(Released: July 31, 2019 - Expired: December 31, 2019)
Division of Sport Fish |
Alaska Department of Fish and Game |
Contact: Jay Baumer, Area Management Biologist
(907) 267-2265
(Whitter/Anchorage) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is asking for your assistance. Due to the location of Whittier, many anglers clean their catch at sea prior to heading through the Whittier tunnel. Please assist our port sampling program by returning to the harbor with whole groundfish or groundfish carcasses and allowing ADF&G technicians to sample your harvest.
Data collected from the sport fish harvest is needed to manage and maintain healthy fisheries. If too many anglers dispose of carcasses at sea, ADF&G may not be able to meet sampling goals for rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Inadequate data could potentially result in management decisions that are more restrictive than necessary. Voluntary cooperation avoids regulatory measures, such as an emergency order requiring fish be cleaned in port.
Anglers are asked to either bring back whole groundfish or groundfish carcasses, with head and tail attached. This will allow ADF&G technicians to sample harvested fish. If an ADF&G technician is not present, simply dispose of the carcasses at the cleaning stations. If anglers are out for multiple days and can’t retain all carcasses, ADF&G asks that anglers at least return to port with all fish or carcasses from the last day of fishing.
For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Jay Baumer at (907) 267-2265.
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