Situk River closed to harvest of Chinook Salmon through July

Release Date: May 26, 2020

Contact(s): Paul Robbins Jr.

Under the Authority of:
36 CFR Part 242.10 and .19
50 CFR Part 100.10 and .19

 

YAKUTAT, Alaska – Yakutat District Ranger Lee Benson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has announced that the Situk River will be closed to the harvest of Chinook Salmon from 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2020 due to forecasted low returns.

The use of bait and gillnets is prohibited in the Situk River when fishing for other species during this closure to minimize the incidental mortality of Chinook Salmon. Incidentally caught Chinook Salmon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has also taken action to close State commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries to conserve returning Situk River Chinook Salmon. ADF&G has set the biological escapement goal for the Situk River drainage at 450-1,050 large (greater than 28 inches) Chinook Salmon. The return of large Chinook Salmon to the Situk River has been below the goal in six of the last ten years. The goal was achieved in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019 after restrictive management measures were implemented. Even though the 2020 forecast is within the escapement goal, chronic low returns require this conservation measure to allow as many Chinook Salmon as possible to reach the spawning grounds.

For additional information, please contact Lee Benson at 907-784-3018.

Information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the web at http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/index.cfm.

For interviews and information to be used for publication, contact the Tongass Public Affairs Officer at 907-228-6201 or paul.robbins@usda.gov.

 

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