Commercial shrimp pot fishing in Prince William Sound opens for the season on April 15, with a guideline harvest level of 70,000 pounds, only in waters designated as Area 3, boarding on the southwest end of Montague Island.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials note that all participants must have a 2021 P09E or P91E interim use permit available from the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission and a Prince William Sound area vessel registration. CFEC permit forms are available at cdv.tiny.us/cfec or at ADF&G offices in Cordova, Homer, Anchorage and Soldotna.
Registration must be completed by 5 p.m. on April 1.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the public is asked to phone Jan Rumble at 907-321-1569 or the Homer ADF&G office at 907-235-8191 and complete registrations by phone and email or fax during regular business hours.
ADF&G conducts an annual longline pot survey on sport shrimp in PWS. Survey results along with the fishery performance from the commercial and noncommercial fisheries are then used in a surplus production model to determine the annual total allowable harvest. That total allowable harvest must exceed 110,000 pounds for a commercial fishery to be prosecuted, which has occurred for the past 12 years, following adoption of the management plan and reopening of the commercial fishery.
