Residents of the kuskokwim area harvest five species of salmon, in addition to many other species of freshwater and marine fishes, for subsistence uses within the boundaries of the yukon delta…

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game received a $214,951 Cooperative Agreement from the Department of the Interior (Interior Business Center) under the Alaska Subsistence Management program (CFDA 15.636) for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This award supports the continuation of the Kuskokwim River Subsistence Salmon Fishery monitoring project, which has operated since 1988 to track subsistence salmon harvests across approximately 27 communities in the Kuskokwim area and Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge region. The project delivers comprehensive harvest data through annual household surveys conducted in partnership with the Orutsararmiut Native Council of Bethel.

The data products generated through this monitoring effort serve as the foundational resource for all aspects of Alaska salmon management, including preseason forecasting, in-season management decisions, postseason assessments, and escapement goal definitions. These harvest estimates inform the Federal Subsistence Board, state and federal advisory committees, tribal entities, and local organizations in their subsistence resource management and decision-making processes. The Kuskokwim River Subsistence Salmon Fishery represents one of Alaska's largest subsistence fisheries by user participation and harvest volume, making this monitoring project essential for sustaining rural subsistence uses on federal public lands.

Residents of the kuskokwim area harvest five species of salmon, in addition to many other species of freshwater and marine fishes, for subsistence uses within the boundaries of the yukon delta national wildlife refuge and surrounding areas. The kuskokwim river subsistence salmon fishery is one of the largest in the state in terms of user participation and amount of salmon harvested. Currently there are no annually required subsistence harvest permits or reporting requirements for salmon harvests. Household harvest data are collected through the use of an annual harvest survey. On average, surveys are conducted among households in 27 different kuskokwim area communities each fall. This project provides the only estimate of the total subsistence salmon harvest in these areas. Since 1988, alaska department of fish and game has monitored subsistence salmon harvests, primarily through household surveys and to a lesser extent harvest calendars and postcard surveys. Beginning in 1999, partnered with orutsararmiut native council (ONC) of bethel to help collect this information. Data from this project are used in every aspect of salmon resource management, including preseason forecasting, inseason management, postseason assessment, and the definition of escapement goals. Data from this project lay the foundation for investigating new ways in which salmon forecasts and in season projections are accomplished, and to help establish forecasting tools and escapement goals. Harvest data are also used by various state and federal advisory committees, local organizations, and tribal entities to help inform subsistence users and also facilitate managers decision-making process.