Salmon (Yukon River) fishery

Fisheries management overview

The Yukon River Salmon fishery spans two countries, the US and Canada, and is managed by a variety of entities including Fisheries and Oceans Canda, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Yukon First Nations Governments.

In the past decade, commercial efforts primarily focused on Chum salmon due to their abundance. However, due to changes in ocean conditions and predation, climate change, habitat degradation, and overfishing, the population has steadily declined and the fishery closed in 2020 to focus on restoration, conservation, and rebuilding.

Between 2013 to 2019, harvest value averaged about $28,877 (in 2023$), with vessels targeting mainly chum. The highest landings recorded in the recent past was in 2013 (3,369 pieces) for chum salmon.

Recreational Fishery Overview

Angling effort on the Yukon River is typically from mid-July to mid- August. A Yukon Salmon Conservation Catch (Catch Card) is required in addition to a Yukon Angling Licence. Similar to the commercial fishery, recreational angling has been restricted due to low abundance and for conservation.

Key metrics for the Yukon Salmon Fishery

• Maine species (Chinook, Chum)
• Average price between 2013 and 2019 ($10¹ per piece, nominal value)
• Commercial closures (Chinook since 2007, Chum since 2020)
• Recreational fisheries (Chinook, Chum)
• Recreational closures (Chinook since 2012, Chum since 2020)

Yukon Chum harvest (piece) and value (2023$) chart

Harvest

• 2013 - 3,369 pieces
• 2014 - 2,485 pieces
• 2015 - 2,862 pieces
• 2016 - 1,745 pieces
• 2017 - 2,404 pieces
• 2018 - 1,957 pieces
• 2019 - 1,728 pieces
• 2020 - N/A
• 2021 - N/A
• 2022 - N/A

Value

• 2013 - $30K
• 2014 - $25K
• 2015 - $28K
• 2016 - $17K
• 2017 - $48K
• 2018 - $36K
• 2019 - $19K
• 2020 - N/A
• 2021 - N/A
• 2022 - N/A

Yukon fishing licences (2013 – 2021)

Communal Commercial

• 2013 - N/A
• 2014 - N/A
• 2015 – 1 licence
• 2016 – 1 licence
• 2017 – 1 licence
• 2018 - N/A
• 2019 - N/A
• 2020 - N/A
• 2021 - N/A

Domestic

• 2013 - N/A
• 2014 - N/A
• 2015 – 6 licences
• 2016 – 6 licences
• 2017 – 6 licences
• 2018 – 6 licences
• 2019 – 6 licences
• 2020 – 6 licences
• 2021 - N/A

Commercial

• 2013 – 42 licences
• 2014 – 39 licences
• 2015 – 29 licences
• 2016 – 30 licences
• 2017 – 29 licences
• 2018 – 22 licences
• 2019 – 22 licences
• 2020 – 20 licences
• 2021 – 19 licences

Yukon River salmon catch card count (2016-2023)

• 2016 - 1
• 2017 - 9
• 2018 - 1
• 2019 - 11
• 2020 - 7
• 2021 - 10
• 2022 - 2
• 2023 - 14

Recreational harvest (piece) of Yukon River Chinook Salmon (1993 to 2022)

• 1993 - 300 pieces
• 1994 - 300 pieces
• 1995 - 700 pieces
• 1996 - 790 pieces
• 1997 - 1,230 pieces
• 1998 - NA
• 1999 - 177 pieces
• 2000 - NA
• 2001 - 146 pieces
• 2002 - 128 pieces
• 2003 - 275 pieces
• 2004 - 423 pieces
• 2005 - 436 pieces
• 2006 - 606 pieces
• 2007 - NA
• 2008 - NA
• 2009 - 125 pieces
• 2010 - NA
• 2011 - 40 pieces
• 2012 - NA
• 2013 - NA
• 2014 - NA
• 2015 - NA
• 2016 - NA
• 2017 - NA
• 2018 - NA
• 2019 - NA
• 2020 - NA
• 2021 - NA
• 2022 - NA
• 2023 - NA

Food, Social, and Ceremonial Fishery

Despite the final Basic Needs Allocations (BNA) for Yukon River salmon not being finalized for most Yukon First Nations, progress has been made through engagement with DFO and First Nation government representatives, with an interim allocation of 10,000 Chinook salmon currently reserved for Yukon First Nation fisheries.

In April 2024, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game signed a historic seven- year agreement to protect Yukon River Chinook Salmon to suspend all commercial, recreational, domestic fisheries for Canadian-origin Yukon River Chinook Salmon for one full life cycle (seven years). This suspension will remain in effect from April 2024 to 2030, regardless of run abundance.

Footnotes:

• ¹Average price between 2013 and 2019 (latest price, nominal value)