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Districts Affected: Yukon River Area
Fall Season Assessment

There have been three pulses of fall chum salmon, two small and one moderate size, that have entered the Yukon River this season. On an average year, over three quarters of the fall chum salmon and over one half of the coho salmon are in the river by August 23. Many people in the lower river attribute the slow movement of fall chum salmon to the lack of favorable strong onshore westerly winds associated with carrying salmon into the mouth of the river.

As of August 23, the cumulative fall chum salmon passage was estimated to be a record low of approximately 206,000 fish by the Pilot Station sonar, which is well below the average of 577,000 for this date. The 90% confidence interval around the point estimate suggests the passage could range from 154,000 to 224,000 fall chum salmon. Furthermore, annual reconstruction of previous runs suggests the point estimate may be conservative and therefore run passage could be towards the upper end of the estimated range. Based on the sonar passage estimate and historical average run timing, the current fall chum salmon total run size is assessed to be weak and projected to be near 300,000 fish.

The genetic mixed stock analysis data indicates approximately one half of the first small pulse of chum salmon was comprised of summer chum salmon stocks. Samples of the second moderate sized pulse suggests that approximately 70% of those fall chum salmon are likely bound for tributaries in the upper Yukon River drainage. Results of genetic sampling are not yet available for the third small pulse. As the run progresses, it is anticipated that an increasing percentage of the fall chum salmon will contribute to the Tanana River stocks which is typical for the later portion of the run. The first pulse of fall chum salmon is expected to be between Stevens Village and Beaver, the second pulse is near Galena, and the third pulse should be near Russian Mission.

In contrast, the coho salmon run is shaping up to be excellent. The Pilot Station sonar cumulative passage estimate of 141,000 through August 23 is well above the average of 89,000 coho salmon for this date which is at approximately 65% passage based on average run timing. The Department and cooperating fishermen have been conducting additional test fishing to supplement assessment project information. The additional catches agree with other assessment projects in that the coho salmon abundance is high relative to fall chum salmon which typically dominate the fall season.

Scammon Bay Offshore Test Fishery-drift net project / ADF&G, YDFDA
This feasibility project ended on August 12. The total fall season catch was 16 chum and 1 coho salmon since July 16.

Lower Yukon Cooperative Drift Test Fishery - 6.0” mesh / ADF&G, YDFDA
The cumulative fall chum salmon CPUE is 283.86 through August 23 which is well below the average of 1,087.86 for this date. The cumulative coho salmon CPUE is 242.23 which is below the average of 315.50 for this date.

Mountain Village Drift Test Fishery- 5-7/8” mesh / Asacarasarmiut Traditional Council, BSFA
The cumulative CPUE for fall chum salmon is 1,444.95 through August 23 which is below the average of 1,876.31 for this date. The cumulative coho salmon CPUE is 712.03 which is above the average of 708.99 for this date.

Pilot Station Sonar / ADF&G, YDFDA, AVCP/USFWS
The cumulative passage through August 23 is approximately 206,000 fall chum salmon which is below the average of 577,000 for this date. The cumulative passage estimate for coho salmon is 141,000 which is above the average of 89,000 for this date.

Rapids Test Fish Wheel/Stan Zuray
The cumulative count for chum salmon through August 23 is 1,232 which is below the historical average of 11,649 fish for this date.

Y-5A Test Fish Wheel/Pat Moore
The cumulative count for fall chum salmon through August 23 is 229 which is below the historical average of 704 fish for this date. The cumulative count for coho salmon is 4 which is below the historical average of 33 fish for this date.

Nenana Test Fish Wheel/Kleinschmidt
The cumulative count for fall chum salmon through August 23 is 183 which is below the historical average of 270 fish for this date. No coho salmon have been caught through this date.

Chandalar River Sonar/USFWS
The cumulative count for chum salmon through August 23 is approximately 6,183 which is below the average of 11,569 fish for this date.

Sheenjek River Sonar/ADF&G
The cumulative count for chum salmon through August 23 is approximately 580 which is below the average of 7,871 fish for this date.

Eagle Sonar/ADF&G and DFO
The project transitioned to counting fall chum salmon as of August 18 with a cumulative count through August 23 of 647 which is below the average of 1,202 for this date. The preliminary total passage estimate for Chinook salmon through August 17 is 69,650 fish..

Commercial Harvest

The preliminary fall season commercial harvest total for Districts Y-1 and Y-2 through August 5 is 23,063 fall chum, 5,096 coho, and 236 Chinook salmon. Genetic breakdown of the commercial catch suggests that 63% of the catch were lower and middle river chum salmon stocks.

Age Composition

Fall Chum Salmon

Lower Yukon Test Fishery:
The fall chum salmon age composition from the 6.0” drift net test fishery through August 18 was 1% age-3, 69% age-4, 26% age-5, and 4% age-6 fish. Sample size was 194 fish. Females were 49%. The age structure this season has been slightly higher than average for age-4 fish, as of August 18 typically the average age-4 contributes 64% and age-5 is 33%. However, based on the record high primary parent year escapement in 2005, this year’s age-4 component was expected to be much higher if production was good. The poor production is now suggesting 0.19 return per spawner which is the lowest on record.

Commercial fishery:
The fall chum salmon age composition from the District 1 commercial harvest, periods 1 through 4, was 56% age-4, 40% age-5, and 3% age-6 fish. Sample size was 636 fish. Females were 47%.

Management Strategies

Unfortunately, the fall chum salmon run has not materialized as expected with the current sonar passage estimate the lowest on record for this date since 1995. The average three quarter point in fall chum salmon run timing was August 17 at the sonar project. The Yukon River Drainage Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan specifies a minimum drainage wide escapement goal of 300,000 fall chum salmon. The likelihood of achieving a run size much greater than 300,000 this late in the season decreases with each passing day.

Therefore, based on the current abundance and in accordance with the management plan, subsistence fishing time is being reduced along the Yukon River in an effort to achieve the drainage wide escapement goal while continuing to provide opportunity to harvest the abundant coho salmon where they are available. Similar management actions are intended to be applied as the salmon migration continues upstream.

Last week subsistence fishing time in Districts Y-1, Y-2, and Y-3 were reduced to a schedule of two 24-hour periods per week. Beginning Thursday, August 27, subsistence fishing in the main river portion of District 4 will open to a reduced schedule of two 32-hour periods per week. Subsistence fishing in the Koyukuk River portion of District 4 will not be reduced and will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Similar management actions are intended to be applied as the salmon migration continues upstream.

Fishermen in the remaining fishing areas in the Alaska portion of the Yukon River drainage should stay tuned for implementation of additional reduced subsistence fishing schedules. Although late pulses have occurred in past years, it is unlikely there will be additional commercial fishing periods in the lower river to target coho salmon due to the low abundance of fall chum salmon.


Current Management

Commercial periods:
No commercial periods are scheduled at this time.

The current subsistence fishing schedules in the Alaskan portion of the Yukon River are as follows:

Coastal District: open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, with unrestricted mesh size gillnets.
District Y-1: Subsistence fishing is open from 6 p.m. Thursdays until 6 p.m. Fridays and from 6 p.m. Mondays until 6 p.m. Tuesdays.
Districts Y-2 and Y-3: Subsistence fishing is open from 6 p.m. Sundays until 6 p.m. Mondays and from 6 p.m. Wednesdays until 6 p.m. Thursdays.
District Y-4: Subsistence salmon fishing will close at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 27. Subsistence fishing will then reopen at 10 a.m. Sunday, August 30 on a reduced fishing schedule of two 32-hour periods per week. Periods will be open from 10 a.m. Sundays until 6 p.m. Mondays and from 10 a.m. Wednesdays until 6 p.m. Thursdays. During open subsistence salmon fishing periods that portion of Subdistrict Y-4A upstream of Stink Creek is open to the use of drift gillnet gear for chum salmon.
Subdistricts Y-5A, Y-5B, & Y-5C: open 5 days per week from 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays to 6:00 p.m. Sundays.
Subdistrict Y-5D: Subsistence fishing is open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.
District Y-6: open for two 42-hour periods each week from Monday 6 p.m. to Wednesday 12:00 noon and Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:00 noon.
Old Minto Area: open 5 days per week from Fridays 6:00 p.m. to Wednesdays 6:00 p.m.
Innoko River: open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.
Koyukuk River: open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.

During the subsistence salmon fishing closures, all gillnets with a mesh size greater than four inches and a length greater than 60 feet must be removed from the water.

Fishermen are encouraged to consult the State of Alaska commercial and subsistence fishing regulations and the federal subsistence fishing regulations before fishing in the Yukon Area.

If you have any questions, please contact the Emmonak ADF&G office at 949-1320. For a 24-hour schedule recording, please call toll-free 1-866-479-7387. Additionally, announcements are available at the following web address: http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region3/yukhome.php