Kuskokwim River salmon stock status and Kuskokwim area fisheries, 2009

This report satisfies the requirement dictated in Policy for the Management of Sustainable Salmon Fisheries (SSFP; 5 AAC 39.222) that directs the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to provide the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) with reports on salmon stock status and identify any stocks that present a concern related to yield, management, or conservation. Presently, there are no stock of concern designations for the Kuskokwim Area. This report briefly covers 2 proposals concerning Kuskokwim Area commercial salmon fishing that the BOF will be considering in 2010. In addition, this report presents an overview of Kuskokwim Area abundance, escapement, and harvest/exploitation trends for Chinook, sockeye, chum, and coho salmon since 2005. A preliminary informal outlook for 2010 is also provided.