In the face of escapement objectives not being met, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is imposing restrictions on all harvesters of Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska.
The announcement on March 29 from Charlie Swanton, deputy commissioner of ADF&G, will impact commercial, sport, personal use and subsistence fishermen.
“Southeast Alaska and transboundary-river Chinook stocks are experiencing a period of very low productivity,” Swanton said. “Escapement objectives are not being met, so we’re calling for an all-out conservation effort on behalf of Alaskans and our Canadian neighbors alike.”
Planning for these conservation management actions began at the Alaska Board of Fisheries meeting in January in Sitka, with action plans approved for three stocks of concern, the Chilkat, King Salmon and Unuk rivers.
ADF&G officials noted that while other Southeast Alaska and transboundary river king salmon stocks are not officially designated stocks of concern, that additional conservation management is being implemented to protect these stocks due to recent run data and the outlook for record low runs this year.
Commercial restrictions began with the recent closure of the winter troll fishery in Southeast Alaska on March 15.
The May through June spring troll fishery will open only in select terminal harvest areas and a few defined areas on the outside cost to target hatchery kings and conserve wild stocks.
Sport fishing throughout the inside waters of Southeast will be restricted to non-retention of Chinook salmon. If there are surplus hatchery kings available, opportunities to harvest them will be provided in designated terminal harvest areas.
Area specific measures detailed in Board of Fish actions are to be applied to personal use and subsistence fisheries along with measures to protect transboundary stocks in the Taku and Stikine rivers.
Canada has also agreed as a result of meetings between Alaska and Canada Pacific Salmon Commissioners to share the conservation burden.
Details about Southeast Alaska restrictions and closures related to king salmon fisheries were expected to be announced in early April.
