Fishery Management Report for sport fisheries in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area, 2010

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No. 12-33, Anchorage

Sport fisheries season summaries for 2010 and preliminary information for 2011 in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area are presented. The Northwest/North Slope Management Area (NW/NSMA) consists of all waters north of the Yukon River drainage in Norton Sound, the Seward Peninsula, Kotzebue Sound (including the major drainages of the Kobuk and Noatak rivers), and all north-draining waters of the Brooks Range east to the Canadian border. Sport and subsistence fisheries target king, coho, chum, and pink salmon, Dolly Varden, sheefish, Arctic grayling, and northern pike. In 2010, angler-days totaled 18,464 with the largest proportion coming from the Dalton Highway roadside fisheries (0.19). Coho salmon was the predominant sport species harvested in 2010 with 5,876 fish taken followed by pink salmon (2,712) and Dolly Varden (2,551). Summaries of major sport, commercial, and subsistence fisheries within the NW/NSMA are detailed, including descriptions of recent performances, Alaska Board of Fisheries regulatory actions, social and biological issues, and descriptions of ongoing research and management activities.