Contact:
George Pappas
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that fewer than anticipated numbers of sockeye (red) salmon are returning to the Kenai River, the personal use dip net fishery at the mouth of the Kenai will close after 11:00 p.m., Friday, July 21, until further notice.

Also, the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon is reduced to 1 per day and 1 in possession, effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 22 in all portions of the Kenai River open to salmon fishing, except in the Russian River / Kenai River fly-fishing-only area. In this area, described on page 31 of the Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet, the bag and possession limit remains 3 per day and 3 in possession.

The relatively small numbers of fish returning to date have also resulted in restrictions in those Cook Inlet commercial fisheries that target Kenai River stocks during Thursday’s regularly scheduled period.

The personal use dip net fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River is not affected by these actions, and remains open at this time.

The Kenai River Late Run Sockeye Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 21.360) directs the Department to achieve an in-river sonar estimate of 650,000 to 850,000 Kenai River late-run sockeye salmon, as well as an Optimum Escapement Goal of 500,000 – 1,000,000 spawning sockeye salmon. Through Tuesday, July 18, the number of late-run sockeye estimated to have passed the sonar is 82,369 fish. Present escapement rates of sockeye salmon into the Kenai River, coupled with the run strength assessment of the return of this stock, indicate that insufficient numbers of sockeye salmon will reach the Kenai River to provide for the optimum spawning escapement without greatly reduced fishery exploitation. It is therefore warranted to close the Kenai River Personal Use salmon dip net fishery and restrict the Kenai River sport fishery to conserve Kenai River sockeye salmon.

The fisheries targeting Kenai River late-run sockeye salmon are now being managed on a day-to-day basis. The department is closely monitoring the run and will take further management actions as necessary to meet the Optimum Escapement Goal. These management actions may include further restrictions to the fisheries with short notice, or, if the run strength significantly increases unexpectedly, management actions could include rescinding the restrictions placed on the fisheries.