Yukon Chum Salmon Forecast Misses Escapement Goal, Triggers Fishery Closures

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed the Yukon River drainage to sport fishing for chum salmon after the preseason forecast fell well below the minimum escapement goal. The subsistence fishery will close June 1, 2026.

The department forecast 345,600 summer chum salmon for 2026, well below the escapement goal range of 500,000 to 1,200,000 fish. The forecast range extends from 160,000 to 580,000 fish.

The Yukon River has experienced multiple years of historically low chum salmon returns, with 2021 marking the lowest run on record. Neither the 2021 nor 2022 parent years met the minimum escapement goal of 500,000 fish.

Under the Yukon River Summer Chum Salmon Management Plan, codified at 5 AAC 05.362, when the projected run size of summer chum salmon is 500,000 fish or less, the commercial, personal use, and sport directed chum fisheries will be closed.

The sport fishing closure took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2026, and runs through December 31, 2026. The closure covers the entire Yukon River drainage except the Tanana River drainage. It prohibits all sport fishing for chum salmon, including catch and release fishing. Anglers who catch chum salmon incidentally while fishing for other species may not remove the fish from the water and must release them immediately.

Lisa Stuby, Yukon Area Management Biologist, was listed as the contact on the advisory announcement released May 13, 2026. The announcement noted that if inseason stock assessment information indicates chum salmon spawning escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Yukon River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

An earlier management action closing sport fishing for king salmon in all Yukon River tributaries, excluding the Tanana River, remains in effect through September 30, 2026. That closure applies to flowing waters only.

The advisory was numbered 26-4034.