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Sport Fish Division of the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game

Emergency Orders and News Releases



Region 2-Southcentral News Release

(Released: June 13, 2005)


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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Wayne Regelin, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Kelly Hepler, Director

Contact:
Len Schwarz
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 486-1880

June 13, 2005

KARLUK RIVER AND AYAKULIK RIVER KING SALMON SPORT FISH LIMITS REDUCED TO 1 FISH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15

Because of the weak showing of the runs, the bag and possession limit for sport caught king salmon in the Ayakulik and Karluk River drainages is reduced from 3 per day to 1 fish, effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2005.

 

The Department anticipates that this reduction of the king salmon bag and possession limit from 3 per day to 1 should provide an additional 200 king salmon to the spawning escapement into the Karluk River.

 

This restriction applies to both the Ayakulik and Karluk River drainages, including the Karluk Lagoon. In sport fishing regulations, the entire Karluk Lagoon is considered to be fresh waters. The boundary between lagoon waters and marine waters is a line, drawn at mean low tide, between the extremities of the lagoon’s outlet stream banks.

 

The biological escapement goal for king salmon in the Karluk River drainage is 3,600 to 7,300 spawning fish. As of June 12, the weir count was 292 fish, the lowest escapement on record for this date.  The biological escapement goal for king salmon in the Ayakulik River is 4,800 to 9,600 spawning fish and the weir count as of June 12 was 1,112 fish versus an anticipated count for this date of 2,629 fish.  Projections using this data indicate that the escapement goals for either river may not be met. 

 

The department will continue to monitor Karluk River and Ayakulik River king salmon escapements as the season progresses. Sport fishing regulations may be further restricted if the weak return continues.


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