Public Hearing for Salmon Fisheries in the Kuskokwim River Drainage

A public hearing is scheduled for 6:00–8:00 p.m., April 18, 2017, at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel to receive testimony on two temporary special action requests received by the Federal Subsistence Board (Board).

Ken Stahlnecker, Manager, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, will be available following the hearing (8:00–9:00 p.m.) to answer general questions concerning salmon management within the drainage.

Temporary Special Action Request FSA17-03, submitted by the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, requests that the Board approve a management strategy that would close Federal public waters in the Kuskokwim River drainage to the harvest of Chinook Salmon except by Federally qualified subsistence users if the forecasted run size is below a specific target level.

Temporary Special Action Request FSA17-04, submitted by the Akiak Native Community, requests the following from the Board:

• Close Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River drainage to the harvest of salmon except by Federally qualified subsistence users;

• Reduce the pool of eligible harvesters based on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Section 804 Subsistence User Prioritization that was implemented in 2016; and

• Implement an allocation strategy among eligible users, similar to the one implemented in 2015.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend this hearing in person or by calling the telephone number provided below. When prompted, enter the passcode. Comments will be forwarded to the Board for consideration on the temporary special action requests. For more information about these special action requests, go to https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/special_actions.