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Districts Affected: Yukon River Area
Fall Season Assessment

The end of the fall salmon runs are approaching in the lower river. In general, over 90% of the fall chum and 80% of the coho salmon typically would have entered the Yukon River by the end of August and the remaining fish are expected to trickle in over the next few weeks. The fall chum salmon run is assessed to be poor while the coho salmon run is average to above average.

Three pulses of fall chum salmon, two small and one moderate sized, have entered the Yukon River this season. The first two pulses had good agreement and tracked well between Pilot Station sonar and other assessment projects. Most assessment projects indicated the third pulse was relatively small, however test fishing at Pilot Station sonar suggested even fewer fall chum salmon present and a disproportion of salmon species composition. The exceptionally low water during the later portion of the fall season may have affected fish behavior and catchability of test nets. Consequently, additional test fishing with a variety of nets and different drift zones were explored in order to better understand salmon movements during this low water period. With these uncertainties, the Pilot Station sonar cumulative fall chum salmon passage of approximately 236,000 fish through September 7 is considered to be conservative. This estimate was increased to a range of 316,000 to 336,000 based on using historical average run sizes for coho salmon and other fish species. The run was exceptionally low during the first half of the season, it increased strength near the midpoint, and is considered among one of the lowest since 1995.

The genetic mixed stock analysis data indicates approximately one half of the first pulse of chum salmon was comprised of summer chum salmon stocks. Samples of the second pulse suggest that approximately 70% of the fish are likely bound for tributaries in the upper Yukon River drainage. Results from the third pulse indicated that 61% were bound for upper Yukon River tributaries, 26% were bound for Tanana River drainage, and approximately 13% were summer stocks. Because of the difficulty in catching fish at the sonar site, samples may not reflect the stock composition as well as in previous years.

The Pilot Station sonar cumulative passage estimate of 207,000 coho salmon through September 7 is well above the average of 153,000 for this date. Because of species apportionment difficulties, the coho salmon run is considered to be average to above average in size. 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.

The Pilot Station sonar project was extended by one week this year and has concluded counting as of September 7. As the fall chum and coho salmon migrate upriver, additional monitoring and escapement projects will continue to provide information used to assess the strengths of individual stocks as they separate into tributary streams. The first pulse of fall chum salmon should be crossing the US/Canada Border, the second pulse is expected to be near Circle, and the third pulse should be in the Rapids and Rampart area.

Lower Yukon Cooperative Drift Test Fishery - 6.0” mesh / ADF&G, YDFDA
The Lower Yukon River Test Fish Project concluded on August 28. The cumulative fall chum salmon CPUE for the season was 311.01 which is well below the average of 1,175.98. The cumulative coho salmon CPUE for the season was 265.04 which is below the average of 359.70.

Mountain Village Drift Test Fishery- 5-7/8” mesh / Asacarasarmiut Traditional Council, BSFA
The cumulative CPUE for fall chum salmon is 1,547.69 through September 10 which is below the average of 2,263.51 for this date. The cumulative coho salmon CPUE is 953.14 which is below the average of 1,187.60 for this date. This project ended September .0.

Pilot Station Sonar / ADF&G, YDFDA, AVCP/USFWS
The cumulative passage through September 7 is approximately 236,000 fall chum salmon with a 90% confidence interval ranging between 199,000 and 256,000, which is below the average of 664,000 for this date. The cumulative passage estimate for coho salmon is 207,000 with a 90% confidence interval ranging between 177,000 and 232,000, which is above the average of 152,000 for this date. This project ended on September 7 as it did last year using R&M funding to continue to monitor late fish passage.

Rapids Test Fish Wheel/Stan Zuray
The cumulative count through September 9 is 13,550 chum salmon which is below the historical average of 27,004 fish for this date.

Y-5A Test Fish Wheel/Pat Moore
The cumulative count through September 8 is 3.089 fall chum salmon which is below the historical average of 4,922 fish for this date. The cumulative count of 217 coho salmon is below the historical average of 930 fish for this date.

Nenana Test Fish Wheel/Kleinschmidt
The cumulative count through September 9 is 2,724 fall chum salmon which is slightly above the historical average of 2,349 fish for this date. The cumulative count of 540 coho salmon is below the historical average of 846 fish for this date.

Chandalar River Sonar/USFWS
The cumulative count through August 23 is approximately 6,183 chum salmon which is below the average of 11,569 fish for this date. The project has been terminated unexpectedly early for the season due to crew and safety issues.

Sheenjek River Sonar/ADF&G
The cumulative count through September 9 is approximately 8,828 chum salmon which is below the average of 48,991 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 September 9 of 6,430 fish which is below the average of 26,496 for this date. The preliminary total passage estimate for Chinook salmon through August 17 is 69,650 fish.

Commercial Harvest

Preliminary harvest information for District Y-1:

Period #5: District Y-1 including the Set Net Only Area, 6 hours; September 6, 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m..
80 chum/532 lbs. ($0.70/lb); 420 coho/2,979 lbs. ($1.00/lb)

Period #6: District Y-1 including the Set Net Only Area, 9 hours; September 8, 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
680 chum/4,662 lbs. ($0.70/lb); 1,273 coho/9,103 lbs. ($1.00/lb)


The preliminary fall season commercial harvest total for Districts Y-1 and Y-2 through September 8 is 23,823 fall chum, 6,789 coho, and 236 Chinook salmon. Genetic breakdown of the commercial catch (through August 5) suggests that 63% of the catch were lower and middle river summer chum salmon stocks.

Age Composition

Fall Chum Salmon

Lower Yukon Test Fishery:
The fall chum salmon weighted age composition from the 6.0” drift net test fishery through August 28 was 4% age-3, 69% age-4, 24% age-5, and 3% age-6 fish. Sample size was 252 fish. Females were 52%. The age structure this season has been slightly higher than average for age-4 fish, through August 28 typically the average age-4 contributes 66% and age-5 is 31%. 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

The fall chum salmon run is poor this season and the coho salmon run is judged to be average to above average in abundance. The Yukon River Drainage Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan specifies a minimum drainage-wide escapement goal of 300,000 fall chum salmon. 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 attain the drainage-wide escapement goal while continuing to provide opportunity to harvest some fish for subsistence use and take advantage of the abundant coho salmon where they are available in Districts 1-4 and in the Tanana River.

The subsistence harvest of fall chum salmon is expected to be less this year due to many factors including reduced fishing time and lower abundance. Reports of less effort are being attributed to the lateness of the run, expected low catch rates, high costs associated with fishing, lost gear, and lost fishing sites from the spring flood. The lower expected harvests are a consideration in management actions.

Subsistence fishing time in Districts 1, 2, and 3 returned to their 7 day a week schedule beginning Thursday, September 3 to allow opportunity to harvest the abundant coho salmon. District 4 began a reduced schedule of two 32-hour periods a week on August 27 and returned to 7 days per week on Wednesday September 9. Subsistence fishing in the Innoko and Koyukuk River drainages remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Subdistricts 5A, 5B, and 5C began a reduced schedule of two 32 hour periods per week on September 2 and is expected to return to a schedule of 5 days a week beginning next week The lower portion of Subdistrict 5D, including the Porcupine River, Fort Yukon, Beaver, and Stevens Village, began a reduced weekly fishing schedule of open 4 ½ days long periods on Sunday, September 6. The upper portion of Subdistrict 5D, including the Circle, Central, and Eagle, is expected to go on a reduced subsistence fishing schedule of 4 ½ days a week beginning next week. Subsistence salmon fishing in District 6, including the Old Minto area and the Kantishna River, is on a reduced fishing schedule of two 28-hour periods per week. Personal use salmon fishing in the Tanana River is closed until further notice.

Because the majority of the fall chum salmon run has now passed upriver for escapement and subsistence use, the department announced a commercial fishing period in District Y-1 on September 6 to harvest an identified surplus of coho salmon. The September 6 period catch was 80 fall chum and 420 coho salmon landed by 46 fishermen. Since the harvest of fall chum salmon was very low, a second commercial period was announced for District Y-1 on September 8 to target coho salmon and harvested a total of 680 fall chum and 1,273 coho salmon. The Alaska Board of Fisheries met September 8 and approved an emergency regulatory action to allow late season commercial fishing to target coho salmon when there would likely be little significant impact to the poor fall chum salmon run. The next District Y-1 commercial period will be on spetmeber 10. Additional commercial fishing may be allowed in Districts 1 and 2 after assessing the results of each fishing period. Commercial fishing directed at coho salmon is anticipated in District 6 sometime after the middle of September.

Current Management

Commercial periods: Y-1 will open for one 9-hour period Thursday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

The current subsistence and personal use 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.
Districts Y-1 and Y-2: subsistence salmon fishing is open 7 days per week, 24-hours a day except for 12 hours before, during, and 12 hours after each commercial fishing period with unrestricted mesh size gillnets.
District Y-3: open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, with unrestricted mesh size gillnets.
District Y-4: Subsistence fishing is open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, with unrestricted mesh size gillnets. 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: Subsistence fishing is open for two 32-hour periods per week from 10 a.m. Fridays until 6 p.m. Saturdays and from 10 a.m. Tuesdays until 6 p.m. Wednesdays, until further notice.
Lower Subdistrict Y-5D below 22-Mile Slough (Includes Stevens Village, Beaver, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, Birch Creek, Fort Yukon, and the Porcupine River): Subsistence salmon fishing is currently open and will close at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 13. The next subsistence period will open at 8:00 am Wednesday, September 16 and will close at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 20. On Wednesday, September, 23 subsistence fishing will return to 7 day per week.
Upper Subdistrict Y-5D above 22 mile slough (Includes Circle and Eagle): Subsistence salmon fishing is open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, until further notice.
Subdistricts Y-6A, Y-6B (including the Old Minto area and the Kantishna River): open for two 28-hour periods each week from 12 noon Mondays to 4 pm Wednesdays and 12 noon Fridays to 4 p.m. Saturdays, until further notice.
Subdistrict Y-6C Personal Use: personal use fishing is closed until further notice.
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 and fish wheels may not be used.

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