Commercial fishing for Pacific cod in state waters is underway in the Gulf of Alaska, with a total allowable catch of 936,965 pounds available to vessels with longline, pot or jig gear.
The fishery opened at noon on Oct. 12, with the conclusion of the Prince William Sound area Pacific cod parallel season pot sector in the Central Gulf of Alaska, under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Fishermen are required to obtain a Prince Willam Sound state-waters Pacific cod area registration before participating in the state waters cod season. Prince William Sound is an exclusive registration area for vessels fishing longline and pot gear during a state waters Pacific cod season and nonexclusive for vessels fishing with jig gear.
Vessel registrations are available from ADF&G offices in Homer, Cordova and Anchorage, or by fax through the Homer office.
Directed fishing for all groundfish species is closed in waters within three nautical miles of two Steller sea lion rookeries within Prince William Sound.
For more information contact ADF&G in Homer at 907-235-8191.
