2021 Fishing Information
KRITFC would like to thank our Executive Council representatives, In-Season Managers, staff, and collaborative management partners for an engaging and successful 2021 season. Find harvest information, announcements, and other news from the season below.
Quyana! Tsen’anh! Thank you!
2021 In-Season salmon harvest estimates
After set and drift gillnet opportunities, KRITFC helps produce harvest estimates alongside the Orutsararmiut Native Council Fisheries team and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. These estimates are created using data from the CBHM program, ONC interviews at Bethel area fish camps and the Bethel boat harbor, and USFWS aerial boat counts during each opportunity. They provide in-season harvest and effort information crucial for our In-Season Managers and the Refuge fisheries team to make informed management decisions.
June 2, 2021: Set net harvest estimate (an estimated 30 total salmon harvested)
June 5, 2021: Set net harvest estimate (an estimated 380 total salmon harvested)
June 9, 2021: Set net harvest estimate (an estimated 500 total salmon harvested)
June 12, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (an estimated 3,640 total salmon harvested)
June 15, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (an estimated 8,540 total salmon harvested)
June 19, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (an estimated 9,580 total salmon harvested)
June 28, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (an estimated 10,810 total salmon harvested) (*Note: This fishing opportunity was announced by ADF&G.)
July 2, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (an estimated 11,460 total salmon harvested)
July 9, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (no total harvest estimate because no aerial surveys occurred)
July 16, 2021: Drift and set net harvest estimate (an estimated 3,580 total salmon harvested)
A summary report of the 2021 in-season harvest and effort estimates during subsistence fishing opportunities was finalized in November 2021 and can be found here.
Preliminary 2021 Post-Season Harvest Information
In March 2022, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) released draft preliminary Kuskokwim River salmon harvest estimates from their 2021 post-season surveys. Note: These numbers are in draft, preliminary form as of the time of this writing. They may change slightly in the coming weeks as they are finalized by ADF&G.
On May 2, 2022, the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Manager announced that the Federal government will assume management of Federal waters of the Kuskokwim beginning June 1, 2022, and pre-announced 5 set and drift gillnet opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users.
In April, Alaska Department of Fish and Game published estimates of 2021 salmon harvests and escapements and 2022 preseason forecasts for rivers around Alaska.
Federal management and closures in the lower river lifted today, but State closures remain in place until July 31 with fishing opportunities this weekend.
As of July 4, 2021, after days of work by crew members, the Takotna River weir has been watertight and ready for the season. So far, the crew hasn't counted any fish passage.
The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in consultation with KRITFC In-Season Managers is announcing more subsistence harvest opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users on the Federal waters of the Kuskokwim main stem.
KRITFC wants to rebuild our king salmon runs and monitor the chum salmon returns so our future generations can keep fishing.
Regardless of ADF&G’s Fishery Announcement #7, IT IS ILLEGAL to fish on the mainstem Kuskokwim using gillnet gear on June 28. Federal law enforcement is on the river, and you may be at risk of citation if you fish on June 28.
Based on recent data showing low numbers of king and chum salmon, there will be no subsistence harvest opportunity using gillnet gear announced this week for federal waters of the Kuskokwim.
This is an announcement (Emergency Order #3-S-WR-06-21) from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Bethel for subsistence fishermen in the Kuskokwim Area regarding the Kalskag Line and subsistence permits in Section 4.
Emergency Special Action 3-KS-02-21 provides two distinct opportunities for federally qualified subsistence users to catch and retain salmon using gill nets on Saturday, June 19, 2021.