Kuskokwim chum and king salmon fishing is closed to federally qualified subsistence users until further notice.
On June 3, the US Fish and Wildlife YK Delta Refuge Manager Ray Born, closed the Kuskokwim to federally qualified subsistence users, those villages along the Kuskokwim including Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Kongiginak.
Gillnet fishing for salmon other than chum or kings in salmon-bearing tributaries are already closed through a state action.
This means all of the salmon-bearing tributaries in the Kuskokwim are closed until run assessments show that there can be a harvest opportunity for federally qualified subsistence users.
USFW will be announce gear type, timing, openings and closings through another special action in the future. The decisions will be made after consulting with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
The Kuskokwim king salmon run estimate for this year is in the range of 125 – 219 thousand king salmon. The escapement goal this year is in the range of 65-120 thousand. With an average annual subsistence harvest of 87 thousand kings, managers decided this will be another year of conservation.
Managers say the chum run was smaller than anticipated last year and in 2014. Subsistence fisherman relied more on chum salmon those years with the lack of king salmon fishing opportunities. Managers opted for a conservative chum harvest approach.
To see the special action click here.
To see the news release click here.