Federal Waters of Yukon River Subdistricts 5D Lower, Middle, and Upper Closed to Subsistence Fall Chum Salmon Fishing

The Federal In-season Manager, pursuant to delegated authority from the Federal Subsistence Board under Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA Title VIII section 816) has issued an emergency special action (2-FC-04-22) closing Federal public waters of Yukon River Subdistrict 5D Lower (from an Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker two miles downstream of Waldron Creek upstream to the Hadweenzic River and all other adjacent tributaries) to the subsistence harvest and retention of fall Chum Salmon from 12:01 a.m. on August 9, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2022.

Federal public waters of Yukon River Subdistrict 5D Middle (from the Hadweenzic River upstream to 22 Mile Slough, including the Porcupine River, all other adjacent tributaries) are closed to the subsistence harvest and retention of fall Chum Salmon from 12:01 a.m. on August 17, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2022.

Federal public waters of Yukon River Subdistrict 5D Upper (from 22 Mile Slough to the U.S./Canada border) are closed to the subsistence harvest and retention of fall Chum Salmon from 12:01 a.m. on August 26, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2022.

The Coho Salmon run is projected to be below average, but retention of Coho Salmon will be allowed unless inseason assessment data indicate restrictions to Coho Salmon harvest are necessary. In all Federal public waters, fishing for Coho Salmon is limited to Federally qualified subsistence users.
 
Manned fish wheels may be used as well as dip nets and other legal non-salmon gear, including hook and line, longline, jigging gear, hand line, beach seine, fyke net, spear, or lead. The retention of Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon and Sockeye Salmon is allowed from these gears. However, summer and fall Chum salmon and Chinook Salmon must be released from these gears. If a Chum or Chinook salmon is caught in 4-inch mesh gillnets, it should be released alive if possible, or if dead, may be kept. If fishermen are encountering prohibited salmon in a particular area, they should move their net.

This management action was taken in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). ADF&G managers have implemented salmon fishing closures for the non-Federal public waters of these areas at the same time. This Federal Emergency Special Action (2-FC-04-22) expires at 11:59 on October 7. After October 7, please refer to any ADF&G management actions that are in place or announced.

For additional information concerning Yukon River Federal Special Actions contact Yukon River Federal Manager Holly Carroll at (907) 351-3029.

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. Fishery special actions are posted here: Fisheries Special Actions | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov)  (https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries-special-actions). If you’d like to receive emails and notifications on the Federal Subsistence Management Program you may subscribe for regular updates by emailing fws-fsb-subsistence-request@lists.fws.gov.

For information concerning State management actions, contact Yukon River Fall Season Manager, Christy Gleason in Fairbanks at (907) 459-7274 or in Emmonak at (907) 949-1320.

The map below shows District 5 Federal public waters (yellow shaded areas) of the Yukon Drainage.
 

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