Summary of the 2022-2023 Alaska Board of Fisheries Process and Outcomes Related to the Nushagak River King Salmon Committee and Nushagak River King Salmon Conservation

Introduction:

This report discusses and documents the regulatory process and outcomes of the Alaska Board of Fisheries’ 2022-2023 cycle as it related to the conservation of Nushagak River king salmon and the work of the Nushagak River King Salmon Committee (NRKS Committee). Brookover et al. (2022) described the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute (BBSRI) Study Team and NRKS Committee, including its origination, the process used since the committee’s creation in 2019, and outcomes including the submittal of Proposal 11 and non-regulatory recommendations to the Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) in April 2022. This report represents the culmination of work by the NRKS Committee that originated four years earlier at the November 2018 board meeting.

Regulatory proposals for the cycle were due for submittal in April 2022. Proposal 11 (Appendix A1), submitted by the NRKS Committee, proposed a set of regulatory management objectives and regulatory management actions for commercial, sport and subsistence fisheries in the Nushagak District and watershed. Two additional proposals addressing Nushagak River king salmon were submitted by individuals for consideration during the 2022-2023 board cycle.

Proposal 12 (Appendix A2) was submitted by commercial fishermen to change several areas of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River King Salmon Management Plan (plan) to reduce commercial harvest of king salmon while allowing for sockeye salmon harvest. These included a maximum mesh size restriction of 4.75 inches in June and modified Wood and Nushagak River trigger points before commercial fishing for sockeye may commence. Proposal 13 (Appendix A3), submitted by a sport fishing lodge owner, proposed structured commercial fishing periods through July 10 to include closed periods prior to each flood tide and allow pulses of king salmon to enter the Nushagak River.

In October 2022 the Board designated Nushagak River king salmon as a Stock of Management Concern. In November 2022, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) submitted a Nushagak River King Salmon Stock Status and Action Plan to the board. Nushagak king salmon issues were initially scheduled for the October 25-26, 2022, Work Session (escapement goal and stock of concern reviews) and the November 29-December 3, 2022, Bristol Bay meeting (Proposals 11-13) in Anchorage. Ultimately, the board deliberated and acted on Proposals 11-13 and the ADF&G Nushagak River King Salmon Stock Status and Action Plan at the March 10-14, 2023, Statewide Finfish and Supplemental Issues meeting in Anchorage. 

Throughout the 2022-2023 board cycle, the Study Team continued to work closely with the NRKS Committee, the ADF&G and the Nushagak Advisory Committee (NAC) to arrive at a robust, comprehensive solution for king salmon management. This report discusses individual and cooperative efforts by these entities to enhance management of Nushagak River king salmon, from the perspective of the Study Team. In it, we tried to document key factors and rationale behind important changes made to the Nushagak-Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan and creation of a new Nushagak District King Salmon Stock of Concern Management Plan. Our hope is that this report will serve as an objective documentation of the process and summary of the changes made that can be readily used for reference during future regulatory reviews.