Yukon River Comprehensive Salmon Plan Phase II update released for public review

by the Bering Sea Fisherman’s Association

The Yukon River Regional Planning Team announces the release of the public review draft of updates to the 1998 Yukon River Comprehensive Salmon Plan.

The Yukon River Regional Planning Team, comprised of fishermen and women from the Yukon River, employees from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and ex-officio members from tribal organizations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a Yukon River fishing company, is pleased to announce the release of an update to the 1998 Yukon River Comprehensive Salmon Plan.

The draft update is available for public comment through December 31, 2019.

The Yukon River Regional Planning Team updated the Yukon River Comprehensive Salmon Plan from 1998 to address changing conditions to the salmon runs and the fisheries and discuss the possibility of enhancement to wild salmon runs considering many years of declining Yukon River Chinook salmon stocks.

The Comprehensive Salmon Plan includes a description of Yukon River fishery systems including maps, status of Yukon River salmon fisheries, a mission, goals and strategies to achieve Yukon River salmon production goals, plus an overview of the State of Alaska planning, permitting and reporting regulations and policies for fishery enhancement in Alaska. The plan wraps up with a fishing district-by-district overview of current projects and possible projects for restoration.

“The Regional Planning Team is pleased to announce this significant collaboration of stakeholders. By joining together, fishermen and women, agencies and industry can work together along the Yukon River through research, best practices and shared opportunities to sustain the salmon fisheries and the people that rely on the fisheries for their food, traditions and economic opportunity,” said Jill Klein, Chair of the Yukon River Regional Planning Team.

The update to the 1998 Yukon River Comprehensive Salmon Plan was initiated by Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association in 2015 after their receipt of federal funds from the Yukon and Kuskokwim salmon disasters in 2012.

Following the public comment period, the Regional Planning Team will meet to review comments and generate a final version of the plan for the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to review and approve.

The Yukon River Regional Planning Team was established in 2015 by the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to update the 1998 Yukon River Comprehensive Salmon Plan.

Visit https://www.bsfaak.org/csp2019comments/ to review the plan and provide comments.