The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is being proactive in anticipation of another weak king salmon return to the Yukon River. No angling will be allowed for king salmon on the main stem of the Yukon. On Yukon tributaries, except the Tanana, the bag limit for kings is dropping from three fish to one. Yukon River sport fish biologist John Burr says the measures are precautionary.
Burr says sport fishing only accounts for very small portion of salmon harvest. Other harvest reductions include elimination of commercial fishing and closure of one of the early subsistence openings. Burr says the tactics are part of a new package of measures aimed at allowing more kings upriver.
King salmon normally begin entering the Yukon River at the beginning of June, with the bulk of the early part of the run headed for Canada.
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Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
