Book Description

This report presents sport fisheries season summaries for 2014 and preliminary information for 2015 in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area. 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 2014, angler-days totaled 9,542 with the largest proportion (0.80) coming from the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound fisheries. Pink salmon was the predominant sport species harvested in 2014 with 4,603 fish taken followed by coho salmon (3,378) and chum salmon (990). 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.