SOUTHEAST ALASKA GROUNDFISH BYCATCH REGULATIONS APPLICABLE
IN THE COMMERCIAL HALIBUT FISHERY OCCURRING IN STATE WATERSSitka…The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the following information concerning
regulations that apply during the 2012 Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) commercial halibut fishery. This
news release details bycatch regulations and allowances for state waters of Southeast Alaska east of
144°00.00' W. longitude. The IFQ halibut fishery opens at 12:00 noon March 17, 2012 and closes at
12:00 noon November 7, 2012.
Rockfish Possession and Landing Requirements (5 AAC 28.171)
A vessel or Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) interim use permit holder fishing for
groundfish or halibut must retain, weigh, and report all demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) and black rockfish
taken. The DSR assemblage includes yelloweye, quillback, canary, copper, tiger, China, and rosethorn
rockfish.
In the Northern Southeast Inside (NSEI) and Southern Southeast Inside (SSEI) Subdistricts only, a vessel
or CFEC permit holder fishing for groundfish or halibut must retain, weigh, and report all rockfish
species (excluding thornyheads) taken.
All rockfish in excess of allowable bycatch limits shall be reported as bycatch overage on an ADF&G fish
ticket. All proceeds from the sale of excess rockfish bycatch shall be surrendered to the state. Excess
rockfish retained due to full retention requirements may be kept for a person’s own use however the
pounds must be documented as overage on the fish ticket.
Federal Demersal Shelf Rockfish Landing Requirements:
Fishermen are reminded that full retention of demersal shelf rockfish is also required in federal
waters east of 140° W. longitude (Southeast Outside District). DSR taken in federal waters must be
reported on an ADF&G fish ticket and DSR in excess of bycatch allowances must be reported as bycatch
overage. DSR overage from federal waters may be retained for personal use or donated but cannot be sold
or enter commerce. Full retention regulations for DSR do not apply in federal waters of the Icy Bay
Subdistrict (IBS).
Halibut Fishery Bycatch page 2 of 3 March 8, 2012
Lingcod
Lingcod bycatch in the halibut longline fishery is allocated by management area. Lingcod management
areas include IBS, East Yakutat (EYKT) Section, Northern Southeast Outside (NSEO) Section, Central
Southeast Outside (CSEO) Section, Southern Southeast Outer Coast (SSEOC) Sector, Northern Southeast
Inside (NSEI) Subdistrict, and Southern Southeast Internal Waters (SSEIW) Sector (Figure 1). Lingcod
catches will be closely monitored, and fishermen are advised that area closures may occur on short notice
as allocations are taken. Closures will be announced by news release as well as during the United States
Coast Guard “Notice to Mariners” report and National Weather Service broadcast. For information on
lingcod bycatch status and closures, contact the Sitka Area Office at 907-747-6688 or the Groundfish
Hotline at 907-747-4882.
Groundfish Bycatch Limits for the IFQ Halibut Fishery in State Waters: Percentage indicates
amount that may be sold and is based on round weight of halibut and round weight of bycatch species.
SPECIES STATE OUTSIDE WATERS INTERNAL WATERS
0-3 MILES NSEI/SSEI
Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) 10%, full retention is required. 10%, full retention is required.
These restrictions also apply in federal waters
east of 140° W. longitude.
Black, Blue, and Dark Rockfish 15% in aggregate, 15% in aggregate,
(state and federal waters) full retention required for black rockfish only. full retention is required.
All other rockfish and 5% in aggregate. 5% in aggregate,
thornyheads full retention required for all
rockfish, except thornyheads.
Lingcod Longline fishery- Longline fishery-
(state and federal waters) 20% EYKT, NSEO, CSEO, and SSEOC, 10% NSEI,
5% IBS, 5% SSEIW,
27" minimum size limit. 27" minimum size limit.
Jig fishery- 0%, no retention. Jig fishery- 0%, no retention.
Pacific Cod 20%. 20%.
Spiny Dogfish Longline fishery- 35%. Longline fishery- 35%.
Jig fishery- 20%. Jig fishery- 20%.
Sablefish 0%, no retention. 0%, no retention.
Other Groundfish 20% in aggregate. 20% in aggregate.
For information on the halibut fishery bycatch allowances in federal waters refer to:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/rr/tables/tabl10.pdf and
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/2012/hal2012.pdf or contact
NOAA enforcement at (907) 747-6940 (Sitka), (907) 586-7225 (Juneau), (907) 772-2285 (Petersburg), or
(907) 247-5804 (Ketchikan).
Harvest of bait by commercial permit holders in the state waters of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska:
A CFEC interim use permit holder may take groundfish in waters of Alaska, for use as bait in waters of
Alaska, in the commercial fishery for which the permit is held. A person who takes groundfish for bait
during a fishing trip and uses the bait during that trip, must report the bait taken by species and estimated
weight on the fish ticket prepared for that fishing trip. Groundfish harvested for bait shall be reported on
the fish ticket using fish ticket delivery code 92. Sablefish, lingcod, thornyhead, shortraker, rougheye,
and yelloweye rockfish may not be taken for bait or used for bait (5AAC 28.190).
Halibut Fishery Bycatch page 3 of 3 March 8, 2012
FIGURE 1. SOUTHEAST ALASKA LINGCOD MANAGEMENT AREAS.
This map is for general reference only. For detailed descriptions of Lingcod Management Area
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/news/pdfs/newsreleases/cf/112645604.pdf
