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Doug Vincent-Lang, Acting Commissioner
Forrest Bowers, Acting Director - Division of Commercial Fisheries
Tom Taube, Acting Director - Division of Sport Fish

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Contact:
Dave Harris - Division of Commercial Fisheries
Phone: (907) 465-4250
Daniel Teske - Division of Sport Fish
Phone: (907) 465-8152

Douglas Area Office
802 3rd Street
Douglas, AK 99824
Date: December 31, 2018
Time: 9:00 AM


JUNEAU AREA SECTION 11-A REMAINS CLOSED TO SPORT AND PERSONAL USE POT SHRIMP FISHING IN 2019

Juneau- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the sport and personal use (PU) pot 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 near Point Bishop at 58o 12.33’N. lat., 134o10’W long., to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden at 58o 09.55’N. lat., 134o10.69’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 spot shrimp abundance in Section 11-A, the commercial, sport, and personal use fisheries were 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 pot fisheries that harvest spot shrimp in this area are necessary to rebuild the population.

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

The department conducted an initial survey in early 2018 to gather baseline data and plans to conduct a survey in Section 11-A in the spring of 2019 to gather further information on spot shrimp stock abundance.

Sport and personal use pot shrimp fishing closed (dark shaded area) in Juneau Section 11-A for 2019.

Juneau Area Section 11-A Remains Closed To Sport And Personal Use Pot Shrimp Fishing In 2019

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