Press Release ADF&G Logo
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Sam Cotten, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Tom Brookover, Director

Contact:
Brian Marston
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368

December 28, 2016

RETENTION OF ARCTIC CHAR/DOLLY VARDEN PROHIBITED AT STORMY LAKE IN 2017

The retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden will be prohibited in 2017 in Stormy Lake to continue restoration of native fish stocks. Anglers are prohibited from retaining Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake from Sunday, January 1 through Sunday, December 31, 2017. 

Stormy Lake was successfully treated with rotenone to eradicate nonnative northern pike in September 2012. Prior to the treatment, eggs were taken from native Arctic char and reared in the William Jack Hernandez Hatchery. The resulting fingerling Arctic char were stocked into Stormy Lake during summer 2013. Post-treatment surveys of Stormy Lake to determine if the native Arctic char restoration project was successful are encouraging. Arctic char restored to Stormy Lake are now age 4. As shown by weekly sampling events through the fall of 2016, the Arctic char have not reached maturity and have yet to undergo a spawning event. Arctic char are a species with slow growth rates and low population densities and it is unknown how long it will take for these fish to become sexually mature. To allow for the restoration of native fish in Stormy Lake, it is prudent to apply conservative regulations on this stock until they are able to propagate.

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