Alaska Department of Fish and Game and The Alaska Board of Fisheries
The Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) is charged with regulatory and allocative authority of state fisheries, while the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) manages the fisheries. The Alaska Constitution mandates fishery resources be developed and maintained under the principle of sustained yields. For salmon management, policies and programs promote the sustainability of stocks that are wild, abundant, and healthy. Allocation of yields between users groups is the responsibility of the BOF.
Working through the public process, management policies such as the Sustainable Salmon Fisheries Policy, the Wild Trout Policy and other vital fishery conservation policies define fish habitat protection and sustainable levels of use of salmon resources, with priority given to protection of wild stocks.
The BOF reviews regional fisheries plans on a three-year cycle, with authority to act more quickly in emergency situations. ADFG management is based on the in-season abundance of salmon stocks to maintain adequate spawning escapements, with authority to open and close fisheries as needed. Strong returns allow managers to liberalize harvests, while poor returns oblige managers to close harvests to provide for escapement needs crucial for long-term sustainable yields.
2017-18 Southeast & Yakutat Sport Fish Proposals
The BOF met January 11-23, 2018, in Sitka’s Centennial Hall to review proposals for Southeast and Yakutat Finfish and shellfish. Below are the sportfish proposals the Board heard and acted upon. For more details on the meeting and proposals, visit the BOF website here.
Action Plan Summaries
On Tuesday, January 23, the Board addressed the Action Plans for the four stocks of management concern in Southeast. These four stocks are: Chilkat River Chinook, King Salmon River Chinook, Unuk River Chinook, and McDonald Lake sockeye.
Click to read the Final Result for Action Plans on the Unuk, Chilkat, and King Salmon Rivers and see the regulatory maps for 2018. The McDonald Lake sport catch of sockeye is a very low percentage, and the Board chose Option A, the status quo.
What are stocks of concern?
Over the first few years when a stock’s escapement drops below average, ADFG will implement fishery restrictions to increase productivity. If escapement goals still aren’t met despite restrictions and closures, ADFG will consider a stock of concern status. A stock of management concern is one which is chronically unable to maintain its escapement goals, despite implementing restrictive management measures. Whether a stock is chronically unable to meet its escapement goals is typically determined by the most recent five to six years of stock assessments. ADFG recognizes that poor marine survival has recently become a crucial factor for Southeast king salmon productivity.
- The Chilkat River Chinook have an escapement range of 1,750-3,500 fish, and have not met the lower end of this goal five of the last six years. 2016 and 2017 were the lowest recorded returns since 1991, despite restrictions on Haines-area direct sport and commercial troll fishing, as well as restrictions on nearby fisheries where Chilkat Chinooks are caught incidentally.
- The King Salmon River Chinook, found around Admiralty Island south of Juneau, have an escapement range of 120-240 large fish which has not been met four of the last five years. Though there is not a directed fishery for this stock, they are caught incidentally in nearby fisheries and management restrictions for the Haines and Juneau area are thought to be protective of the stock.
- The Unuk River, north of Ketchikan, supported a Chinook stock with an escapement goal between 1,800-3,800 for 35 years, but has not met this goal for five of the last six years, despite implementation of restrictive measures in the Ketchikan-area since 2014.
- McDonald Lake sockeye, also north of Ketchikan, were designated as a stock of concern in 2009 after failing to meet an escapement goal of 55,000-120,000, then removed from the list in 2012 after meeting this goal for three years. The stock is harvested incidentally in all southern Southeast commercial salmon net fisheries, and has not met its escapement goal for four of the last five years.
BOF Sport Proposals for 2017-18
| Proposal No. | Proposed Action & Rationale | Reg. Section | Proposed by: | Results |
|
57 58 |
Action: Close waters around Klawock to sport fishing for Dungeness crab Rationale: Depletion of subsistence crab opportunity and no Local Area Management Plan |
5 AAC 47.021 |
Klawock Tribe Personal |
|
| 59 |
Action: Close Yakutat area Dungeness crab sport fishery Rationale: Closed annually by Emergency Order since 2005 |
5 AAC 47.021 | ADFG | |
| 60 | Action: Establish guided sport ecotourism (viewing only) for Dungeness crab in Sitka Sound | New section | Personal | |
| 77 |
Action: Amend methods and means for sport harvest of shellfish in Southeast and allow take by hook and line in addition to other gear specified Rationale: Eliminate redundancy and add detail |
5 AAC 47.035 | ADFG | |
| 116 |
Action: Establish a regional sablefish nonresident limit of 4 daily, 4 in possession, and 8 fish annual limit, as well as require a harvest record for the species Rationale: Recent increase in sport fishing pressure, specifically 2010 estimated harvest of 4,793 increasing to the 2015 estimate of 13,338 fish ? the stock is stable, but at a historic low abundance |
5 AAC 47.020 | Personal | Passed 4-3 |
| 125 |
Action: Repeal mandatory retention requirements for nonpelagic rockfish Rationale: Better to release very small or non-target fish so they can survive |
5 AAC 47.065 | Personal | Passed unanimously |
| 126 | Action: Require all anglers release nonpelagic rockfish at depth with deep water release mechanisms | 5 AAC 47.030 | Personal | Passed unanimously as amended, implementation in 2020 season |
| 127 |
Action: Set provisions for reducing resident pelagic rockfish bag limit in Central Southeast Outside by refraining from sport reduction below 5 fish per day unless the residential share of sport pelagic harvest exceeded 50% for two consecutive year Rationale: Action intended to distinguish between charter and non-charter anglers in response to 2016/17 reduction in all sport catch from 5 fish to 3 per day, despite non-charter anglers? decrease in catch from 2007-15 |
5 AAC 47.021 47.020(8)(A) |
Personal | Failed |
| 128 |
Action: Reduce pelagic rockfish limits in Sitka Area to 3 fish and 6 in possession, no size limit Rationale: Respond to the three-fold increase in sport catch and gradual decline in average weight |
5 AAC 47.021(g) | ADFG | Passed |
| 132 |
Action: Amend sport king salmon restrictions for Lynn Canal & Chilkat River FMP inside the surfline from April 15-June 30 when preseason projects of run strength falls within certain pre-established ranges – Upper 1/3 of escapement range: Taku Inlet north of Cooper Point closed to king fishing April 15 through June 15. Waters of Lynn Canal above latitude of Eldred Rock closed to king fishing. Maximum limit two (2) king salmon per day – Middle 1/3: Taku Inlet and waters from Limestone Inlet to a line from Pt Louisa to Symonds Point closed to king fishing April 15 through June 15. Waters of district 15 that are open to sport fishing, maximum limit one (1) king salmon per day. – Lower 1/3: all waters of district 11 and 15 closed to king salmon fishing. Waters of district 12 and 14 open to sport fishing, maximum limit of one (1) king salmon/day. Rationale: Projections and current stock information put the population at an all-time low, maintenance requires adequate annual escapement into the Taku and Chilkat. Similar proposals submitted by this individual for troll & gillnet fleets |
5 AAC 47.021 5 AAC 33.384 |
Personal | Failed |
| 134 |
Action: Close the spring commercial salmon troll fishery to chinook when the Juneau sport fishery is closed to chinook (To affect: Districts 9, 12, and 14 between April 15 ? June 15) |
5 AAC 29.090 | Territorial Sportsmen | Failed |
| 136 | Action: Extend the area closed to sport fishing downstream and upstream of the Situk River weir to 300 yards during June and July, reverting to 100 yards if the adult chinook count reaches minimum escapement goals | 5 AAC 47.023 | Yakutat Fish & Game Advisory Committee | |
| 137 | Action: Increase the residential king salmon possession limit to 6 fish over 28 inches when the preseason abundance index is greater than 2.0 | 5 AAC 47.055 | Personal | Failed |
| 138 | Action: Clarify in regulation whether ADFG allows the retention of other salmon or rockfish while fishing for kings with two rods, propose allowing retention of other salmon | 5 AAC 47.055 | Personal | |
| 147 |
Action: Amend Mist Cove salmon closure to allow taking salmon with fly fishing gear and prohibit snagging Rationale: The closure was intended to prevent damage to net pens and provide safety for site crew and fly fishing gear does not cause damage or safety issues |
5 AAC 47.021 | Personal | |
| 148 |
Action: Expand the Herring Bay Sportfish Terminal Harvest Area by opening a sub-area to Ketchikan STHA for additional sport fishing for hatchery-produced king salmon with a 2-fish daily bag limit that does not count against anglers annual limit Rationale: Alleviate inequities between inside and outside port fisheries earlier in the season |
5 AAC 33.369 | Personal | |
| 151 |
Action: Recreate a terminal harvest area and mgmt. plan for Carroll Inlet to distribute hatchery produced king salmon in the area between purse seine, troll, and drift gillnet fleets Rationale: Thoroughly discussed by the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association Board of Directors, with alternatives and changes to reflect consensus between the various affected groups |
New section: 5 AAC 33.xxx | SSRAA | |
| 195 |
Action: Establish non-resident annual limits for sockeye salmon in Southeast salt waters to be twice the daily bag limit Rationale: Claims abuses to sport fish bag and possession limit by nonresident anglers and that the mail-out sport harvest survey is inadequate to account for catch |
5 AAC 47.020(2) | SE Subsistence Regional Advisory Council | Failed |
| 196 |
Action: Establish nonresident annual limit for sockeye salmon in Southeast fresh waters to be twice the daily bag limit Rationale: Claims abuses to sportfish bag and possession limits and that the mail-out harvest survey is inadequate to account for catch |
5 AAC 47.022(b)(2) | SE Subsistence Regional Advisory Council | Failed |
| 197 |
Action: Simplify current freshwater sport regulations for king salmon in freshwater drainages of Sitka Sound Special Use Area; bag and possession limit proposed as 10 fish, no size limit, and a king taken by a nonresident does not count towards nonresident annual limit Rationale: No wild stocks present |
5 AAC 47.023(g)(10) | ADFG | Passed |
| 198 |
Action: Amend the open season for Dolly Varden in Auke Bay to change dates from June 1 – March 31 to July 1 – April 30, to allow May and June fishing Rationale: Healthy population with little fishing pressure |
5 AAC 47.021 | Personal | Failed |
| 199 |
Action: Increase the bag limit for Dolly Varden on the Juneau road system to 4 fish Rationale: There is a 10 per day and 10 in possession limit in most other locations in Southeast, so roadside anglers can usually see boats with those limits nearby; proposer could not find rationale for roadside limit anywhere |
5 AAC 47.023?(1)(A)(v) | Personal | Failed |
| 200 |
Action: Prohibit snagging in all salt and freshwaters along the Juneau road system with minor exceptions in approved areas when hatchery fish abundance is strong Rationale: Growing concern of user group conflict between sport groups |
5 AAC 47.021 | Personal | |
| 201 | Action: Make Dredge Lake area catch-and-release only | 5 AAC 47.023 | Personal | |
| 202 | Action: Allow only single, barbless hooks on artificial lures in Dredge Lake area | Personal | Failed | |
| 203 |
Action: Rescind salmon sport fishing closure in Sheep Creek Rationale: no longer necessary |
5 AAC 47.023(e)(1)(J) | ADFG | Passed |
| 204 |
Action: amend sockeye salmon management measures in Windfall Creek so that if escapement goals are reached, ADFG has a harvest tag system to allow annual catch taken in single day; propose closure June 1-August 1, with Tues-Thursday/Sat-Sun exceptions in June Rationale: seeing excessive crowding on the open days right now |
5 AAC 47.023 | Personal | Failed |
| 205 | Action: Prohibit multiple and barbed hooks in the Tsiu River drainage | 5 AAC 47.023 | Personal | Failed |
Issue Affecting You
It is important for charter and lodge owners, our clients, our supporters and the communities our fishing dollars support be aware of the actions being proposed at the Alaska Board of Fish and to TAKE ACTION when necessary. Check back here to follow the happenings at the Alaska Board of Fish and for opportunities to get involved by writing letters or testifying.