The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has issued an emergency order allowing commercial dip net fishing at the mouth of the Kasilof River from June 27 to June 29.
According to the ADF&G announcement, “Commercial fishing with dip nets will be allowed in the North Kalifornsky Beach and the Kasilof section from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, and from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.”
The emergency order draws from an exceeded escapement goal for Kasilof salmon. Through June 23, the cumulative sockeye salmon escapement estimate for the Kasilof River was 87,078 fish. This paces the current mean run timing projection of escapement at approximately 747,000 sockeye salmon, which the announcement says exceeds the biological escapement goal of 140,000–320,000 sockeye salmon.
This means that commercial dip net fishing from June 27 to June 29 targets sockeye salmon returning to the Kasilof River.
“This fishing period is consistent with opportunity provided by the recently adopted Kenai River late-run king salmon stock of concern management plan that allows commercial dip net fishing based upon sockeye salmon abundance,” the emergency order states.
Existing permit holders must register their permits to fish in the Upper Subdistrict at the local ADF&G office before fishing. 5 AAC 21.382. Kenai River late-run king salmon stock of concern management plan stipulates:
From June 20 through July 31;
- (A) allow for the use of dip nets as an alternative gear type for holders of an SO4H commercial set gillnet CFEC permit;
- (B) openings may occur outside of specified openings in this section based on an abundance of sockeye salmon, as announced by emergency order, for not more than three 12-hour periods per week;
- (C) an S04H commercial set gillnet CFEC permit holder may operate not more than four dip nets at a time; each dip net must be operated by either the permit holder or an ADFG licensed crewmember;
- (D) retention of king and coho salmon is prohibited
- (E) fishing with a dip net may occur from a vessel or shore; fishing from shore must occur at the location of a shore fishery tract identified in the recorded plat for that AS 38.05.082 lease; nothing in this subsection affects or changes the terms or conditions of an AS 38.05.082 lease and its lessee.
- (h) The Kasilof River Special Harvest Area (KRSHA) is closed to commercial fishing.
A legal dipnet is defined as:
- a bag-shaped net supported on all sides by a rigid frame;
- the maximum straight-line distance between any two points on the net frame, as measured between any two points on the net frame, as measured through the net opening, may not exceed five feet;
- the depth of the bag must be at least one-half of the greatest straight-line distance, as measured through the net opening;
- no portion of the bag may be constructed of webbing that exceeds a stretched measurement of 4.5 inches;
- the frame must be attached to a single rigid handle and operated by hand.
General Information for all UCI commercial fisheries and specifics about harvest levels, required permits, reporting requirements, or the registration processes can be obtained by calling the Soldotna ADF&G staff at 907-262-9368 or viewing the ADF&G UCI commercial fisheries website.