Kenai River Federal Subsistence Fishery for Chinook Salmon Remains Closed
7/15/2014
Credit: United States Department of the Interior
This continued closure prohibits all subsistence fishing for Chinook salmon, including both dip net and rod and reel fisheries. Chinook salmon may not be retained or possessed. Chinook salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
The State of Alaska’s 5 AAC 57.160 Kenai River and Kasilof River Early-run King Salmon Management Plan identifies an optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 5,300 to 9,000 Chinook salmon for the Kenai River. The final in-season sonar estimate of Chinook salmon passage into the Kenai River during the early-run was 5,311 king salmon, which does not provide a harvestable surplus. Information available from an Alaska Department of Fish and Game Chinook salmon assessment project utilizing radio telemetry also shows that early-run Chinook salmon are present in the mainstem Kenai River upstream of the Slikok Creek king salmon sanctuary area and are transiting to spawning areas. Therefore, it is warranted to keep the Federal subsistence fishery closed to protect Chinook salmon.
For additional information, contact Federal Inseason Manager Jeffry Anderson at (907) 262- 9863. Additional information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the Web at http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/index.cfm
