The 2023 Yukon River fall chum and coho salmon run sizes are poor. The fall chum salmon run is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal, tributary escapement goals, and Canadian treaty objectives. The coho salmon run is projected to be less than 55,000 fish, which is well below the average run size of 222,000 fish.
With the coho salmon run projecting to be the second lowest on record, retention of coho salmon from selective gears will close on Saturday, September 2 throughout the drainage (as announced in ADF&G and USFWS co-authored Advisory announcement number 11).
Fishing for non-salmon is still allowed 24 hours per day seven days per week with legal nonsalmon gear, but gillnets are restricted to 4-inch or smaller mesh and limited to 60 feet maximum length.
Closures for salmon may need to extend into October and beyond in order to protect incoming fall chum, coho, and those salmon still heading to their spawning areas.
Due to the poor runs, there is no salmon fishing allowed at this time except for retention of sockeye and pink salmon, which are rare throughout the Yukon Area. Therefore, there is no longer a need to restrict salmon fishing to federally qualified subsistence users in Federal public waters. This news release will rescind all Federal special actions currently in effect throughout the Yukon River Area (Districts 1 though 6) effective 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
For additional information concerning Yukon River Federal Special Actions contact Yukon River Federal Manager, Holly Carroll, at (907) 351-3029.
For information concerning State management actions, contact Yukon River Fall Season Manager, Christy Gleason, in Fairbanks at (907) 459-7274.
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: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries-special-actions.
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This news release was issued on August 31, 2023.
