Petersburg . . . The Registration Area A Tanner crab harvest strategy [5 AAC 35.113] establishes commercial Tanner crab fishing season length using estimated mature male biomass and the number of registered pots at the start of the fishery. As of 8:40 a.m., Wednesday, February 17, 2016, there are 61 pot vessels and 4,880 pots registered for the 2015/2016 commercial Tanner crab fishery. At the current estimated mature male biomass and effort level of 4,880 registered pots, the harvest strategy provides two additional days of season length in “core” and “non-core” areas. The 2015/2016 commercial Tanner crab fishery in Southeast Alaska will open in “core” and “non-core” areas (described in 5 AAC 35.113(c)) at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. The season will close in “core” fishing areas after seven fishing days at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, and close in “non-core” areas after twelve fishing days at 12:00 noon on Monday, February 29, 2016.
Shellfish management staff will be available to permit holders in Juneau/Douglas and Petersburg during the duration of the Tanner fishery, including weekends in an “on-call” capacity. For assistance February 20-21, shellfish management staff in Juneau/Douglas can be reached at (425) 210-7364 and in Petersburg at (907) 518-0755. For assistance February 27-28, shellfish management staff in Juneau/Douglas can be reached at (907) 723-3342, and in Petersburg at (907) 772-5236.
The Emergency Order corresponding with this announcement is EO 1C0416.