FISHERY ANNOUNCEMENT
COOK INLET STATE-WATERS PACIFIC COD SEASON
CLOSES TO POT VESSELS GREATER THAN 58 FEET IN LENGTH
EO # 2-GF-H-03-12
The Cook Inlet Area state-waters Pacific cod season will close to vessels greater than 58 feet in
length and fishing with pot gear effective 5:00 pm, Friday, March 2, 2012. The season for
vessels less than or equal to 58 feet in length and fishing with pot gear will remain open until the
pot allocation is achieved.
The Cook Inlet Area state-waters Pacific cod season opened to pot gear at 12:00 noon, February
11, 2012 with a guideline harvest level (GHL) of 4.7 million pounds allocated 85% or 4.0
million pounds to pot gear and 15% or 0.7 million pounds to jig gear. The Cook Inlet Pacific
Cod Management Plan (5 AAC 28.367) also restricts the state-waters season Pacific cod harvest
by vessels greater than 58 feet in length and fishing pot gear to 25% of the total guideline harvest
level or approximately 1.18 million pounds. Based upon current and projected harvest levels,
this amount will be achieved by 5:00 p.m. March 2, 2012. If there is GHL remaining after
September 1, it will become available to all gear groups with no vessel size restrictions.
Fishermen are reminded that all pots must be unbaited and doors open at the time of the closure.
Pots must be removed from the water no later than five days following the closure. Fish must be
landed within 24-hours following the closure.
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