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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Sam Cotten, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Tom Brookover, Director

Contact:
Bob Chadwick
Regional Management Coordinator
Phone: 907-747-5355

January 01, 2017

YAKUTAT SPORT DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING CLOSED

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. Sunday, January 1, 2017.

The Yakutat Area encompasses all waters of Alaska between the longitude of Cape Suckling (144o W. Longitude), and a line projected SW (225o) seaward from the westernmost tip of Cape Fairweather at 58o 47.89’ N. Latitude and 137o 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 has not achieved levels to allow harvest, the sport fishery will continue to be closed in 2017.

For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish at
(907) 747-5355.