AEB Winter Fisheries Teleconference Recap

Will the winter fisheries open January 1^st as scheduled despite the US Government partial shutdown?   The good news is yes.

NOAA Fisheries Office of law Enforcement (OLE) Special Agent Brent Pristas was the only federal participant during the AEB Winter Fisheries teleconference December 27^th.   As an 'essential personnel' Brent Pristas was able give fishery updates and other reminders from the federal agencies to the fishermen listening in.

 

The ‘A’ season Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) as relayed in a memo by NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division:

•  ‘A’ season pot cod TAC 1031 mt. Season will open Jan 1, and a reminder that the 2018 season is still open for those who wish to get an early start.
•  ‘A’ season catcher vessel hook & line cod TAC set at 36 mt.  Will not open for the ‘A’ season.
•  ‘A’ season jig cod TAC is 80 mt. Will open January 1.
•  ‘A’ season trawl cod TAC set at 1443 mt.  Will not open unless fishermen have a co-op plan in place, to keep from exceeding the TAC.
•  The crab sideboarded pot cod is 320 mt.  Will open January 1.

The 2019 area 610 pollock season TACs as relayed in a memo by NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division:

• Area 610 ‘A’ season TAC 848 mt.  Will not open unless fishermen have a co-op plan in place, to keep from exceeding the TAC.
• Area 610 ‘B’ season TAC 848 mt.  Will not open unless fishermen have a co-op plan in place, to keep from exceeding the TAC.

Sustainable Fisheries Division and OLE reminds fishermen to please record the correct Statistical area fished in for fish ticket data, especially regarding State or Federal area fished in.

Adak fisheries open and close on Alaska time-zone (AKST), not ‘Adak’ time.

OLE recommends fishermen check vessel VMS; you can call OLE to confirm transmission. 

Reminder to call-in to the ODDs system to check if you need to carry an observer.  Luke Symanski of AIS stated the call center number and hours: 1-855-747-6377, 6am to 10pm AKST, Sand Point residents may need to use an alternate number: 1-206-673-3338. Also reminder to check that your safety decal is up-to-date.

Natura Richardson with ADFG reminded fishermen that the State-waters cod fishery opening date is 7 days after the federal Western Gulf pot cod season closes or March 7^th, whichever is later.  State-waters   Jig gear season opens March 15, assuming the parallel ‘A’ season jig TAC is not yet caught.

South Alaska Peninsula 2019 State-Waters Pacific Cod Guideline Harvest Levels: Pot gear GHL 4,291,067 lbs., Jig gear GHL 757,247 lbs.  down about 5.6% from last year. Expected to be a fast season like last year.  Only regulatory change is the removal of the weather delay rule for jig gear. The weather delay rule is still in place for pot gear.

Lara Erickson with the International Pacific Halibut Commission reminded fisherman that the annual IPHC meeting is Jan 28^th – Feb 1^st.  Regulatory proposals announced Jan 31^st, fishing limits announced Feb 1^st.

Fisherman Kiley Thompson asked Brent Pristas if there was any concerns from OLE about the flatfish fishery that Sand Point small boat fishermen have been trying out.  Brent noted concerns about bycatch overages in the fishery, especially black cod, but also pollock overages and maybe skate bycatch overages. Kiley suggested a meeting between the fishermen and OLE prior to the season opening Jan 20^th to go over some of the concerns for this developing fishery. Brent agreed that was a good idea.

Nathaniel Nichols reminded fishermen to call the ADFG office in Kodiak with any questions about the state season. They are happy to help get registrations and buoy tags sent out.

This teleconference was available at the following sites:

·         King Cove Harbor House

·         Sand Point Borough office

·         False Pass City Office

·         Anchorage AEB office

The meeting was broadcast live on local radio KSDP and the audio is now archived at https://apradio.org/mp3-aleutians-east-borough-winter-fisheries-teleconference/