Kuskokwim River Salmon Subsistence Fishery Update

June 26, 2013

This morning the Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group met for discussion and approved a motion to accept ADF&G's proposal to establish the following restrictions on subsistence fishing on the Kuskokwim.

•  Effective 1:00 am, Friday, June 28, 2013 until 11:00 pm, Wednesday, July 3, 2013, subsistence salmon fishing from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River to Tuluksak is restricted to the use of gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh size, not exceeding 50-fathoms in length and 45 meshes deep. Hook and line fishing for king salmon is also closed.

•  Effective 1:00 am, Wednesday, July 3, 2013 until 11:00 pm, Saturday, July 6, 2013, subsistence salmon fishing from Tuluksak to Chuathbaluk is restricted to the use of gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh size, not exceeding 50-fathoms in length and 45 meshes deep. Hook and line fishing for king salmon is also closed.

• All existing Tributary Restrictions will remain. (See New Release 6 for specifics).

The news release can be found  HERE for further details regarding the following restrictions:A visual representation of these restrictions is as follows:

Subsistence reports came in from all up and down the river.   Generally, down river fishermen are beginning to target chum salmon, as they have met or almost met their king salmon subsistence needs. They were happy with their success thus far, and appreciative of the opportunity to fish. The middle river villages like Aniak, Kalskag and Napaimute report slow fishing on kings, and expressed concern that salmon were being overharvested down river.  Villages further upriver such as Red Devil, Sleetmute, Stony River and McGrath reported that several families have tried but without success on king harvest.  They report very low numbers, if any.  It was a statement throughout the river that drifting isn't worth the cost of gas.  Another concern overall was that there are not many females in subsistence catches, and kings have been smaller this year than previous years.The reason behind the restrictions? As stated in the ADF&G news release:"Current data from the Bethel Test Fishery (BTF) project indicates that king salmon escapement goals will likely be met; however projections are near the lower end of the Drainagewide Sustainable Escapement Goal (65,000–120,000). BTF indicates high abundances of sockeye and chum salmon at this time. Given the uncertainty of inseason run assessment, it is warranted to restrict gillnet mesh size to 6-inch or less to conserve king salmon and provide harvest opportunity on more abundant sockeye and chum salmon. "To give you a look at some of the BTF numbers for Chinook, Chum and Sockeye as compared to previous years:

Chinook:

Chum:

Sockeye:

It is important to stay up to date on these issues, and we will continue to do our best to keep you informed and provide you with the data we receive. Comments or questions can always be posted on our blog, it only takes one person to get a conservation started...and who knows what it could lead to?