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Yukon River Subsistence Fisheries Limited to Protect Migrating King SalmonManagers are limiting subsistence fishing time for salmon as the main king run passes through the upper Yukon River before entering Canada.Related Content
FAIRBANKS - Managers are limiting subsistence fishing time for salmon as the main king run passes through the upper Yukon River before entering Canada.
According to a news release from state and federal managers Friday, the Yukon River has been divided into three sections from the lower reaches of the Yukon Flats upstream to the border with Canada — the area known as Y-5 Subdistrict D. Subsistence fishing in this subdistrict will be closed in a staggered sequence “to protect chinook salmon as they migrate upriver.” The king, or chinook, salmon run is weak this year. An estimate based on sonar counts at Pilot Station on the lower Yukon puts the run through July 14 at 103,000 fish, compared to an average of 155,000 for the same date. Data from a test wheel at The Rapids on the Yukon, located in the Rampart canyon downriver from the Yukon Flats, showed two pulses of kings have moved through. The first passed July 1-5 and the second passed July 7-11. Fishing in the lower section of Y-5 Subdistrict D (from the marker near Waldron Creek upstream to the Hadweenzic River) is open and will remain so until further notice. The area includes Stevens Village and Beaver. The middle section and its tributaries, from the Hadweenzic River to 22 Mile Slough near Circle, is closed and will reopen Sunday at 6 p.m. The section includes Venetie, Fort Yukon and Chalkyitsik. The upper section, from 22 Mile Slough to the border, is closed and will also open Sunday at 6 p.m. The subdistrict includes Circle and Eagle. Fishermen also should expect an additional closure, according to the news release. During salmon closures, fishermen cannot use fishwheels or gillnets with mesh greater than four inches or a length greater than 60 feet. More information is available by calling 1-866-479-7387 outside Fairbanks or 459-7387 in Fairbanks. |
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Lisa Crawford of Boreal Fisheries said on Tuesday, Jul 19 at 8:09 AM
AK Bud...do your research. The entire Yukon King Salmon commercial season is closed(ie. "big corporations and big fishing vessels" aren't fishing or buying Kings either). Furthermore, the Yukon is experiencing one of the strongest Chum runs in years meaning "dozens of villages" have plenty of fish to survive on. Remember, Alaska F&G operates some of the most respected sustainability standards in the world; this move is to protect villages and the natural resources of Alaska, not harm them.
70942267lenny wells alaskan fish and meat eater said on Saturday, Jul 16 at 8:05 PM
it's not about villages or corps. if the fish can't get up river to spaun then the will not go down river next year to come back in 3 to five. the big boats get limits also if you do your reading home work. The villages and subsistance fishing is just one of the last in line to get by for the spawner's. Hope the make it to upstream laks and back to open water in large numbers.
70819286AK Bud said on Saturday, Jul 16 at 7:07 PM
so it is more important for big corporations and their big fishing vessels are more important then the dozens of villages along the river, who use the salmon to survive on...
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