Copper River dipnet fishery to close July 6-12

Copper River dipnet fishery to close July 6-12 reports a management shutdown for Alaska’s Copper River dipnet fishery. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game scheduled the closure from July 6 through July 12, citing the need to reach escapement goals. The fishery, based near Chitina southeast of Glennallen, typically runs from June 7 to Sept. 30, but its plan allows emergency orders that set dipnet openings based on fish counts. As of June 28, Fish and Game reported 317,769 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar, described as the lowest cumulative count on record for that date in 40 years. The announcement said the fishery is tentatively expected to reopen for the latter half of July and much of August, with dates subject to change depending on continued counts. The article also notes September will be closed, and references other Southcentral Alaska dipnet fisheries on the Kenai River starting July 10 and the Kasilof River from June 25 to Aug. 7.