Federal Public Waters of the Kuskokwim River: Subsistence Fishing Announcement

Emergency Special Action number 3-KS-05-22, issued on July 7, 2022:

Federally Qualified Subsistence Fishing Opportunities:

(1) Drift gillnet opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users will be open in Federal public waters in the main stem of the Kuskokwim River (downstream of Kalskag Bluffs) during the following dates and times:   

• July 9, 2022 from 06:00 am to 6:00 pm

During this opportunity, subsistence users will be allowed to use gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh which may not exceed 45 meshes in depth. Gillnets utilized in areas above the Johnson River may not exceed 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length, and gillnets utilized in areas below the Johnson River may not exceed 50 fathoms (300 feet) in length. Set gillnets need to be spaced 150 feet apart from another set gillnet.  The salmon bearing tributaries listed in ESA 3-KS-01-22 will remain closed to the use of all gillnets for all salmon and all methods and means for Chinook salmon to all users during this period.

(2) Set Gillnet Opportunity:

• July 10, 2022 from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
• July 16, 2022 from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

Set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh, may not exceed 75 feet in length and 45 meshes in depth. Set gillnets may not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark, (the bank/shoreline where vegetation is growing), must be attached to the bank, and substantially fished perpendicular to shore.

Alternative Methods- Nothing in ESA 3-KS-01-22 or the present action prohibits the use of alternative methods of fishing (including use of hook and line, dip net, beach seine, and fish wheels) except for the tributary details mentioned below.

Tributary Details- The following Federal public waters within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge remain closed to the harvest of Chinook Salmon and the use of all gillnets by all users:

• The Eek River;
• The Kwethluk River drainage beginning at its confluence with Kuskokuak Slough
• The Kasigluk and Kisaralik river drainages including Old Kuskokuak Slough to ADF&G regulatory markers at the confluence of Old Kuskokuak Slough and Kuskokuak Slough;
• The Tuluksak River drainage including its confluence with the Kuskokwim River and downstream approximately 1-mile to ADF&G regulatory markers;
• The Aniak River drainage to ADF&G regulatory markers at its confluence with the Kuskokwim River; and
• The Aniak box defined as: The waters of the Kuskokwim River main stem from the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak downstream to a line formed from the northwest corner of the runway (latitude 61° 35’ 16” N, longitude 159° 33’ 28” W), due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W). The Aniak Box was opened to rod and reel fishing for Chinook Salmon with ESA-3-KS-04-22.

Fishing from tributaries not listed above is restricted to fishing 100 yards upriver from the mouth of the river (confluence with the main stem Kuskokwim River).

Access up-to-date information on fishing opportunities by calling 907-543-1008.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SUMMARIES OF PREVIOUSLY RELEASED EMERGENCY SPECIAL ACTIONS:

Emergency Special Action number 3-KS-03-22, issued on June 27, 2022:

Set Gillnet Opportunity: 

• June 29 start at 6:00 am through June 30 at 6:00 pm (36 hours) 
• July 3 start at 6:00 am through July 4 at 6:00 pm (36 hours)

Set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh, may not exceed 75 feet in length and 45 meshes in depth. Set gillnets may not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark (the bank/shoreline where vegetation is growing), must be attached to the bank, and substantially fished perpendicular to shore. Alternative Methods- Nothing in ESA 3-KS-01-22 or the present action prohibits the use of alternative methods of fishing (including use of hook and line, dip net, beach seine, and fish wheels) except for the tributary details mentioned below.

Tributary Details-

The following Federal public waters within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge remain closed to the harvest of Chinook and Chum Salmon and by all means and methods and by all users:

• The Eek River;

• The Kwethluk River drainage beginning at its confluence with Kuskokuak Slough

• The Kasigluk and Kisaralik river drainages including Old Kuskokuak Slough to ADF&G regulatory markers at the confluence of Old Kuskokuak Slough and Kuskokuak Slough;

• The Tuluksak River drainage including its confluence with the Kuskokwim River and downstream approximately 1-mile to ADF&G regulatory markers;

• The Aniak River drainage to ADF&G regulatory markers at its confluence with the Kuskokwim River; and

• The Aniak box defined as: The waters of the Kuskokwim River main stem from the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak downstream to a line formed from the northwest corner of the runway (latitude 61° 35’ 16” N, longitude 159° 33’ 28” W), due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W).

Fishing from tributaries not listed above is restricted to fishing 100 yards upriver from the mouth of the river (confluence with the main stem Kuskokwim River).

Emergency Special Action Number 3-KS-04-22, issued on June 27, 2022:

Aniak Box: The waters of the Kuskokwim River near Aniak, from a line formed between two points lat 61° 35.264ʹ N, long 159° 33.459ʹ W and lat 61° 35.611ʹ N, long 159° 33.260ʹ W due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W) which is approximately the upstream boundary of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge will remain closed to subsistence fishing with gillnets, fish wheels, beach seines, and dip nets until further notice.

Subsistence fishing with rod and reel within the Aniak Box area is open to Federally qualified subsistence users with the following bag beginning 6:00 a.m. June 29, 2022 until further notice.

• 2 Chinook Salmon per day and 2 in possession;
• All Chum Salmon caught must be returned to the water alive;
• All other salmon (other than Chum Salmon) may be retained.

The subsistence users of Aniak have very limited locations to use gill nets. In addition, the Aniak River and the Aniak Box Closed Area (directly in front of the town) has been completely closed to retention of Chinook Salmon during conservation periods in recent years. It is estimated that this subsistence opportunity could result in roughly 300 Chinook Salmon being harvested during this summer’s opportunity. This limited harvest will benefit local subsistence users without jeopardizing escapement goals.

Emergency Special Action number 3-KS-02-22, issued on June 18, 2022:

Subsistence Fishing Opportunities: Downstream of Kalskag at the south edge of Uknavik Slough and then due east to the edge of the Kalskag bluff line and upstream to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge to the downstream boundary of the Aniak Box (as described in ESA 3-KS-01-22.This portion is opening to the use of gillnets, by Federally qualified subsistence users effective:

•      June 20, 2022 beginning at 6:00 am, until further notice.

In the Kuskokwim River main stem from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River to the Refuge boundary at the edge of Uknavik Slough and due east to the Kalskag Bluff line, drift or set gillnets will be allowed effective June 22, 2022 from 6:00 am through 6:00 pm for Federally qualified subsistence users residing along the KuskokwimRiver. When this harvest opportunity expires, Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River, Downstreamof Kalskag Bluffs and to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River will return to closed to the use of gillnets by all users for the protection of Chinook and Chum Salmon.

These actions are in effect until superseded by subsequent emergency special action(s).

In both above-mentioned actions, subsistence users will be allowed to use gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh which may not exceed 45 meshes in depth; 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length above the Johnson River; and may not exceed 50 fathoms (300 feet) in length below the Johnson River.

The opening of the Kalskag line between the Kalskag bluffs to Aniak is unlikely to compromise attaining the established escapement goal range by using Chinook Salmon conservation gear (6-inch or less stretched mesh gillnets). The in season manager does not expect Chinook Salmon harvest from this area of the river to be any more than 2,000 to 5,000 Chinook Salmon based on historical harvest estimates during times of restrictions. This action is inherently a conservative management action that protects the viability of the Chinook Salmon population while allowing the continuation of subsistence uses.

Emergency Special Action (ESA) number 3-KS-01-22, issued May 02, 2022:

Federally Qualified Subsistence Fishing Opportunities Set gillnet opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users (as defined by an 804 analysis from Office of Subsistence Management) will be open in Federal public waters of the main stem in the Kuskokwim River during the following dates and times:

• June 1, 2022 from 06:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• June 4, 2022 from 06:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• June 8, 2022 from 06:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

During these three opportunities, gillnets are restricted to set gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh, 60 feet or less in length, and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth. Additionally, set gillnets must be attached to the bank, oriented perpendicular to the river and may not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark. Set gillnets need to be spaced 150 feet apart from another set gillnet.  The salmon bearing tributaries listed in section (A)(2) will remain closed to the use of all gillnets for all salmon and all other methods and means for Chinook and Chum salmon to all users during these periods. During set gillnet opportunities, Federally qualified subsistence users may retain all salmon during these periods in section A(1).

After each set gillnet opportunity expires, Kuskokwim waters revert to closed under section (A).

Gillnet (set or drift) opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users will be open in Federal public waters in the main stem of the Kuskokwim River during the following dates and times:

• June 12, 2022 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.
• June 16, 2022 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.

During these two opportunities, gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth and 50 fathoms (300-feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length below the Johnson River and 25 fathoms (150 feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length above the Johnson River. During these gillnet opportunities, Federally qualified subsistence users may retain all salmon during these periods in section A(1). The waters listed in section (A)(2) will remain closed to all gillnets for all salmon and all methods and means for Chinook and Chum salmon to all users during these gillnet periods:

After each gillnet opportunity expires, Kuskokwim waters revert to closed under paragraph (A).

Additional opportunities with the use of gillnets by Federally qualified subsistence users may be announced by subsequent special action after assessment of run strength and coordination with the KRITFC, ADF&G, and other parties identified in the Delegation of Authority provided to the Federal in-season manager by the Federal Subsistence Board.

Regulation: 50 CFR 100.27(e)(4)(ii) is amended to read:

(A) Unless re-opened by the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Manager, the following Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge are closed to the harvest of all salmon by using gillnets by all users effective June 01, 2022:

(1) The Kuskokwim River main stem within the boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

(2) Tributary Details: Additionally, unless re-opened by the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Manager, the following Federal public waters within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge are closed to the harvest of Chinook and Chum salmon and the use of all gillnets by all users effective June 01, 2022:

• The Eek River;
• The Kwethluk River drainage beginning at its confluence with Kuskokuak Slough
• The Kasigluk and Kisaralik river drainages including Old Kuskokuak Slough to ADF&G regulatory markers at the confluence of Old Kuskokuak Slough and Kuskokuak Slough;
• The Tuluksak River drainage including its confluence with the Kuskokwim River and downstream approximately 1-mile to ADF&G regulatory markers;
• The Aniak River drainage to ADF&G regulatory markers at its confluence with the Kuskokwim River; and
• The Aniak box defined as: The waters of the Kuskokwim River main stem from the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak downstream to a line formed from the northwest corner of the runway (latitude 61° 35’ 16” N, longitude 159° 33’ 28” W), due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W).