Contact:
Tom Vania
Regional Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 267-2131
July 17, 2012
Sport fishing for king salmon is prohibited in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00’ N. lat.) beginning at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, July 19, 2012, through 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 31, 2012. King salmon may not be retained or possessed. King salmon that are caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
As directed by the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan, if the projected inriver return of Kenai River late-run king salmon is less than 17,800 king salmon, the department shall close the sport fisheries in the Kenai River and in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point to the taking of king salmon.
King salmon runs to Cook Inlet, including early-run Kenai River king salmon, and throughout Alaska, are experiencing a period of low productivity and low run strength. The department’s information, including data from inriver assessment programs, indicates that the Kenai River late-run is also experiencing low strength. As of July 16, approximately 40 percent of the late-run is complete and all indices used to assess inriver abundance indicate a run that is well below average. Inseason projections show all indices will not achieve their respective minimum inseason management objective by the end of the run in early August. Based on projections of the inseason management objectives set at run strength levels that ensure adequate escapement, the projected inriver run is less than the escapement goal and closure of the sport fishery is required.
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