Region 1-Southeast News Release
(Released: June 29, 2005)
Contact:
Troy Tydingco
Assistant Sitka Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 747-6688
June 29, 2005
Sitka. . . The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the closure of sockeye salmon subsistence and sport fisheries at Salmon Lake and Ford Arm effective 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2005. At Salmon Lake the area closed for subsistence fishing as well as retention and possession of sockeye salmon by sport anglers includes all freshwaters of the Salmon Lake drainage and marine waters in Silver Bay within a 0.3 nautical mile radius of the Salmon Lake outlet stream as indicated by ADF&G regulatory markers on Arguello Island and the adjacent Baranof Island shoreline. At Ford Arm the area closed for subsistence fishing as well as retention and possession of sockeye salmon by sport anglers includes all freshwaters draining into Ford Arm and the marine waters of Ford Arm east of a line from Trap Point to a point on the Chichagof Island shoreline at 57°32.86’ N. latitude, 136°00.12’ W. longitude.
A weir at the Salmon Lake outlet is being operated by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA). Sockeye salmon returns through the weir have been monitored since June 15, 2005. The total return through the weir to date has been 24 sockeye salmon. Based on results from operation of a weir at this location during the 2001-2004 seasons, 15% of the run may be expected to have returned to the lake by the present time. Low stream flow conditions currently exist at Salmon Lake which can impede the passage of sockeye into the lake. A boat survey conducted June 28 of the inter-tidal area of the Salmon Lake stream and adjacent marine waters indicated that few sockeye are accumulating in the terminal area. The sport and subsistence fisheries are being closed at this time to provide for spawning escapement needs.
Ford Arm is an early run sockeye system. Historic harvest data from Ford Arm show that the subsistence harvest peaks in late June or early July indicating that the peak abundance of sockeye in the terminal area occurs during this period. An aerial survey was conducted on June 26 and a boat survey was conducted on June 28. Both surveys indicated few sockeye were accumulating in the terminal area. The sport and subsistence fisheries are being closed at this time to provide for spawning escapement needs.
The department will continue to work in cooperation of STA to monitor returns to Salmon Lake and the will continue to conduct periodic surveys of Ford Arm. In the event that sockeye salmon returns improve and escapement needs are being met the department will re-opened these systems for further sport and subsistence fishing.
Subsistence fisherman and sport anglers may contact the department to determine other locations where their subsistence needs may be met or where sport fishing opportunities for sockeye may occur.
