2015 Annual management report Norton Sound, Port Clarence, and Arctic, Kotzebue Areas.

230 Pages·2017·4.81 MB·English

Fishery Management Report No. 17-15
2015 Annual Management Report
Norton Sound, Port Clarence, and Arctic, Kotzebue
Areas
by
Jim Menard
Joyce Soong
Scott Kent
Lauri Harlan
and
Justin Leon
April 2017
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Divisions of Sport Fish and Commercial Fisheries
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FISHERY MANAGEMENT REPORT NO. 17-15
2015 ANNUAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
NORTON SOUND, PORT CLARENCE, AND ARCTIC, KOTZEBUE
AREAS
by
Jim Menard, Joyce Soong, Scott Kent, Lauri Harlan, and Justin Leon
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, Nome

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services
333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99518-1565
April 2017
The Fishery Management Reports series was established in 1989 by the Division of Sport Fish for the publication of
an overview of management activities and goals in a specific geographic area, and became a joint divisional series in
2004 with the Division of Commercial Fisheries. Fishery Management Reports are intended for fishery and other
technical professionals, as well as lay persons. Fishery Management Reports are available through the Alaska State
Library and on the Internet: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/publications/. This publication has undergone regional
peer review.

Jim Menard, Joyce Soong, Scott Kent, Lauri Harlan, and Justin Leon
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries,
P.O. Box 1148, Nome, AK 99762, USA

This document should be cited as follows:
Menard, J., J. Soong, S. Kent, L. Harlan, and J. Leon. 2017. 2015 Annual management report Norton Sound, Port
Clarence, and Arctic, Kotzebue Areas. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No.
17-15, Anchorage.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) administers all programs and activities free from discrimination
based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The
department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section
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Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility please write:
ADF&G ADA Coordinator, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526
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The department’s ADA Coordinator can be reached via phone at the following numbers:
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For information on alternative formats and questions on this publication, please contact:
ADF&G, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services, 333 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage AK 99518 [phone]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................................... v
LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................................................... v
LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................... v
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
SECTION 1: MANAGEMENT AREA OVERVIEWS 2
Boundaries ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
SALMON OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Commercial Salmon Fishery ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Subsistence Salmon Fishery .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Sport Salmon Fishery .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Salmon Management ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
NORTON SOUND SALMON OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................ 5
District Boundaries ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Historical Fishery Use ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Commercial Fishery Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Commercial Fishery Management ................................................................................................................................. 8
Subsistence Fishery Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Historical Regulatory Actions in Norton Sound Subdistricts ...................................................................................... 11
PORT CLARENCE SALMON OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................. 14
District Boundaries ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Commercial Fishery Overview .................................................................................................................................... 14
Subsistence Fishery Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 15
KOTZEBUE SALMON OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 16
District Boundaries ...................................................................................................................................................... 16
Commercial Fishery Overview .................................................................................................................................... 17
Subsistence Fishery Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 19
ARCTIC SALMON OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 19
District Boundaries ...................................................................................................................................................... 19
Subsistence Fishery Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 19
PACIFIC HERRING OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 20
District Boundaries ...................................................................................................................................................... 20
Spawning Areas and Timing ....................................................................................................................................... 20
NORTON SOUND PACIFIC HERRING OVERVIEW ............................................................................................. 22
Commercial Fishery Overview .................................................................................................................................... 22
Sac Roe ................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Spawn-on-Kelp ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
Food and Bait Fishery ............................................................................................................................................. 23
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Commercial Fishery Management ............................................................................................................................... 24
Subsistence Fishery Use .............................................................................................................................................. 25
PORT CLARENCE AND KOTZEBUE PACIFIC HERRING OVERVIEW ............................................................ 25
Commercial Fishery Overview .................................................................................................................................... 25
Historical Resource Investigations .............................................................................................................................. 25
KING CRAB OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 26
Norton Sound King Crab Overview ............................................................................................................................ 26
District Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................. 26
Abundance .............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Commercial Fishery Overview .................................................................................................................................... 27
CDQ Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 29
Commercial Catch Sampling .................................................................................................................................. 29
Commercial Fishery Overview – winter ...................................................................................................................... 29
Subsistence Fishery Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 30
St. Lawrence Island and Kotzebue King Crab Overview ............................................................................................ 30
District Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................. 30
Abundance .............................................................................................................................................................. 31
Commercial Fishery Overview ............................................................................................................................... 31
MISCELLANEOUS FISH OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 32
Inconnu (Sheefish) ....................................................................................................................................................... 32
Spawning Areas and Timing ................................................................................................................................... 32
Historical Fishery Use ............................................................................................................................................ 33
Subsistence Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 34
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 34
Sport Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 34
Historical Escapement ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Dolly Varden ............................................................................................................................................................... 35
Spawning Areas and Timing ................................................................................................................................... 35
Subsistence Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 36
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 36
Sport Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 37
Historical Escapement ............................................................................................................................................ 37
Whitefish ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Spawning Areas and Timing ................................................................................................................................... 37
Subsistence Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 37
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 38
Sport Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 38
Historical Escapement ............................................................................................................................................ 38
Saffron Cod ................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Miscellaneous Finfish Species ................................................................................................................................ 39
Subsistence Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 39
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 39
Sport Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 39
Capelin ......................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 40
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Subsistence ............................................................................................................................................................. 40
SECTION 2: SALMON FISHERIES 41
2015 Norton Sound Salmon Fishery ............................................................................................................................ 41
2015 Norton Sound Fisheries Outlook ................................................................................................................... 41
Commercial Fishery Season Summary ................................................................................................................... 41
Subsistence Fishery Season Summary .................................................................................................................... 42
Season Summary by Subdistrict ............................................................................................................................. 43
Nome–Norton Sound Subdistrict 1 ............................................................................................................... 43
Golovin–Norton Sound Subdistrict 2 ............................................................................................................ 44
Elim–Norton Sound Subdistrict 3 ................................................................................................................. 45
Norton Bay–Norton Sound Subdistrict 4 ...................................................................................................... 45
Shaktoolik and Unalakleet–Norton Sound Subdistricts 5 and 6 .................................................................... 46
Escapement ............................................................................................................................................................. 48
Chinook Salmon ............................................................................................................................................ 48
Chum Salmon ................................................................................................................................................ 48
Coho Salmon ................................................................................................................................................. 49
Pink Salmon .................................................................................................................................................. 49
Sockeye Salmon ............................................................................................................................................ 50
Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................................ 50
2016 Norton Sound Salmon Outlook........................................................................................................................... 50
2015 Port Clarence Salmon Fishery ............................................................................................................................ 51
Commercial Fishery Season Summary ................................................................................................................... 51
Subsistence Fishery Season Summary .................................................................................................................... 51
Escapement ............................................................................................................................................................. 52
Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................................ 52
2016 Port Clarence Salmon Outlook ........................................................................................................................... 52
2015 Kotzebue Sound Salmon Fishery ........................................................................................................................ 52
Commercial Fishery Season Summary ................................................................................................................... 52
Subsistence Fishery Season Summary .................................................................................................................... 53
Escapement ............................................................................................................................................................. 54
Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................................ 54
2016 Kotzebue Salmon Outlook ............................................................................................................................. 54
SECTION 3: PACIFIC HERRING FISHERIES 55
2015 Norton Sound Pacific Herring Fishery ............................................................................................................... 55
Sac Roe ................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Spawn-on-Kelp ....................................................................................................................................................... 55
Bait Fishery ............................................................................................................................................................. 55
Commercial Fishery Management .......................................................................................................................... 55
Catch Reporting and Enforcement .......................................................................................................................... 55
Biomass Determination........................................................................................................................................... 55
SECTION 4: KING CRAB FISHERIES 56
Norton Sound Crab Fishery ......................................................................................................................................... 56
Abundance .............................................................................................................................................................. 56
Summer Open Access Commercial Fishery ........................................................................................................... 56
CDQ Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
Harvest Areas and Commercial Catch Sampling .................................................................................................... 57
Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................................ 58
Winter Commercial Fishery .................................................................................................................................... 58
Subsistence Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 58
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Sport Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................... 59
Future Resource Investigations ............................................................................................................................... 59
St. Lawrence Island Crab Fishery ................................................................................................................................ 59
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 59
SECTION 5: MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES 61
Inconnu (Sheefish) ....................................................................................................................................................... 61
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 61
Subsistence and Sport Fishery ................................................................................................................................ 61
Escapement ............................................................................................................................................................. 61
Dolly Varden ............................................................................................................................................................... 61
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 61
Subsistence and Sport Fishery ................................................................................................................................ 61
Escapement ............................................................................................................................................................. 62
Whitefish ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 62
Subsistence Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 62
Saffron Cod ................................................................................................................................................................. 62
Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................................................................ 62
Subsistence ............................................................................................................................................................. 62
Capelin ......................................................................................................................................................................... 62
Subsistence ............................................................................................................................................................. 62
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 63
REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................................................................... 64
TABLES ...................................................................................................................................................................... 67
APPENDIX A: NORTON SOUND FISHERIES........................................................................................................ 81
APPENDIX B: PORT CLARENCE FISHERIES ..................................................................................................... 117
APPENDIX C: KOTZEBUE FISHERIES ................................................................................................................ 123
APPENDIX D: HERRING FISHERIES ................................................................................................................... 133
APPENDIX E: KING CRAB FISHERIES ............................................................................................................... 145
APPENDIX F: MISCELLANEOUS FISHERIES .................................................................................................... 173
APPENDIX G: OVERVIEW OF 2015 ..................................................................................................................... 183
APPENDIX H: ARCTIC FISHERIES ...................................................................................................................... 217
iv
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 Norton Sound, Port Clarence, Kotzebue Sound, and Arctic management districts. ........................................ 2
2 Norton Sound commercial salmon fishing subdistricts. .................................................................................. 6
3 Port Clarence District. ................................................................................................................................... 14
4 Seward Peninsula with road-accessible waters. ............................................................................................ 16
5 Kotzebue District, villages and subsistence fishing area. .............................................................................. 17
6 Kotzebue Sound commercial salmon fishing subdistricts and statistical areas. ............................................ 18
7 Arctic management district. .......................................................................................................................... 20
8 Commercial herring districts and statistical areas of Norton Sound, Port Clarence, and Kotzebue
Sound............................................................................................................................................................. 21
9 King crab fishing districts and sections of Statistical Area Q. ...................................................................... 27
10 Kotzebue and Kobuk River Valley villages and their spatial relationship with sheefish spawning and
overwintering areas. ...................................................................................................................................... 33

LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Norton Sound commercial salmon harvest summary by subdistrict, 2015. .................................................. 68
2 Subsistence salmon harvest for northern Norton Sound, 2015. ..................................................................... 69
3 Salmon counts of rivers and associated salmon escapement goal ranges (SEG, BEG or OEG), Norton
Sound and Port Clarence, 2015. .................................................................................................................... 70
4 Commercial salmon set gillnet catches from Nome, Subdistrict 1, Norton Sound, 2015. ............................. 73
5 Commercial salmon set gillnet catches from Golovin, Subdistrict 2, Norton Sound, 2015. ......................... 73
6 Commercial salmon set gillnet catches from Elim, Subdistrict 3, Norton Sound, 2015. ............................... 74
7 Commercial salmon set gillnet catches from Norton Bay, Subdistrict 4, Norton Sound, 2015. .................... 74
8 Commercial salmon set gillnet catches from Shaktoolik, Subdistrict 5, Norton Sound, 2015. ..................... 75
9 Commercial salmon set gillnet catches from Unalakleet, Subdistrict 6, Norton Sound, 2015. ..................... 75
10 Kotzebue District commercial chum salmon catch and average weight by date, 2015. ................................ 76
11 Historical chum salmon catch for Kobuk River drift test fishery, 1993–2015. ............................................. 77
12 Daily catch for the open access and CDQ summer commercial king crab harvests, Norton Sound
Section, Eastern Bering Sea, June 29–July 24, 2015. .................................................................................... 78
13 Summer commercial harvest of red king crab from Norton Sound Section by statistical area, Norton
Sound District, 2015. ..................................................................................................................................... 79

LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix Page
A1 Commercial salmon catch by species, Norton Sound District, 1990–2015. .................................................. 82
A2 Number of commercial salmon permits fished, Norton Sound, 1990–2015. ................................................ 83
A3 Round weight and value of commercially caught salmon by species, Norton Sound District, 1990–
2015. .............................................................................................................................................................. 84
A4 Estimated mean prices paid to commercial salmon fishermen in dollars, Norton Sound District, 1990–
2015. .............................................................................................................................................................. 85
A5 Mean commercial salmon harvest weights, Norton Sound District, 1990–2015. .......................................... 86
A6 Commercial and subsistence salmon catch by species, by year in Nome Subdistrict, Norton Sound
District, 1990–2015. ...................................................................................................................................... 87
A7 Commercial and subsistence salmon catch by species, by year in Golovin Subdistrict, Norton Sound
District, 1990–2015. ...................................................................................................................................... 88

v
LIST OF APPENDICES (Continued)
Appendix Page
A8 Commercial and subsistence salmon catch by species, by year in Elim Subdistrict, Norton Sound
District, 1990–2015. ...................................................................................................................................... 89
A9 Commercial and subsistence salmon catch by species, by year in Norton Bay Subdistrict, Norton
Sound District, 1990–2015. ........................................................................................................................... 90
A10 Commercial and subsistence salmon catch by species, by year in Shaktoolik Subdistrict, Norton Sound
District, 1990–2015. ...................................................................................................................................... 91
A11 Commercial and subsistence salmon catch by species, by year in Unalakleet Subdistrict, Norton Sound
District, 1990–2015. ...................................................................................................................................... 92
A12 Subsistence salmon catch by species and year for St. Michael and Stebbins in Norton Sound District,
1994–2015. .................................................................................................................................................... 93
A13 Subsistence salmon catch by species and year for Stebbins in Norton Sound District, 1994–2015. ............. 94
A14 Commercial, subsistence, and sport salmon catch by species, by year for Subdistricts 1–6 in Norton
Sound District, 1990–2015. ........................................................................................................................... 95
A15 Sport salmon harvest by species, by year for the Unalakleet River, 1990–2015. .......................................... 96
A16 Sport salmon harvest by species, by year for the Fish/Niukluk rivers, 1990–2015. ...................................... 97
A17 Sport salmon harvest by species, by year for the Nome River, 1990–2015. ................................................. 98
A18 Comparative salmon aerial survey escapement indices of Norton Sound streams unless noted
otherwise, 1990–2015. .................................................................................................................................. 99
A19 Total Norton Sound escapement index for chum, pink, coho, and Chinook salmon from weir and tower
projects at Kwiniuk, Niukluk, Nome, and Snake rivers, North River, and Eldorado River to 2015. .......... 103
A20 Total escapement (4–6 rivers) and catch (commercial, subsistence, and sport fish) for chum, pink,
coho, and Chinook salmon for Norton Sound District, 1995–2015. ........................................................... 104
A21 Nome Subdistrict chum salmon estimated escapement, 1999–2015. .......................................................... 105
A22 Historical escapement of salmon and Dolly Varden at Eldorado River counting tower, 1997–2002 and
weir, 2003–2015. ......................................................................................................................................... 107
A23 Historical escapement of salmon and Dolly Varden at Snake River counting tower 1995–2002 and weir
2003–2015. .................................................................................................................................................. 108
A24 Historical salmon escapement at Kwiniuk River counting tower, 1990–2015. ........................................... 109
A25 Historical salmon escapement at Niukluk River counting tower, 1995–2012. ............................................ 110
A26 Historical salmon escapement at Nome River counting tower, 1993–1995, and weir, 1996–2015. ........... 111
A27 Salmon escapement at Solomon River weir, 2013–2015. ........................................................................... 112
A28 Historical sockeye salmon escapement at Glacial Lake weir, 2000–2015. ................................................. 112
A29 Historical salmon escapement at Inglutalik River counting tower, 2011–2015. ......................................... 112
A30 Historical salmon escapement at North River counting tower, 1996–2015. ............................................... 113
A31 Historical salmon escapement at Unalakleet River weir, 2010–2015. ........................................................ 113
A32 Chum salmon escapement by river, Nome Subdistrict, 1993–2015. ........................................................... 114
A33 Pink salmon escapement by year and river, Nome Subdistrict, 1993–2015. ............................................... 115
A34 Number of customary trade permits issued, Norton Sound District and Port Clarence District, 2007–
2015. ............................................................................................................................................................ 116
B1 Comparative sockeye salmon aerial survey indices, Port Clarence District, 1990–2015. ........................... 118
B2 Historical escapement of salmon and Dolly Varden at Pilgrim River counting tower and weir ................. 119
B3 Estimated number of subsistence fishing families and harvest in Port Clarence District, 1994–2015. ....... 120
B4 Application of 20-05-00 liquid blend of phosphorous and nitrogen fertilizer to Salmon Lake, 1997–
2015. ............................................................................................................................................................ 121
C1 Kotzebue District chum salmon catch statistics, 1990–2015. ..................................................................... 124
C2 Kotzebue District mean prices paid per pound in dollars to salmon fishermen by species, 1990–2015. .... 125
C3 Kotzebue District commercial fishery dollar value estimates, 1990–2015. ................................................ 126
C4 Kotzebue District commercial and subsistence salmon catches .................................................................. 127
C5 Kotzebue District subsistence chum salmon catches by village, 1990–2004 and 2012–2015. ................... 128
C6 Kotzebue District average subsistence chum salmon harvest per household by village, 1990–2004 and
2012–2015. .................................................................................................................................................. 129
C7 Kotzebue District chum salmon aerial survey counts, 1990–2015. ............................................................. 130
vi