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Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner
Sam Rabung, Director - Division of Commercial Fisheries
Dave Rutz, Director - Division of Sport Fish

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Contact:
Scott Forbes - Division of Commercial Fisheries
Phone: (907) 465-4250
Daniel Teske - Division of Sport Fish
Phone: (907) 465-4270

802 3rd Street
Douglas, AK 99824
Date: December 15, 2022
For Immediate Release


JUNEAU AREA SECTION 11-A REMAINS CLOSED TO SPORT AND PERSONAL USE SHRIMP POT FISHING IN 2023

(Juneau) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the sport and personal use (PU) shrimp pot 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 58°12.32ʹ N. lat., 134°10.14ʹ W. long., to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden at 58°09.55ʹ N. lat., 134°10.68ʹ W. long., south of the latitude of Little Island Light at 58°32.41ʹ N. lat., 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 shrimp 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 Section 11-A personal use and sport shrimp pot fisheries will remain closed until survey data indicates the spot shrimp population can support directed harvests. The department has conducted four surveys of the area from 2017–2021 to gather data on spot shrimp population size and structure, and results of these surveys indicate a continued decline in spot shrimp abundance and a lack of replacement of large size shrimp by small size shrimp. The department will continue to survey Section 11-A in future years and will be prepared to react if the spot shrimp population recovers to sufficient levels to sustain fisheries.

Sport and personal use shrimp pot fishing closed (dark shaded area) in Juneau Section 11-A for 2023.

ENDJuneau Area Section 11-A Remains Closed to Sport and Personal Use Shrimp Pot Fishing in 2023

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