(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Ketchikan Misty Fjords District Ranger Susan A. Howle, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the Federal public waters that flow into District 1 to the taking of Eulachon from 12:01 a.m. on February 25, 2019, until 11:59 p.m. on April 25, 2019, due to anticipated low eulachon returns. Any Eulachon caught in this area must be immediately returned into the water unharmed. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) will also be closing State managed subsistence and personal use fisheries for Eulachon in District 1. 

Portions of District 1 have been closed since 2005 due to low Eulachon returns. Based on returns observed in recent years, a harvestable surplus is unlikely in 2019. It is anticipated that all Eulachon returning to District 1 in 2019 will be needed for spawning to rebuild area populations.

The Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, in cooperation with ADF&G, will continue to monitor returns to District 1 systems and will provide a further update in the event that a change occurs.

Maps and additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence.

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

USDA - Fosest Service
www.fs.fed.us

 

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