Kuskokwim Salmon
Kuskokwim Tribes Raised Voices for Chum Salmon ...

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council held a special chum salmon bycatch, primarily to review the preliminary draft Environmental Impact Statement (PDEIS or EIS) for new approaches to chum salmon bycatch management in the Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery, with a prioritization on reducing bycatch of Western Alaska chum salmon.

Kuskokwim Tribes Raised Voices for Chum Salmon Bycatch Protections at Latest North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting
Kuskokwim Salmon
Chum Salmon Bycatch: What to Know for February ...

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will next discuss chum salmon bycatch at a special meeting in February 2025. Here is what you need to know to engage.

Chum Salmon Bycatch: What to Know for February 2025
Kuskokwim Salmon
2024 Seventh Season Announcement for Kuskokwim ...

After the next 36 hour fishing opportunity, YDNWR and KRITFC will rescind all previous fishing restrictions announced for 2024, returning management of the River to the State of Alaska and ADF&G.

2024 Seventh Season Announcement for Kuskokwim River Mainstem Fishing Opportunities.
Kuskokwim Salmon
2024 Sixth Season Announcement for Kuskokwim ...

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) In-Season Manager, hereby announces two gillnet and one rod and reel fishing opportunity for federally qualified subsistence users.

2024 Sixth Season Announcement for Kuskokwim River Fishing Opportunities
Kuskokwim Salmon
2024 Fifth Announcement for Kuskokwim River ...

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) Manager, as In-Season Manager, announces a gillnet fishing opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users.

2024 Fifth Announcement for Kuskokwim River Fishing Opportunities

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Manager to Hold Public Hearing on Kuskokwim River Salmon Fishing Closure

Photo by  Kimberly Wilson

Public Hearing Announcement on Kuskokwim River Salmon Fishing Closure FSA-YD-25-01 Starting June 1, 2025 

Contact: Spencer Rearden | 907-543-1023 | spencer_rearden@fws.gov 

 The Refuge Manager at the at Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR), in coordination with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC), proposes to close Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River drainage to the harvest of Chinook, Chum, and Coho Salmon by all users starting June 1, 2025. Harvest opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users may be announced during this closure. The public is encouraged to provide comments to the Federal Manager on the proposed closure. 

A public hearing to receive testimony on the proposed special action is scheduled for: 

  • April 23, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Or until conclusion of public comments) via Teams Teleconference: 

  • Teleconference: 1-833-436-1163 

  • Conference ID: 330 446 523# 

Public Hearing on Kuskokwim Salmon Fishing Closure

Public Hearing on Kuskokwim Salmon Fishing Closure

The Fisheries Management staff at the at Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR), in coordination with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC), proposes to close Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River drainage to the harvest of Chinook, Chum, and Coho Salmon by all users starting June 1, 2023. Harvest opportunities for Federally qualified subsistence users may be announced during this closure. The public is encouraged to provide comments to the Federal Manager on the proposed closure.

Yukon Delta NWR Letter to FSB on Kuskokwim Coho Salmon Situation

Yukon Delta NWR Letter to FSB on Kuskokwim Coho Salmon Situation

On Tuesday, August 16, the Federal In-Season Manager at Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge issued the following letter to the Federal Subsistence Board explaining Yukon Delta NWR and KRITFC’s response to the State’s management action closing subsistence fishing for coho salmon throughout the Kuskokwim River drainage.

Federal Management Action: Next Subsistence Fishing Opportunities

Federal Management Action: Next Subsistence Fishing Opportunities

After consultation and consensus with KRITFC’s In-Season Managers, the Yukon Delta NWR Federal In-Season Manager announced the following subsistence fishing opportunities via emergency special action (ESA) 3-KS-05-22. Ultimately, our goal is balancing salmon conservation for future generations with our current needs for fish.

Federal Subsistence Fishing Opportunities Announced for June 2022

Federal Subsistence Fishing Opportunities Announced for June 2022

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.

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Delta Discovery: Fishing for the Future

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Delta Discovery: Fishing for the Future

This year, we need to fish with future generations of Kuskokwim communities in mind because the time to protect king salmon and our fishing ways of life is now. This is the mindset that the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge are bringing to Federal fisheries management this season.

KYUK: Once Again, Fishing On Lower Kuskokwim Will Be Federalized

The village of Akiak’s proposal to move federal management of the lower Kuskokwim River to earlier in the season failed to get the nod from the Federal Subsistence Board on Wednesday. With even fewer kings expected up the river this summer, the Board has assured that co-management on the lower Kuskokwim will proceed much as it has in prior years and turned down Akiak’s plan to start federal management in May.