The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) Commercial Fishing Announcement No. 10. The announcement opens commercial salmon fishing with set gillnets in the Kasilof Section of the Upper Subdistrict from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022.
As announced in UCI Commercial Fishing Announcement No. 2, 5 AAC 21.359(e)(3)(C) Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 21.359(e)(3)(C)) when the Kenai River late run king salmon sport fishery is restricted, gear restrictions are in place for all Upper Subdistrict set gillnet fishermen from the beginning of the season through July 31, 2022. During this fishing period, legal gear in the Kasilof Section is restricted to no more than two set gillnets per permit that are each not more than 35 fathoms in length and 29 meshes in depth, or no more than one set gillnet per permit that is not more than 35 fathoms in length and 45 meshes in depth. Any set gillnet that is not more than 29 meshes in depth as part of this restrictive provision must be identified at the end of the gillnet with an attached blue buoy that is not less than nine and one-half inches in diameter.
By regulation, drift gillnetting will be open District Wide in the Central District, except for the Chinitna Bay Subdistrict, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022.
Also, by regulation set gillnet fisheries in the Northern District, and the Western, Kustatan, Kalgin Island and Chinitna Bay subdistricts of the Central District, will fish their regularly scheduled period from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022.
ADF&G reports that the cumulative sockeye salmon escapement estimate for the Kasilof River was 102,109 and average run timing was 24%, and the year-end escapement projection was 419,000 sockeye salmon, as of July 2. Fishing in the aforementioned waters is necessary to harvest sockeye salmon returning to the Kasilof River.
Fishermen and processors are reminded of the legal requirement to report all commercially harvested salmon on a fish ticket, whether sold or kept for personal use, using the correct statistical fishing area or areas (5 AAC 39.130(c)(7)).
Fish harvested in the set gillnet fishery during this fishing period should be reported in statistical areas 244-21, 244-22, or 244-31. Fish harvested in the drift gillnet fishery during this fishing period should be reported in statistical areas 244-60.
