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Karta River Sockeye Closure

Contact: Greg Killinger 907-826-3271

Tongass National Forest, Alaska, July 28, 2008- PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND, Craig, Alaska

FEDERAL SUBSISTENCE FISHERY FOR SOCKEYE SALMON

CLOSED IN FEDERAL WATERS OF THE KARTA RIVER DRAINAGE

CRAIG - Craig District Ranger Greg Killinger has announced that he is acting immediately to protect sockeye salmon in the Karta River drainage on Prince of Wales Island . The District Ranger, as in-season manager, is closing the Federal subsistence sockeye fishery to all users in Federal public waters of the Karta River drainage due to a low adult sockeye return in 2008. The Federal Subsistence Board has delegated to him this in-season management authority. The closure will be effective 11:59 p.m. , Thursday, July 31, 2008 and continue until 11:59 p.m. , September 29, 2008 . Beginning August 1, 2008 , the drainage will be open to allow for the subsistence harvest of other species of salmon and will be limited to the use of rod and reel or dip net gear. Any sockeye caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.

Based on current stream and weir counts, the Karta River sockeye return is low in abundance in 2008. Although it is possible that the run may be later than normal this year, indications are that the run is extremely low. A weir is located approximately one-quarter mile upstream from Karta Bay . The weir count to date is 17 sockeye. The weir count in 2006, as of the same date, was 3819 which was also 36 percent of the total run. During 2005, as of the same date, the weir count was 8144 sockeye representing 75 percent of that run. Surveys below the weir to Karta Bay reveal few sockeye.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) subsistence fishery closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, July 31. ADF&G is also taking emergency action to close the drainage to sport fishing for sockeye due to the low numbers of sockeye. This closure will also become effective August 1, 2008 .

The USDA Forest Service manages subsistence fisheries in fresh waters of the Tongass National Forest . The ADF&G continues to manage sport fisheries in fresh waters of Prince of Wales Island . This special action has been coordinated with, and parallels actions being taken by ADF&G as they apply to the fisheries on the Karta River drainage. Both USDA Forest Service and ADF&G managers will continue to monitor Karta River sockeye. If numbers of sockeye improve, both agencies may take action to supersede these emergency actions.

For additional information, please contact Greg Killinger, Jeff Reeves or Sheila Jacobson at (907) 826-3271, Phil Sammon at (907) 228-6201 or Maureen Clark, Office of Subsistence Management, toll-free at 800-478-1456 or (907) 786-3888. Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the web at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html.