Yukon District 3 closes to fall chum and coho subsistence Saturday as treaty goals fall short

Subsistence fishing for fall chum and coho salmon closes Saturday in Yukon River District 3 and the Innoko River, ending directed subsistence opportunity for communities including Russian Mission and Holy Cross in District 3, and Shageluk in the Innoko River portion. Canadian-origin treaty objectives are not expected to be met.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game projects a drainagewide fall chum run of 311,000 fish, above the 300,000-fish escapement floor but short of treaty goals. "Even with a run size within the escapement goal range (300,000–600,000 fish), Canadian treaty goals are not anticipated to be met. Therefore, directed subsistence fishing for fall chum salmon in the mainstem Yukon River is highly unlikely to occur," the department said. Coho runs are also projected below average, with any future fishing opportunities dependent on inseason abundance. Emergency Order 3-S-FY-01-26 takes effect at 12:01 a.m. July 18. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a concurrent federal special action, TSA 03-FC-03-26, mirroring state restrictions.

ADF&G said it was “using a precautionary approach” by closing directed fall chum and coho fishing at the start of the fall season. The Board of Fisheries recently designated fall chum salmon as a stock of management concern and moved the start of the fall management season three days earlier than normal.

Families in District 3 can still fish for nonsalmon species. Summer chum may be retained in selective gear through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 17. After that, Chinook, chum, and coho caught in selective gear must be released alive. Subsistence fishing with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets for nonsalmon reopens on a weekly schedule from noon Thursday to noon Sunday. Four designated rivers, sloughs, and lakes off the mainstem remain open to 6-inch mesh set gillnets for whitefish and other nonsalmon species.