(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska -  The Ketchikan-Misty Fiords District Ranger Jeff DeFreest, 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., Monday, March 3, 2014 until 11:59 p.m., May 1, 2014 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) has also closed State eulachon fisheries in District 1 beginning February 19, 2014.

Few eulachon have returned to the Burroughs Bay area since 2005. Similar closures have been issued by the USDA Forest Service for eulachon within the Burroughs Bay area from 2005 through 2013.

The eulachon life cycle is typically a five year period. Based on returns observed the last three years it is not likely a harvestable surplus will be present in 2014. It is anticipated that all eulachon returning to District 1 during 2014 will be needed for spawning to rebuild area eulachon populations. 

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

Maps and additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/index.cfm.

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
www.adfg.state.ak.us

 

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