In the wake of the 2018 season, when harvesters in the Prince William Sound noncommercial shrimp fishery exceeded the guideline harvest level by over 28,000 pounds, state fisheries official have reduced the pot limit to three pots per vessel.
Last season the GHL for noncommercial shrimp harvesters was 100,800 pounds. That limit was exceeded by more than 28,000 pounds with a four-pot limit by the 2,259 of 3,810 Prince William Sound shrimp permit holders who reported harvesting shrimp. The three-pot limit for the 2019 season was warranted in order to stay below this season’s limit of 170,200 pounds, of which 102,100 pounds is allocated to noncommercial fisheries, said Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists in Homer.
The season remains the same, opening on April 15 and continuing through Sept. 15, with no daily or annual bag limits. Noncommercial users include both sport and subsistence fishers.
The total allowable harvest level of shrimp in Prince William Sound by noncommercial and commercial users is determined annually using historical harvest and effect, including the most recent season, and results from the department’s annual shrimp pot survey.
Under the Prince William Sound Shrimp Management Plan the noncommercial sector is then allocated 60 percent and the commercial sector 40 percent of the harvest.
The commercial fishery will be prosecuted this year in Area 1, which is generally in the northwest corner of Prince William Sound, west of Perry Island and north of Naked Island.
Sport and subsistence shrimp permits will be available online the last week of March. All participants are required to have a permit with them while fishing for shrimp.
Participants may report their harvest online after they are finished fishing for shrimp for the season or by the Oct. 15 due date for permits.
For additional information about the non-commercial shrimp port fishery, contact Jay Baumer at 907-267-2265. For additional information about the subsistence and commercial shrimp pot fisheries, contact Jan Rumble, area commercial fisheries management biologist in Homer, at 907-235-8191.
