Juneau…The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reminding sport and personal use shrimpers that the sport and personal use shrimp fisheries in Tenakee Inlet will remain closed until further notice. The closed area consists of all marine waters of Tenakee Inlet west of a line extending across the entrance of Tenakee Inlet from South Passage Point to East Point.

Data collected during the 2014 annual shrimp survey indicate that Tenakee Inlet shrimp abundance levels remain low. The Tenakee Inlet commercial shrimp pot fishery was closed in 2011 based on the lowest catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the department's shrimp surveys since 2000. The personal use and sport fisheries remained open in 2011; however, because CPUE in the survey declined even further in 2012, the personal use and sport fisheries were closed effective October 1, 2012. Based on poor 2013 and 2014 survey results continued conservation measures are necessary to rebuild this resource. The commercial fishery, personal use and sport fishery will remain closed in 2015.

The intention of these closures is to allow shrimp abundance to rebound from the current low level. The department will continue annual surveys to monitor the Tenakee Inlet shrimp resource, and all Tenakee Inlet shrimp fisheries will remain closed until survey data indicates abundance can sustain future harvests. The 2015 annual survey is scheduled for September.

For further information concerning this news release contact David Love at (907) 465-4270, or Dave Harris at (907) 465-4250 at the Juneau Regional Office at the Bill Ray Center, 1108 F St., Juneau.
 

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