Anna Rose MacArthur (KYUK-Bethel)

Kuskokwim River fishermen are urging state fishery managers to open the upper river to silver salmon fishing. On Wednesday, for the first time ever, the state closed the entire Kuskokwim and most of its tributaries to nearly all subsistence fishing to conserve the species. State data indicates the run is on track to be the lowest ever, and is unlikely to meet state escapement goals for silvers reaching their spawning grounds.

Subsistence fishing for Yukon River Chinook and summer chum salmon will likely remain closed through the end of the season. It’s a possibility that fishery managers had warned could happen since before the salmon arrived.Expecting low returns, fishery managers on the Yukon River had said that they would keep subsistence salmon fishing closed through the midpoint of the Chinook and summer chum runs. Now, both those midpoints have passed the lower river, and neither indicate that there will be enough fish to meet the goals managers set for fish to escape to their spawning grounds.