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Districts Affected: Upper Yukon River
The fall chum salmon run has not materialized as expected with the Pilot Station sonar passage estimate being the lowest on record since 1995. The majority of the fall chum salmon run has now entered the Yukon River and the total run is assessed to be near 316,000 to 336,000. 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 fall chum management plan, subsistence fishing time is being reduced throughout the Yukon River in an effort to achieve escapement goals. In the lower portion of Subdistrict 5-D below 22-Mile Slough, subsistence salmon fishing time was reduced for two weeks on a schedule of one 4 ½ days period each week. Effective 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, the upper portion of Subdistrict 5-D will begin a reduced subsistence fishing schedule of one 4 ½ days period per week. Upper Yukon River fall chum salmon stocks will continue to be monitored and adjustments to subsistence fishing time may be made in response to assessment of tributary stocks.

Lower Subdistrict Y-5D (Includes that portion of the Yukon River from 2 miles below Waldron Creek to 22-Mile Slough including the Porcupine River and the communities of Stevens Village, Beaver, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, Birch Creek, and Fort Yukon): Subsistence salmon fishing reopened at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 9 and will close at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 13. The second reduced subsistence period will open at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, and will close at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 20. At 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 23, the subsistence fishery will return to the 7 day per week schedule.

Upper Subdistrict Y-5D (Includes that portion of the Yukon River from 22 Mile Slough below Circle to the US/Canada Border above Eagle): Subsistence fishing will close at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 15. Subsistence salmon fishing will then reopen on a schedule of one 4 ½ days each week beginning Friday, September 18. Periods will be open from 8:00 a.m. Fridays and will close at 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays each week.

Subsistence fishermen are reminded that a fishing permit is required for all species of fish in that portion of Subdistrict Y-5D from approximately 2 miles downstream of Waldron Creek upstream to the Dall River and from the upstream mouth of 22-Mile Slough to the US/Canada Border. Subsistence fishermen in all other areas of Subdistrict Y-5D are encouraged to fill out their subsistence salmon catch calendars.

All subsistence fishing for salmon must be stopped during subsistence salmon fishing closures. Subsistence fishing for non-salmon species is open 7 days per week 24 hours per day throughout the drainage. During subsistence salmon fishing closures, gillnets used for harvesting non-salmon species are restricted to a maximum mesh size of 4-inches and 60 feet in length and fish wheels may not be used.

For a recording of the current fishing schedule for your area call toll free1-866-479-7387. If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Fairbanks office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at 459-7274 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office at 455-1849.

This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.