Commercial fisheries officials at the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game’s Dutch Harbor office have issued a 2014 Dutch Harbor
sub-district state-waters Pacific cod guideline harvest level of 17,863,874
pounds.
The Dutch Harbor sub-district will open seven days after
closure of the initial Pacific cod season for the federal Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands hook-and-line and pot catcher vessel less than 60 feet in
overall length sector. A subsequent news release will announce the opening of
the sub-district state waters Pacific cod season, area management biologists
said.
Vessels participating in this sub-district fishery may not
exceed 58 feet in overall length and must be using pot gear. Vessels may not
operate more than 60 pots and buoy identification tags are required. Buoy tags
will be available for purchase at $2 per tag at Alaska Department of Fish and
Game offices in Dutch Harbor and Kodiak, or may be obtained through local
processors.
Steller sea lion protection measures will be in effect
during the fishery.
Vessel operators must have a Dutch Harbor sub-district state
waters Pacific cod vessel registration prior to participating in the fishery,
and a vessel may not register in more than one state-waters Pacific cod
exclusive registration area during a calendar year. However, state fisheries
officials said, a vessel may register for one state waters Pacific cod
exclusive registration area and a non-exclusive state waters Pacific cod
registration area. A separate registration is required to participate in the
parallel Pacific cod fishery.
For further information, contact ADF&G at Dutch Harbor
at 1-907-581-1239.
.gif)