Juneau. . . The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the summer personal use red and blue king crab season in Section 11-A will open at 6:00 a.m., Thursday, July 27, and will continue through 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 31, 2017.

Analysis of the data from the 2017 Juneau leg of the annual red king crab survey indicate sufficient stock abundance to allow the prosecution of the Section 11-A personal use red and blue king crab fishery at a reduced harvest level. The fishery will proceed with the following daily bag and possession limits and restrictions:

• Fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m., Thursday, July 27, through 8:00 p.m., Monday July 31.

• Summer seasonal limit for the red and blue king crab fishery is 2 male crab per household permit.

• Daily limit for the red and blue king crab fishery is 2 male crab per household permit.

• 1 pot or 2 ring nets per vessel are allowed to take king and/or tanner crab during this fishery. A household permit is required to participate in the fishery and permits will be available at the Douglas Fish and Game Office, 802 3rd Street, starting 8:00 a.m., Monday, July 24, 2017. Permits will not be available online.

• Summer king crab permits must be returned to the Douglas ADF&G office immediately once the two crab seasonal bag limit has been reached, or by September 30, 2017.

Residents are reminded that they must also be in possession of a valid resident sport-fishing license if 18 years or older prior to harvesting king crab.

Current regulations on personal use red and blue king crab fishing can be found at:www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/folioproxy.asp

Information regarding the red and blue king crab personal use fishery outside Section 11-A may be found in the June 21 News Release #062117 NR 2. For more information on the status of the red and blue king crab personal use fishery outside Section 11-A please contact Joe Stratman (772-5238) or Adam Messmer (465-4853).

Section 11-A includes the waters of Gastineau Channel, Stephens Passage, and Lynn Canal north of a line from the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden to Bishop Point at 58°12.33′ N. latitude and 134°10.00′ W. longitude and south of a line at the latitude of Little Island Light at 58°32.41′ N. latitude, and east of a line from Little Island Light to Point Retreat Light.

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