This map indicates the waters managed by the federal government along the Stikine River. Though the darkened sections are ordinarily opened to subsistence fisheries, this year Chinook salmon will not be available to users from May 15 through June 20.
The Federal Subsistence Board announced on Monday it will be closing its Chinook salmon subsistence fishery in the Stikine River this year due to low expected returns.
Under the authority delegated him by the board, Ranger Bob Dalrymple of Wrangell's Forest Service district made the decision to close down the fishery. Preseason forecasts made by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game informed the decision, with 6,900 king salmon greater than 28 inches in length expected to return. Management escapement goals range from 14,000 to 28,000 such fish, making 2018 expectations about half the lower threshold.
One of two federally-managed subsistence fisheries on the Stikine, the Chinook salmon fishery was to run from May 15 to June 20. The fishery is open to residents of Wrangell, Petersburg, Meyers Chuck and surrounding drainages, with one permit issued per household. Permitted participants predominately use set gillnets in the Stikine fisheries.
While the king salmon fishery has been shelved for the year, a subsistence fishery targeting sockeye will begin on June 21. During that season, permit holders can retain Chinook again as incidental bycatch, though due to the species' shortfall anglers are asked to release any unharmed female kings if possible.
The closure on the Stikine follows a similar closure of the subsistence fishery last year. Meanwhile, a wider closure by state authorities to the king salmon sport fishery in Southeast is ongoing. ADFG announced in late March that the season to have started on April 1 would be closed to most waters, which included the majority of districts 6,7, 8 and 10 around Petersburg and Wrangell.
The waters adjacent to the Stikine River will see the longest closure, including District 8 and a portion of the Back Channel in District 7, through July 14. Most other areas reopen June 15, with designated terminal harvest areas reopening even sooner on June 1.
Forecasts for other wild king salmon stocks in Southeast are below goal as well, with similarly restrictive management actions being taken across all fisheries. By reducing the harvest of specifically wild king salmon, it is hoped that spawning escapement will be increased for future production.
ADFG's surveying crew headed upriver on Tuesday, to begin collecting data on the season's returns and escapements. They are expected to begin adult drift netting by next week, giving the department a better idea of how the stock is faring as the spring progresses.
For additional information on the federal subsistence fishery, call Dalrymple at 874-2323 or biologist Martin Hutten at 974-7502. Additional information can be found online on the Federal Subsistence Management Program site at http://www.doi.gov/subsistence.
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