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 not open to commercial salmon fishing on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 as previously stated in News Release #22, Announcement #20, released on August 23.
District 5, Goodnews Bay, will not open to commercial salmon fishing on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 as previously stated in News Release #22, Announcement #20, released on August 23.
Preliminary verbal reports from the commercial period on August 24 in District 4 indicate a harvest of 6 Chinook, 16 sockeye, 24 chum, and 1,330 coho salmon from approximately 49 permit holders. Both the coho salmon catch rate and harvest were well below average. Current coho salmon abundance in District 4 does not warranted commercial fishing on Wednesday, August 26
Preliminary verbal reports from the commercial period on August 24 in District 5 indicate a harvest of 2 Chinook, 140 sockeye, 7 chum, and 1,203 coho salmon from approximately 18 permit holders. Both the coho salmon catch rate and harvest were well below average. The cumulative coho salmon escapement past the Middlefork Goodnews River weir through August 24 is 2,073 and is the 2nd lowest on record for that date since 1997. Current coho salmon abundance in District 5 does not warrant commercial fishing on Wednesday, August 26.
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.
