State fishery managers are reminding commercial harvesters of Pacific cod that the state-waters P-cod fishery for pot and jig gear closes at midnight Dec. 31, with the parallel Pacific cod season immediately opening to pot, jig and longline gear on Jan. 1.
All fish from the state waters season must be landed within 24 hours of that closure and prior to participation in the 2021 parallel season.
Parallel P-cod seasons are established via emergency order to coincide with the season dates and gear types set by the National Marine Fisheries Service for the initial P-cod season in the adjacent federal Central Gulf of Alaska regulatory area.
The Prince William Sound parallel season closure for longline gear will coincide with the federal closure of the less than 50-foot hook and line gear sector on the Central Gulf.
Fishermen must obtain a PWS parallel P-cod season registration from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game prior to fishing. Fishermen using pot or longline gear in parallel P-cod fisheries must have a functioning, activated NMFS-approved vessel monitoring system and adhere to federal seabird avoidance measures as required in all longline fisheries for groundfish in the outside district of PWS.
Due the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, ADF&G is urging the public to ask questions by phone. Registration may also be completed by fax or email. Contact ADF&G at Homer with groundfish regulatory and registration questions, at 907-235-8191.
In person registration is available at ADF&G offices in Anchorage, Cordova, Homer, Kodiak or Soldotna.
