Districts Affected: Kuskokwim Bay
This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Bethel for salmon fishers in the Kuskokwim Area.
The one local processor operating in Kuskokwim Bay Districts 4 (Quinhagak) and 5 (Goodnews Bay) has informed the Department that they have ceased buying operations for the season. The Department does not anticipate announcing any further commercial periods in either district for the remainder for the 2009 commercial salmon fishing season.
Subsistence salmon fishing is expected to remain open 24-hours per day for the remainder of the 2009 salmon fishing season.
There have been a total of 29 commercial fishing periods in District 4 since the commercial salmon fishing season opened on June 15, 2009. Preliminary verbal reports indicate a total commercial harvest of 13,921 Chinook, 112,231 sockeye, 91,232 chum, and 48,180 coho salmon. The total commercial harvests of sockeye and chum salmon were the highest on record, while the total harvests of Chinook and coho salmon were below average. Catch rates were above average for all species except Chinook and coho salmon. Effort was slightly below average for the season.
There have been a total of 26 commercial fishing periods in District 5 since the commercial salmon fishing season opened on June 22, 2009. Preliminary verbal reports indicate a total commercial harvest of 1,509 Chinook, 31,944 sockeye, 16,985 chum, and 8,406 coho salmon. Both the total commercial harvests of sockeye and chum salmon were above average, while the total harvests of Chinook and coho salmon were below average. Catch rates were above average for all species except Chinook and coho salmon. Effort in the district was above average.
For further information about Kuskokwim River salmon fisheries, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Bethel at 543-2433.
