Four proposals address lack of observers, bycatch, “midwater” trawl gear on the bottom
Alaskans are asking that changes be made to the pollock fishery at Prince William Sound. It is the only state-managed pollock trawl fishery that has occurred in three regions of Prince William Sound since 1995.
The pollock fishery opens on January 20 and can run through March 31. Fishing closures came early this year when squid and salmon bycatch limits were reached. Prince William Sound pollock catches from 2021 to 2023 by 15 boats averaged nearly 7 million pounds. In 2024, the harvest quota was 9.61 million pounds. Annual revenue for the fishery is approximately $1 million.
Four pollock proposals will come before the state Board of Fisheries when it meets December 10 through 16 in Cordova.
Three are by the Chenega IRA Council, a federally recognized tribe in the Prince William Sound region; one proposal is by the Alaska Outdoor Council.
Proposal 14, by the Alaska Outdoor Council would close the Prince William Sound fishery unless no part of any trawl gear contacts the seafloor habitat and there is no bycatch of king salmon. While the Sound’s pollock fishery is required to use pelagic, or midwater gear, recent studies have shown that pelagic trawl nets are actually on the bottom up to 85% of the time.
Proposal 15 by the Chenega Council would set poundage limits on trawl bycatch. Currently, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets bycatch limits by Emergency Order for salmon, rockfish, sharks, squid and other species. Bycatch is limited by regulation to no more than 5% of the total round weight of pollock harvested.
Proposal 16 would close the Prince William Sound pelagic trawl fishery.
Proposal 17, also by the Chenega Council, would require on-board electronic monitoring and observers on a portion of trawlers’ trips. Currently no observer coverage is required during the pollock fishery and all bycatch is hauled from Prince William Sound to processors in Kodiak for documentation to ADF&G.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game opposes all four of the proposals.
Public comments are accepted by the Fish Board through midnight November 26. This simple form lets you write and submit comments instantly.
The Board of Fisheries is scheduled to take up the Prince William Sound trawl pollock fishery starting on December 10.
