(Fairbanks) – To protect chum salmon during periods of low abundance and provide future sport fishing opportunities, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has issued an emergency order closing all waters of the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for chum salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023. The closure prohibits catch-and-release fishing, and all chum salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. A concurrent management action for king salmon prohibits the use of bait in all Tanana River tributaries through Saturday, September 30, 2023.

Chum salmon stocks throughout western Alaska continue to trend at or below goals for run size. The preseason forecast for summer chum salmon in the Yukon River drainage, which includes the Tanana River, is 557,000 fish, is near the lower bound of the drainagewide escapement goal range of 500,000–1,200,000 fish. According to the Yukon River Summer Chum Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 05.362(c)), when the projected run size of summer chum salmon is 650,000 fish or less, the commercial, personal use, and sport fisheries for summer chum salmon will be closed. Closures or restrictions to the subsistence fishery are anticipated. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that chum salmon escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Tanana River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

For additional information contact Andrew Gryska, Tanana Area Management Biologist at (907) 459-7339 or andy.gryska@alaska.gov.

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