ADF&G extends Districts 6 and 8 drift gillnet fishery 48 hours with mesh and area limits

Petersburg-Area Drift Gillnet Fishery Gets 48-Hour Extension With Gear Limits

Commercial drift gillnet fishers in Petersburg-area waters got two more days to operate under Emergency Order 1S2526, issued July 1 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, with both Districts 6 and 8 closing at noon Saturday, July 4. Fishers in District 8 face narrowed access: subarea closures remain in effect alongside the extension.

The extension carries a gear restriction for both districts: gillnet mesh size is capped at 6 inches maximum. That same 6-inch cap was already in place for the District 6 opening June 25 to June 27 under Emergency Order 1S1926, making this the second consecutive opening with that limit. The July 1 order continues a pattern of in-season management adjustments ADF&G has applied throughout the 2026 season.

District 8 carries additional area limits. Section 8-A is closed south of a line running from Horn Cliffs to McDonald Island and on to Sukoi Islets Light. Section 8-B is closed east of a line from Craig Point Light to Mitkof Island.

The 2026 Southeast Alaska Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan, signed by Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang and Deputy Director Forrest Bowers, sets management goals for Districts 6 and 8 that include achieving Chinook salmon escapement targets for the Stikine and Unuk rivers. The plan also requires the fishery to be open at least 48 hours in any given fishing week, the threshold this extension satisfies.

ADF&G reached fishers on the grounds via VHF radio channel 10 at approximately 2:30 p.m. on July 1. Petersburg Area Management Biologist Katie Taylor can be reached at (907) 772-3801 or [email protected].