Contact:
Brian Marston
Yakutat Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 784-3222

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that sport Dungeness crab fishing in the Yakutat management area will close effective 12:01 a.m., Thursday, July 10, 2014.

The Yakutat area encompasses all waters of Alaska between the longitude of Cape Suckling (144^o W. Longitude), and a line projected SW (225^o) seaward from the westernmost tip of Cape Fairweather at 58⁰ 47.89’ N, Latitude and 137⁰ 56.68’ W, Longitude.

Surveys conducted by the Department indicate that the Dungeness crab stock in the Yakutat area is not rebuilding following the closure of the commercial fishery in 2000. Estimates of sport Dungeness crab harvest prior to 2005 indicated a declining trend in the Yakutat area Dungeness crab stock. The Dungeness crab sport fishery in the Yakutat vicinity has been closed each year since 2005 by emergency order. Because all indications suggest that the stock is not rebuilding, the sport fishery will continue to be closed in 2014.

For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish, Yakutat, at (907) 784-3222.

END