The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports Upper Cook Inlet Commercial Fishing Announcement No. 3, which closes commercial salmon fishing in the Northern District of Upper Cook Inlet today (Monday, June 20, 2022) from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
The Emergency Order 2-KS-2-32-22 that was released on Thursday, June 16, closed king salmon sport fisheries in Deshka River. The king salmon sport fish closures are effective 6:00 a.m., Monday, June 20 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
The Northern District King Salmon Management Plan states that when the Deshka River Chinook salmon sport fishery is closed, the commercial Chinook salmon set gillnet fishery shall be closed by emergency order. The above announcement follows these regulations.
The sustainable escapement goal (SEG) for king salmon in the Deshka River is 9,000 to 18,000 fish, as measured at the weir located at river mile seven. Based upon average run timing and the cumulative king salmon passage estimate of 1,096 fish at the Deshka River weir through June 15, the current final escapement projection falls well below the SEG range.
In order to conserve king salmon migrating to streams throughout the Northern Cook Inlet, the regularly scheduled commercial fishing period for set gillnets in the Northern District of Upper Cook Inlet will be closed today (Monday, June 20, 2022).
