Districts Affected: Lower Yukon River
The Pilot Station sonar estimated passage through August 15 is 173,000 fall chum and 57,000 coho salmon. The coho salmon passage estimate is tracking above average. Unfortunately, the fall chum salmon run has not materialized as expected with the current sonar passage estimate being the second lowest on record for this date since 1995. The average three quarter point in fall chum salmon run timing is August 17. Based on late run timing, the run size is currently projected to be 300,000 to 400,000 fall chum salmon past the Pilot Station sonar.
The Yukon River Drainage Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan specifies that a minimum run size of 300,000 fall chum salmon is necessary to meet the drainage-wide escapement goal. Therefore, in accordance with the management plan, subsistence fishing time is being reduced in the lower river in an effort to achieve this goal while continuing to provide opportunity to harvest the abundant coho salmon. Similar management actions are intended to be applied sequentially as the salmon move upstream. Subsistence fishing dates and times in the lower river districts will be reduced to the following schedule of two 24-hour periods each week:
District Y-1. Subsistence fishing will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 18. Subsistence fishing will then be open for two 24-hour periods per week from 6 p.m. Thursdays until 6 p.m. Fridays and from 6 p.m. Mondays until 6 p.m. Tuesdays.
District Y-2 and Y-3. Subsistence fishing will close at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 20. Subsistence fishing will then be open for two 24-hour periods per week from 6 p.m. Sundays until 6 p.m. Mondays and from 6 p.m. Wednesdays until 6 p.m. Thursdays.
Coastal District and Innoko River. Subsistence fishing will remain open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
During the subsistence salmon fishing closures, all gillnets with a mesh size greater than four inches and a length greater than 60 feet, or ten fathoms, must be removed from the water.
For recorded fishery announcements and updates call 949-1731 in Emmonak or toll free 
1-866-479-7387
, 24 hours a day. If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Emmonak ADF&G office at 949-1320 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 455-1849. The Emmonak ADF&G office will stand by on VHF channel 7A.
This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
