The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) Manager, under the authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has announced a gillnet fishing opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users. This opportunity is available downstream of the Kalskag Bluffs and Uknavik Slough (Kalskag Line) to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River at the Refuge boundary.
Gillnet fishing will be permitted from July 23 at 6:00 am to July 31, 2024, at midnight. This announcement supersedes previous ones and further liberalizes fishing opportunities. During this period, gillnets are restricted to a mesh size of 6 inches or less and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth. The total length for set and drift gillnets is limited to 50 fathoms (300 feet) below the Johnson River and 25 fathoms (150 feet) above it.
All species of salmon may be retained during these opportunities. However, salmon-bearing tributaries and the Aniak Box listed in FSA-YD-24-01 will remain closed to all gillnets. Once this harvest opportunity expires, Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River downstream of the Kalskag Bluffs and Uknavik Slough to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River at the Refuge Boundary will return to being closed for gillnet use by all users to protect Chinook, Chum, and Coho Salmon.
For more information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program, visit www.doi.gov/subsistence or www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska. To receive updates on Federal subsistence issues via email, subscribe by emailing fws-fsb-subsistence-request@lists.fws.gov.
