A second period of the Prince William Sound commercial shrimp pot season, which got under way on Monday, May 4, remains mostly open through 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9, with state fisheries officials closely monitoring the harvest.
The first period of the fishery opened on April 15 and closed April 26 with an estimated preliminary harvest from 60 vessel call-in reports of 68,100 pounds of whole shrimp. Estimated effort was 22,540 pot lifts with an average catch per unit effort of 1.98 pounds of whole shrimp per pot, according to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
Some 25,429 pounds, or 37 percent of the total guideline harvest limit was harvested in statistical area 486034.
Participants are reminded that only 50 percent of the guidelines harvest level may be harvested in any one statistical area. Given that consideration, statistical area 486034 was to close 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7.
Participating fishermen must call the reporting line with pre-trip and landing reports at 907-226-3474 in order for ADF&G to monitor the harvest. This information is detailed in the registration packet that all registrants receive. Reporting requirements must be followed exactly, and enforcement action will result for any non-compliance, ADF&G said.
Shrimp harvesters were also advised that the city of Whittier has issued its own temporary operation rules and procedures regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency. More information on Whittier’s rules is at whittieralaska.gov.
