Tanner Crab Fishery Closes in Pavlof Bay, Jude Island in Eastern Section of South Peninsula

According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), all waters between 161 degrees W. longitude and 162 degrees W. longitude in the Eastern Section of the South Peninsula District will close to Tanner Crab fishing at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Catch reports indicate the harvest will approach survey estimates of allowable Tanner crab surplus. Further harvest is not warranted in order to protect the long-term health of Tanner crab in this area.

All pots within the closed area must be unbaited and doors open at the time of the closure. Unbaited pots may be stored in the closed area in waters deeper than 25 fathoms for 72 hours. After 72 hours, all pots remaining in the closed area must be removed from the water or placed in waters shallower than 25 fathoms. Vessel operators are not required to deliver crab harvested from the closed prior to targeting Tanner crab in other areas of the Eastern Section of the South Peninsula District that remain open to Tanner crab fishing.

Western Section of South Peninsula District Tanner Crab Fishery Closes Tonight

According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, all waters of the Western Section of the South Peninsula District will close to Tanner crab fishing at 5:59 p.m. tonight (Friday, January 20, 2012). Catch reports indicate that the total harvest will approach survey estimates of allowable Tanner crab surplus. Further harvest is not warranted to protect the long-term health of Tanner crab in this area.

All pots within the closed area must be unbaited and doors open at the time of closure. Unbaited pots may be stored in the closed area in waters deeper than 25 fathoms for 72 hours. After 72 hours, all pots remaining in the closed area must be removed from the water or placed in waters shallower than 25 fathoms. Vessel operators are required to deliver crab harvested from the Western Section prior to targeting Tanner crab in the Eastern Section of the South Peninsula District.

2012 Chignik District Tanner Crab Season Delayed Again

The National Weather Service (NWS) 4 a.m. 48-hour marine forecast for Area 155 on January 20th contained gale warnings. So according to the ADF&G, the Chignik Tanner crab final registration and season opening will be delayed again for 24 hours.

If the 48-hour marine weather forecast in Area 155 issued at 4 a.m. on Saturday, January 21st contains a small craft advisory, final registration and the fishery opening will again be delayed for 24 hours.

If the 48-hour marine weather forecast for Area 155 issued Saturday, January 21st does not contain a small craft advisory, final registration will begin at 12:00 noon on January 21st and the fishery will open at 12:00 noon on January 22nd.

Any action to further delay or open the fishery will be announced in a subsequent ADF&G news release by 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 21st. According to the fishery management plan for the Chignik District, season opening delays may continue on a rolling 24-hour basis until 12:00 noon on January 25th, when the season will open regardless of National Weather Service marine weather forecasts.

For additional information, please contact ADF&G in Kodiak at (907) 486-1840.

2012 Chignik District Tanner Crab Season Delayed Once Again

The National Weather Service 4 a.m. 48-hour marine forecast for Area 155 today (January 18, 2012) contained a gale warning. According to ADF&G, the Chignik District Tanner crab final registration and season opening will be delayed for 24 hours.

If the 48-hour marine weather forecast in Area 155 issued at 4 a.m. on Thursday, January 19th also contains a small craft advisory, final registration and the fishery opening will again be delayed for 24 hours.

If the 48-hour marine weather forecast for Area 155 issued Thursday, January 19th does not contain a small craft advisory, final registration will begin at 12:00 noon on January 19th and the fishery will open at 12:00 noon on January 20th.

Any action to further delay or open the fishery will be announced in a subsequent ADF&G news release by 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 19th.

According to the fishery management plan for the Chignik District, season opening delays may continue on a rolling 24-hour basis until 12:00 noon on January 25, when the season will open regardless of National Weather Service marine weather forecasts.

Closure of Cold Bay and Morzhovoi Bay Tanner Crab Fishery in the Western Section of the South Peninsula District

According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), the waters of Cold Bay and Morzhovoi Bay in the western section of the South Peninsula District closed inside a line from Cape Pankof (54 degrees 39.37’ N. lat.; 163 degrees 03.49’ W. long.) to Bold Cape (55 degrees 01.26’ N. lat.; 162 degrees 15.59’ W. long.) to Tanner crab fishing at 5:59 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday, January 17, 2012). Catch reports indicated the harvest approached survey estimates of allowable Tanner crab surplus. Further harvest is not warranted to protect the long-term health of Tanner crab in this area.

All pots within the closed area must be unbaited and doors open at the time of the closure. Unbaited pots may be stored in the closed area in waters deeper than 25 fathoms for 72 hours. After 72 hours, all pots remaining in the closed area must be removed from the water or placed in waters shallower than 25 fathoms. Vessel operators are not required to deliver crab harvested from the closed area.

Fishing in the remainder of the South Peninsula District - Western Section will remain open until further notice.

2012 Chignik District Tanner Crab Season Delayed Again

The National Weather Service (NWS) 4 a.m. 48-hour marine forecast for Area 155 on January 17th contained a gale warning. According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), the Chignik District Tanner crab final registration and season opening will be delayed for 24 hours.

If the 48-hour marine weather forecast in Area 155 issued at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18th also contains a small craft advisory, final registration and the fishery opening will again be delayed for 24 hours.

If the 48-hour marine forecast for Area 155 Wednesday, January 18th does not contain a small craft advisory, final registration will begin at 12:00 noon on January 18th and the fishery will open at 12:00 noon on January 19th.

Any action to further delay or open the fishery will be announced in a subsequent ADF&G news release by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18th.

For additional information, please contact ADF&G in Kodiak at (907) 486-1840.

Fish Calendar of Events

WASSIP 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2012 Anchorage Hilton

Federal Subsistence Board 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 17th Anchorage Egan Center

AK Marine Science Symposium 8 a.m. on Jan. 17th Anchorage Hotel Captain Cook

IPHC Jan. 24 - 27, 2012 Anchorage Hotel Captain Cook

NPFMC Jan. 30 - Feb. 7, 2012 Renaissance Hotel - Seattle

For more information, go to: http://www.aebfish.org/ or click on the headline to this posting.