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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Cora Campbell, Acting Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Charles O. Swanton, Director

Contact:
Carol Kerkvliet
Sport Fisheries Biologist
Phone: (907) 235-1730

June 13, 2011

ANCHOR RIVER CLOSED TO SPORT FISHING BEGINNING JUNE 15

The Anchor River will close to sport fishing beginning on Wednesday, June 15 at 12:01 a.m. through Thursday, June 30 at 11:59 p.m. to protect king salmon returning to the river. 

The Anchor River escapement of king salmon through June 12, 2011, was 1,405 fish. At this time we are unable to predict with certainty that the Anchor River king salmon escapement will attain the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 3,800–10,000 king salmon. The 2011 escapement is below the 2010 escapement of 2,415 king salmon for this date and is well below the 2004-2010 escapement average of 4,906 king salmon for this date. From 2004-2010, 23 percent to 75 percent of the Anchor River king salmon escapement was upstream of the salmon weir by June 12. The projected escapement for 2011, based on variable run timing and escapement levels from 2004-2010 and escapement observed through June 12, 2011, is between 1,900 and 6,100 fish. Unless this year’s king salmon run is late in returning similar to the run experienced in 2009, it is unlikely that the escapement goal will be achieved.

The department will continue to monitor king salmon escapement in the Anchor River as the run develops and determine whether additional management actions will be necessary to achieve the escapement goal.

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