(Glennallen) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is further restricting sport fisheries in the Upper Copper River drainage for king salmon conservation.

Effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 7, all waters of the Upper Copper River, upstream of Haley Creek, will be restricted to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon. This includes the Gulkana, Klutina and Tonsina Rivers. King salmon may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately. Additionally, in all flowing waters of the Upper Copper River drainage, the use of bait is prohibited and only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures may be used.

The Copper River King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 24.361) directs the department to manage the Copper River fisheries to achieve a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 21,000–31,000 king salmon. Inseason abundance estimates from the Native Village of Eyak mark-recapture project currently indicate that the final inriver king salmon abundance estimate will be below the lower bound of the SEG without additional restrictions. The apportionment of king salmon at the Miles Lake sonar is similar to that observed in 2021 and 2024, both of which were years when the lower bound of the king salmon SEG was not achieved. Due to the concerns that the king salmon escapement goal will not be met, closing the Upper Copper River sport fisheries to king salmon retention and prohibiting the use of bait and treble hooks is warranted.

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