Ninety-three vessels are registered for the Prince William Sound Area E commercial shrimp pot fishery, which opens April 15 with a guideline harvest level of 68,100 pounds and runs through April 26.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists have set initial gear limits at a maximum of 30 shrimp pots per vessel, and initial period fishing hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Announcements of future fishing periods will depend on prompt catch reporting and harvest levels, ADF&G said.
The area open to commercial fishing is designated Area 2.
Shrimp pot gear may only be deployed and retrieved between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the open fishing period and may not be stored in the water or deployed prior to when the season opens.
ADF&G also noted that a vessel operator may not have more than the legal limit of pot gear in aggregate, on board the vessel or in the water at any time.
Each shrimp pot deployed on a longline with six or more pots must have a buoy attached to each end of the longline, but pot tags are not required.
Harvesters are advised that all commercial shrimp pot vessels must call the reporting line at 907-226-3474 no earlier than 24-hours before fishing for each trip. They must provide the Commercial Fishing Entry Commission permit holder name, vessel name and ADF&G number of the registered vessel, number of pots intended to be operated statistical area the operator of the vessel intends to fish and intended length of the trip.
ADF&G also advised that the city of Whittier has put into effect temporary operation rules and procedures regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency. Those planning to fish out of Whittier are advised to visit the website whittieralaska.gov for the full document.
Health mandates issued by the state of Alaska declare commercial fishing to be an essential business and part of Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure. Commercial harvesters should ensure that all travel and other activities in support of their commercial fishing operations follow protocols of those health mandates
