Kuskokwim Bay commercial fishing opens daily through July 17; subsistence closed in Districts 4 and 5

Commercial fishing opened Monday in Kuskokwim Bay Districts 4 and 5 as subsistence fishing closed in both districts under an Alaska Department of Fish and Game emergency order.

The order authorizes daily 12-hour commercial periods from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in District 4 near Quinhagak and District 5 near Goodnews Bay, July 13 through July 17. Subsistence fishing is closed in both districts from 12:01 a.m. July 13 until 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 18.

The timing matters in a region where salmon is central to winter food supplies. The Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission documented the stakes in a 2022 situation report: "The Kuskokwim River watershed is facing a food security, cultural, and ecological crisis because of the river-wide declines in Chinook, chum, and coho salmon." Subsistence households in predominantly Yup'ik villages along the coast and river depend on summer harvests to fill freezers before freeze-up.

WildFish Marketing is the only commercial processor registered to buy fish in the Kuskokwim Bay area, according to the ADF&G announcement. Fishers with questions about selling their catch are directed to contact Jon Saarheim with WildFish Marketing. The announcement notes it is each commercial fisher's responsibility to confirm they have a market before heading out.

Key gear rules apply: gillnets must be 6-inch or smaller mesh, no more than 50 fathoms long, and no more than 45 meshes deep. Gear may not obstruct more than half the width of any waterway at any tide stage. Fishers who retain any portion of their catch for personal use must record it on an ADF&G fish ticket.

Area management biologists Madison Hardwig and Sam Decker are monitoring the current openings to assess fishery performance. ADF&G will announce additional commercial periods as warranted based on that assessment.