Yakutat gillnetters must donate Chinook found dead in Situk nets

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game opens Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet and Yakutat Bay to commercial set gillnet gear from 12:01 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, through 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, with Chinook retention closed in the Situk River fishery for the duration.

"Chinook salmon of any size may not be retained for sale or personal use," the Division of Commercial Fisheries said in the announcement. Any king found dead in the net must have the dorsal fin removed immediately and be recorded on a fish ticket by number and weight under disposition code "86-Donated," then delivered to a buyer at the time of sockeye sale or to the Yakutat ADF&G office for distribution to people in need in the community. The donation rule applies to commercial set gillnetters, who lose the revenue and food value of any Chinook caught incidentally.

The Situk River mouth, including waters upstream of Johnson Slough, is closed to commercial set gillnet fishing west of a line of markers running from the eastern bank of Johnson Slough to Sunny Point, west of the Yakutat Seafoods buying station.

ADF&G closed Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet to Chinook retention on May 30 under emergency order EO 1Y0126. Its inseason commercial salmon summary states that the subsistence, sport and commercial fisheries reopen only when Situk weir counts indicate the biological escapement goal will be met. Federal subsistence managers, operating under separate jurisdiction, require that all incidentally caught Chinook be returned to the water unharmed.

The Lost River and the Tsiu River stay closed until further notice. Most other Yakutat District waters, including the East Alsek, Alsek, Akwe and Dangerous rivers, are open from Sunday until noon Wednesday. Dual permits are allowed in Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet and in Yakutat Bay north of a line from Point Manby to Ocean Cape. The week runs under emergency order EO 1Y2026.