The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced today king salmon restrictions for the marine waters near Juneau. They are as follows:

• In the majority of marine waters in the Juneau Area (the northern portion of District 9, District 10, Sections 11-A, 11-B, 11-C, District 12, southeast portion of Section 13-C, Sections 14-B and 14-C, and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock; see attached map), the retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately from April 1 through June 14, 2019.
• The waters of Seymour Canal near King Salmon River (Section 11-D) (see attached map), are closed to king salmon fishing from April 1 through June 30, 2019.

Taku River king salmon production is low at this time. The 2019 preseason forecast for Taku River king salmon is 9,050. This forecast indicates the escapement goal range (19,000-36,000) will not be met. In addition, forecasts for other Southeast Alaska wild king salmon stocks are below goal, as the majority of the Southeast Alaska wild king salmon stocks continue to experience poor productivity. At the Alaska Board of Fisheries January 2018 meeting in Sitka, the board adopted the Chilkat River and King Salmon River King Salmon Stock Status and Action Plan which specifies how the department will manage fisheries to reduce harvest of these two wild king salmon stocks. These actions are being taken as part of a regionwide effort to reduce harvest of Southeast Alaska wild king salmon and increase spawning escapement for future production. Management actions are being taken across all Southeast Alaska fisheries, including sport, commercial, personal use, and subsistence, to reduce harvest of wild king salmon. Anglers fishing north of the Juneau area should review the news release announcing sport fishery restrictions for the Haines/Skagway area. Anglers fishing south of the Juneau area should review the news releases announcing sport fishery restrictions for the Petersburg/Wrangell and Ketchikan areas.

A separate news release will be issued for the Juneau area in early June regarding hatchery-produced king salmon. If surplus hatchery king salmon are present, an opportunity to harvest those fish will be provided in a designated sport harvest area.

Regional king salmon bag, possession, and annual limits are scheduled to be released later this year after the Alaska all gear harvest limit of king salmon is announced in accordance with the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The regional king salmon regulations will not supersede these Juneau area restrictions.

For more information please call the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office at (907) 465-4270.

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