Emergency Closure for Coho in KAMA

Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released an emergency order to prohibit sportfishing for silver salmon in all waters of the Knik Arm Management Area starting midnight Friday night.

The area includes the Little Su River, Wasilla Crek, Cottonwood Creek and Jim Creek.  The closure prohibits sport fishing for coho including catch and release fishing.

Fish and Game officials say the coho return appears to be below average according to weir counts, catch rates and reports by local anglers.  As of August 24^th, less than fifteen hundred salmon had passed through the Little Su weir.  A total escapement of six thousand coho is predicted, well below the goal range of ten thousand to seventeen thousand fish.

Fish Creek and Eklutna Tailrace are excluded from the restriction.  Fish Creek has met its escapement goal and Eklutna is a stocked fishery.