Sitka . . . The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced today that the directed fishery for Pacific cod will close in the waters of Icy Strait and Port Frederick at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015. The closure area includes waters of the Northern Southeast Inside Subdistrict (NSEI) that are east of 136°00.00′ W. longitude and west of a line from Point Couverden to Point Augusta (Figure 1.). This includes all waters of statistical areas 355801 and 355802.
The guideline harvest range for Pacific cod in the NSEI and SSEI Subdistricts combined is 750,000 – 1,250,000 round pounds. The department estimates that 270,000 round pounds of Pacific cod have been taken from the Icy Strait area during the 2015/2016 seasonal fishing period. This area is being closed to distribute the directed fishery harvest throughout the remaining open areas of NSEI and SSEI. This area will re-open to directed fishing for Pacific cod on July 1, 2016.
This closure affects the directed Pacific cod fishery only. Pacific cod taken as bycatch in other fisheries may still be retained in this area as permitted by established bycatch allowances.
Pacific cod catches will be closely monitored and fishermen are advised that additional area closures may occur on short notice. Closures will be announced by ADF&G news release, United States Coast Guard “Notice to Mariners” report and the National Weather Service broadcast. Updates of area closures will also be announced on the Groundfish Hotline at 907-747-4882.
Additional information on Southeast Regional Groundfish Fisheries can be found on our web site at:
The Emergency Order corresponding with this announcement is EO 1G1415.