ADF&G Lifts Fishing Gear Restrictions

Photo courtesy Della Tinker

For Immediate Release August 14, 2025

Contact: Sam Decker & Madison Hardwig | Kuskokwim Area Management Biologists| 907-458-7295

Kuskokwim River Salmon Fishery Announcement #6

Emergency Order #3-S-WR-06-25

This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Bethel for subsistence fishermen in the Kuskokwim River.

As of August 13th, more than 338,000 coho salmon have been counted at the Kuskokwim River sonar. At the George River weir the current passage is 1,529 fish, which is above the recent 5-year average of 336 and near the all-years average of 1,673. The coho passage at the Kogrukluk River weir is 854 fish, which is above the 5-year average of 99 fish and the all-years average, 382 fish. The current run assessments indicate that the coho salmon escapement goals will likely be met. Based on this current assessment there is no conservation concern for coho salmon. The Department will continue to operate the Kuskokwim River sonar through August to monitor the coho salmon run. The Working Group will continue to discuss the coho salmon run and management during future meetings.

In the Kuskokwim River Drainage (Subsistence Sections 1-5, from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River to the headwaters):

• Effective 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 14th subsistence fishing with will remain open until further notice, there will be no mesh size restriction.

• As a reminder to fishers:

  • All Subsistence gears are currently allowed.

  • All salmon and non-salmon may be retained.

  • Gillnets may be up to 50 fathoms in length.

  • Gillnets may not obstruct more than one-half of the width of any stream, channel, or side-channel.

  • Gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh size have a maximum depth of 45 meshes.

  • Gillnets with greater than 6-inch mesh size have a maximum depth of 35 meshes.

  • Gear must be marked with a red buoy with the fisher’s first initial, last name and address.

The department manages Kuskokwim River salmon fisheries as directed by the Alaska Board of Fisheries under 5 AAC 07.365 Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Plan. The plan provides management direction to achieve salmon run abundance large enough to meet escapement goals and provide for sustainable fishing in the long-term. The department uses the best available data, including preseason run projections, test fishing indices, age and sex composition, harvest reports, sonar estimates, and recognized data uncertainty, to assess run abundance for the purpose of implementing the plan. Kuskokwim River salmon stocks shall be managed in a conservativemanner consistent with the Policy for the Management of Sustainable Salmon Fisheries under 5 AAC 39.222 to meet escapement goals and the subsistence harvest priority on the identified surplus.

Kuskokwim River Salmon Working Group:

The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for August 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., by teleconference or in-person, at the Bethel ADF&G office. This meeting is open to the public. Please call 1-888-788-0099, meeting ID 816 6267 8969, passcode: 849016, to attend via teleconference.

Further announcements will be made from the Bethel Fish and Game office, on the State of Alaska web site (http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main), and local radio stations. Advisory Announcements will be faxed to area villages. For additional information or questions regarding Kuskokwim Area fisheries, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in the Bethel at 543-2433 or toll free at 1-855-933-2433.