Update 2 p.m. Tuesday June 20, 2017: This story has been slightly updated with revised information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
There is good news on the Yukon River. It is midway through the run and managers say King Salmon numbers are up to last year's levels and a bit better. That means managers are opening up commercial and subsistence fishing and the nets are back in the water.
Starting June 21Subsistence fishermen in District 1 including Black River and North Coastal District can now use gillnets of 7.5-inch or smaller mesh. Managers want to provide harvest opportunity for summer chum and king salmon. State fish biologists say the intent is to spread harvest across more of the run, so fishermen can harvest higher quality summer chum and king salmon while drying conditions are better.
In District 2 of the Yukon River, starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, subsistence fishing is open twice a week for 10 hours, Monday through Saturday, with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.
In the commercial fishery in District 2, commercial fishing will begin to target summer chum salmon with dip nets and beach seines. Because there is limited buyer capacity in District 2 above Mountain Village this season, fishermen must ensure they have a buyer before fishing.
Update 8 a.m. Tuesday June 20, 2017: This story has been slightly updated with revised information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Starting June 21 subsistence fishermen in District 1 including Black River and North Coastal District can now use gillnets of 7.5-inch or smaller mesh. Managers want to provide harvest opportunity for summer chum and king salmon. State fish biologists say the intent is to spread harvest across more of the run, so fishermen can harvest higher quality summer chum and king salmon while drying conditions are better.
In District 2 of the Yukon River, starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, subsistence fishing is open twice a week for 10 hours, Monday through Saturday, with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.
In District 4-B and 4-C, effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 25, subsistence fishing with selective gear will close and immediately re-open with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels for two 48-hour periods per week.
In the commercial fishery in District 2, commercial fishing will begin to target summer chum salmon with dip nets and beach seines. Because there is limited buyer capacity in District 2 above Mountain Village this season, fishermen must ensure they have a buyer before fishing.