Retention of all fish from three Soldotna lakes will remain prohibited in 2023, the State Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Sport Fish announced Tuesday.

Though sport fishing will be allowed in East and West Mackey Lakes and Derks Lake, retention of all species will be prohibited throughout the year.

The reason for this restriction is the continued restoration of native fish populations, the division wrote in a press release.

In Oct. 2014, rotenone was used in the three lakes to eradicate invasive northern pike. They were repopulated by the transportation of around 96,000 fish from Soldotna Creek. Retention of fish will remain prohibited until those native fish have “established sustainable populations.”

This restriction is imposed via Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-23, and will be effective from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.

This restriction was also in place throughout 2022, imposed by Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-22, which expires Dec. 31.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.