Press Release ADF&G Logo
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
McKie Campbell, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Kelly Hepler, Director

Contact:
Jeff Fox, George Pappas
Jeff Fox, George Pappas
Phone: 907-262-9368

July 30, 2006

COOK INLET FISHERIES TARGETING KENAI RIVER SOCKEYE SALMON REOPENED

 

The Department of Fish and Game has issued Emergency Orders opening the following fisheries in Cook Inlet:

 

1) Central District Upper Sub-district set gillnets will fish the regular period Monday July 31, 2006.

2)  Central District drift fleet will fish the regularly scheduled period Monday, July 31, but the area fished will be restricted to the Kenai Section and that portion of the Central District south of 60 degrees 27.10 minutes N. latitude, to target harvestable surpluses of Kasilof and Kenai sockeye while minimizing the harvest of Susitna River sockeye salmon.

3)   The Kenai River sport fishery reopens to sockeye salmon sport fishing at 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 31 with a bag and possession limit of 3 sockeye salmon per day.

4)   The Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery will reopen at 6:00 a.m. Monday July 31.  The dipnet fishery closes by regulation Monday, July 31.  An announcement will be made and a News Release issued on Monday, July 31, to inform the public if the Personal Use Fishery will be extended beyond the regulatory season closure date of August 1.

5)   The Kenaitze Educational fishery will reopen at 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 31.

The Kenai River Late Run Sockeye Salmon Management Plan directs the Department to achieve an in-river goal range of 650,000 to 850,000 Kenai River late-run sockeye salmon, as well as an optimum escapement goal (OEG) of 500,000 – 1,000,000 spawning sockeye salmon. Through Saturday, July 29, the number of late-run sockeye salmon estimated to have passed the sonar is approximately 535,000 fish.  Given the recent passage rates and the amount of time remaining in this run, the in-river goal and the OEG will be achieved.  

 

For more information, contact:  Jeff Fox (Commercial Fisheries) or George Pappas (Sport Fish) in the Soldotna office of ADF&G:  (907) 262-9368.

 

END