport fishery will remain closed.

Prohibiting bait in the sport fishery is also a conservative measure to reduce the chance of king salmon being caught while fishing for other species.

The numbers of king salmon returning to the Kuskokwim River will be closely monitored using sonar counts, test fisheries, and reports from fishers. In accordance with the Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Plan, if the data suggests that the run is large enough to provide harvest opportunity on surplus king salmon in excess of escapement and subsistence needs, the sport fishery may open.

For additional information contact John Chythlook, Kuskokwim-Goodnews Area Management Biologist at 907-459-7361 or john.chythlook@alaska.gov.

King Salmon Sport Fishing Closures in Northwest Alaska

(Fairbanks) – To help protect king salmon during periods of low abundance and provide future sport fishing opportunities, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing all fresh waters in Northwest Alaska from Bald Head to Point Romanof to sport fishing for king salmon effective 12:01 a.m. April 5, 2023. This closure includes, but is not limited to, the Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Ungalik, Inglutalik, and Golsovia River drainages. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used in these drainages. Restricting fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure should minimize catch-and-release mortality for king salmon incidentally caught while sport fishing for other species. All king salmon caught incidentally may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

These temporary regulations will remain in effect through August 15, 2023, or until there are indications of a harvestable surplus of king salmon above escapement objectives. Escapements are determined by counts compiled at a counting tower on the North River, a tributary of the Unalakleet River, and counts at a floating weir located on the mainstem Unalakleet River.

The 2023 preseason outlook for the Unalakleet River drainage king salmon run is low, and the number of returning king salmon may be insufficient to meet escapement objectives and provide a moderate harvestable surplus for the subsistence fishery. According to the Subdistricts 5 and 6 of the Norton Sound District and the Unalakleet River King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 04.395), when the inriver subsistence fishery is closed to the retention of king salmon, sport fishing for king salmon will be closed. At this time, restrictions are planned to close the inriver Unalakleet River subsistence fishery for king salmon effective June 15, 2023. The Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Ungalik, Inglutalik, and Golsovia River drainages are closed as well because the department does not have reliable information for these stocks. However, these stocks trend similar to the Unalakleet River stock and are managed as a unit.

The department will continue to evaluate inseason run strength and take appropriate management actions to help meet escapement objectives. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that the king salmon escapement goal in the Unalakleet River will be met, restrictions may be relaxed.

For additional information contact Brendan Scanlon, Northwest and North Slope Area Management Biologist, at 907-459-7268 or brendan.scanlon@alaska.gov.