Alaska closes Yukon subsistence salmon fishing through early June

Alaska closed subsistence fishing for Chinook and summer chum salmon across multiple Yukon River districts through early June, with the 2026 runs projected at levels that have triggered multi-year restrictions. The closures affect twelve upriver communities and mark the continuation of restrictions tied to declining salmon returns.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed Chinook and summer chum fishing effective June 3 in District 2, June 7 in District 3, and June 9 in the Innoko River drainage.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated federal closures in adjacent waters that mirror state restrictions.

The Yukon River salmon fishery has operated under near-total subsistence restrictions for multiple years because of weak Chinook and summer chum returns. The 2026 Chinook run is projected at 64,300 fish and the summer chum run at 345,600 fish.

Affected communities include Grayling, Anvik, Kaltag, Nulato, Koyukuk, Huslia, Hughes, Allakaket, Alatna, Bettles, Wiseman, and Coldfoot in the Koyukuk River drainage. The closures prohibit gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh during the restricted period.