A directed fishery for walleye pollock using pelagic trawl gear in the Prince William Sound registration area will open at noon Jan. 20 with a guideline harvest level 2,988 metric tons, down 684 metric tons from last year’s quota.
Registration for this fishery will be issued only to individuals who possess a 2019 miscellaneous saltwater finfish permit card for trawl gear. Permit card applications are available at Alaska Department of Fish and Game offices in Kodiak and Homer, online at cfec.state.ak.us or from the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, at 907-789-6160.
The deadline for registration is 5 p.m. Jan. 13.
Total bycatch is limited to 5 percent or less of the total Pollock harvested.
ADF&G reminds all those planning to participate that retention of all rockfish is mandatory. ADF&G also noted that because high effort could compromise the department’s ability to manage for both the section harvest and bycatch limits that it may be necessary to adopt weekly or daily fishing periods to ensure a manageable fishery.
Once the allowable harvest level within the Port Bainbridge, Knight Island and Hinchinbrook sections are reached, directed trawl fishery within the individual section will close by emergency order.
