Bulletin: Yukon Area Salmon Fishery Closure in District 3

The Yukon River Inseason Fisheries Manager issued a Temporary Special Action closing the Federal public waters in Yukon fishing district 3 and the Innoko River to fishing for Chinook and summer chum salmon by all users. This closure prohibits all directed fishing for Chinook and summer chum salmon and closes gillnets larger than 4-inch stretched mesh and longer than 60 feet. The use of fish wheels is not allowed during these closures. 

Selective gear such as dip nets, beach seines, and hook and line gear may be used for pink salmon, sockeye salmon, and non-salmon species. If Chinook and summer chum salmon are caught while fishing for other species, they should be released alive but may be legally retained if dead.

The dates of the closure are as follows:

Effective: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 8:00 p.m. for District 3
Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 8:00 p.m. for Innoko River

Expiration: Thursday, December 31, 2026, 8:00 a.m. unless superseded by subsequent special action

If you are catching Chinook or summer chum salmon in a 4-inch gillnet, please move it to avoid catching these species closed to harvest. Later in the season, the use of 4-inch gillnets will be closed between the first and third quarter point of the Chinook salmon run to reduce incidental harvest of salmon closed to harvest.

This action was taken in coordination with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fishery managers. The fishing schedules announced here match those issued concurrently by the ADF&G in State waters (Summer Fishery Advisory Announcement #4).

The temporary special action, 3-KS-02-26, can be found online at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries-special-actions.

Information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska. 

Missing out on the latest federal subsistence issues? To receive emails updates on Federal Subsistence Management Program activities, send a request to subsistence@ios.doi.gov. 

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