Contact:
Daniel Teske
Juneau Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-465-4270

Juneau- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the sport and personal use (PU) shrimp fisheries in the Juneau area will remain closed until further notice. The closed area consists of all marine waters of Section 11-A (see attached map) north and west of a line extending from a regulatory marker at 58^o 12.33’N. lat., 134^o10’W long., to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden at 58^o 09.55’N. lat., 134^o10.69’W. long., south of the latitude of Little Island Light, and east of a line from Little Island Light to Point Retreat Light.

Due to declining commercial fishery catch per unit of effort (CPUE) indicating low shrimp abundance in Section 11-A, the commercial fishery was closed July 1, 2013 to allow the shrimp population in this area to rebuild. Creel census data from 2003–2007 indicated that the PU/sport fishery harvests were approximately equal to commercial harvests during this time. Therefore, closure of all fisheries that harvest shrimp in this area was necessary to rebuild the population. The sport and personal use shrimp fisheries will remain closed until further notice.

The intention of these closures is to allow shrimp abundance to rebound from the current low level. The department will continue to monitor the Section 11-A shrimp resource. The personal use and sport fisheries will remain closed until data indicates shrimp abundance can again sustain harvests.

For further information concerning this news release please contact the Douglas Regional Office at (907) 465-4270 or visit the office located at 802 3rd Street, Douglas, AK, or visit http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R1