Districts Affected: Kuskokwim Bay
This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at Bethel for commercial salmon fishermen in the Kuskokwim Area.
District 4, Quinhagak, will open to commercial salmon fishing for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2009, and again for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2009.
District 5, Goodnews Bay, will open to commercial salmon fishing for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2009, and again for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2009.
Preliminary verbal reports from the commercial period on August 5 in District 4 indicate a harvest of 9 Chinook, 248 sockeye, 657 chum, and 4,319 coho salmon from approximately 65 permit holders. Cumulative harvests through August 5 are 13,948 Chinook, 111,637 sockeye, 88,875 chum, and 12,666 coho salmon. Coho salmon harvest and catch rate for the August 5 period were average to above average. Escapement at the Kanektok River weir through August 5 is 6,189 Chinook, 270,141 sockeye, 42,401 chum, and 364 coho salmon. Current coho salmon abundance in District 4 warrants commercial salmon fishing on Friday, August 7, and again on Monday, August 10.
Preliminary verbal reports from the commercial period on August 5 in District 5 indicate a harvest of 5 Chinook, 614 sockeye, 83 chum, and 376 coho salmon from approximately 16 permit holders. Cumulative harvests through August 5 are 1,485 Chinook, 29,062 sockeye, 16,812 chum, and 786 coho salmon. The commercial harvest and catch rate for sockeye salmon were above average. Escapement at the Middle Fork Goodnews River weir through August 5 is 1,363 Chinook, 23,625 sockeye, 14,448 chum, and 3 coho salmon. Because of high water level in the Middle Fork Goodnews River, the weir has not been operational since July 28. Current sockeye salmon abundance in District 5 warrants commercial salmon fishing on Friday, August 7, and again on Monday, August 10.
The Department will closely monitor harvest and catch rates from the upcoming commercial periods and will make further announcements regarding additional commercial fishing periods at that time.
For additional information or questions regarding Districts 4 and 5 area fisheries, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in the Bethel at 543-2433.
