Public Media for Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta

Upper Kuskokwim River Opens To Gillnets

Katie Basile

The Kuskokwim River from the bluffs below Lower Kalskag upstream to the headwaters have opened 24/7 to gillnets until further notice.

The upper river state waters opened at midnight Monday morning from Aniak upstream to the headwaters. On Sunday, the federal waters from the bluffs below Lower Kalskag upstream to Aniak also opened.

However, a small section of river remains closed from the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge boundary at Aniak, past the upstream tip of the island in front of the Aniak River.

The Aniak River is a salmon spawning tributary and these closed waters are meant to protect king salmon bound for this watershed. The Aniak River itself remains closed to gillnets.

All set and drift nets used in the open waters are limited to 6-inch or less mesh, 25 fathoms in length and 45 meshes in depth. All king salmon caught in the open water can be harvested.

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Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.