The state is opening up commercial fishing in Kuskokwim Bay. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the first commercial opening of the season will be in Quinhagak and Goodnews Bay on Friday, July 2 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Subsistence fishing in those areas will be closed from 12:01 a.m on July 2 until 12:01 a.m. on July 3.
Commercial fishermen must use 6 inch or less mesh gillnets that may not exceed 50 fathoms in length, and that are not more than 45 meshes deep.
E&E foods, a Seattle-based company, will be purchasing salmon exclusively from fishermen approved by the Independent Fishermen of Quinhagak Cooperative. The group revived commercial salmon fishing in Kuskokwim Bay last year after a five year hiatus. Around 70 fishermen participated in last year’s commercial fishery in Kuskokwim Bay.