(Fairbanks) - To protect chum salmon during periods of low abundance, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the Yukon River drainage (excluding the Tanana River drainage) to sport fishing for chum salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 15 through Thursday, December 31, 2026. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for chum salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. All chum salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. As a reminder, an earlier management action closing sport fishing for king salmon in all Yukon River tributaries (i.e. flowing waters, excluding the Tanana River) remains in effect through September 30, 2026.

The drainagewide preseason forecast for the summer chum salmon run is 345,600 fish (160,000 to 580,000), which is well-below the escapement goal of 500,000 to 1,200,000. In accordance with the Yukon River Summer Chum Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 05.362), when the projected run size of summer chum salmon is 500,000 fish or less, the commercial, personal use, and sport directed chum fisheries will be closed. Also, the primary parent years from 2021 and 2022 did not meet the lower end of the escapement goal with 2021 being the lowest run on record. As a result, the subsistence fishery for summer chum salmon will close on June 1. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that chum salmon spawning escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Yukon River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

For additional information contact Lisa Stuby, Yukon Area Management Biologist at 907-459-7202 or lisa.stuby@alaska.gov.

#26-4034