by Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Since Federal salmon management began on June 1, 2022, the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission estimates that about 12,630 king salmon have been caught in the lower Kuskokwim this season. This number is based on harvest surveys collected during the five early season fishing opportunities by KRITFC in 8 lower river villages and ONC in the Bethel area, as well as aerial boat and net counts by Yukon Delta NWR.
Our Tribal In-Season Managers and the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge fisheries team gathered the evening of Friday, June 17, to review the latest in-season salmon data, including these harvest reports; share Traditional Knowledge and observations of the fishery; and assess the 2022 salmon runs.
After thorough discussion and by consensus, our Federal-Tribal management team decided on two management actions. These were issued by Federal emergency special action 3-KS-02-22 on June 18, 2022, and signed by Boyd Blihovde, Yukon Delta NWR Manager:
1.On Monday, June 20, at 6:00AM: The Kalskag bluffs (downstream of Kalskag at the south edge of Uknavik Slough and then due east to the edge of the Kalskag bluff line and upstream to the Yukon Delta NWR boundary downstream of the Aniak Box, also known as the “Kalskag line”) will open to the use of gillnets until further notice.
2.On Wednesday, June 22, from 6:00AM to 6:00PM: There will be another Federal subsistence fishing opportunity on the main stem Kuskokwim River from the mouth to the Kalskag bluffs.
Both management actions open fishing to only Federally qualified subsistence users, and gillnets during both fishing opportunities must be 6 inch or less mesh, 45 meshes or less in depth, and 25 fathoms (150 feet) in length above the Johnson or 50 fathoms (300 feet) in length below the Johnson.
Our Federal-Tribal management team supports these fishing opportunities based on our current assessments of the Chinook and chum salmon runs and need for continued conservation, as well as the need to provide for some subsistence harvest opportunities, as written in Title VIII of ANILCA.
Quyana, Chin’an, Thank you to everyone for your patience as our in-season management team deliberates and works to balance fishing with long-term conservation of our salmon. It is hard work aiming to meet our escapement goal to rebuild our Chinook and chum salmon populations while also knowing we are incomplete without fish.
Quyana, Chin’an, Thank you to our in-season management team for your investment and dedication to our fishermen and salmon:
•KRITFC In-Season Managers Betty Magnuson, Megan Leary, Mike Williams Sr., Avery Hoffman, and Paul Cleveland, and Elder Advisers Robert Lekander and James Nicori.
•Yukon Delta NWR fisheries team Boyd Blihovde, Spencer Reardon, Aaron Moses, Christopher Tulik, Emmitt Nicori, and Cat Bradley.
Our Federal-Tribal management team will continue to meet throughout the season, share our Traditional Knowledge and observations, review the data, and announce more fishing opportunities as possible.
For more in-season fisheries updates, follow KRITFC on Facebook: @KuskoSalmon or visit us online: kuskosalmon.org/2022-fishing-info. We wish good luck, health, and safety to all fishermen! (Page 1 photo courtesy of Megan Leary/KRITFC)
