Seiners get 12 hours in six Prince William Sound districts today

Prince William Sound purse seine permit holders get 12 hours on the water today, Sunday, Aug. 16, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., in the Eastern, Northern, Coghill, Northwestern, Montague and Southeastern districts. Two open only in part: the Eastern south of a line the announcement sets by coordinates, the Northern between Granite Point and Perry Point. Coghill is open to drift gillnet gear as well as seine, though the opening excludes the Esther Subdistrict and the Wally Noerenberg Hatchery terminal and special harvest areas.

Area management biologists Todd Johnson and Jeremy Botz set the period in Announcement #35, released Saturday by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Cordova office. The department attributed the opening to aerial surveys from the week of Aug. 10 showing improvement in wild stock escapement, with the Eastern, Coghill, Eshamy and Southeastern districts within anticipated ranges for the date. The fishery moved to a two-day-on, two-day-off rotation on Aug. 6, with a two-day opening that began Friday. "It is anticipated that future fishing opportunities will transition to a regular schedule of every other day," the announcement said.

In the Northern District, anadromous stream closures within Hidden Bay will not be in effect during the period. Every other closed water and stream closure stands.

The Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation completed its 2026 pink salmon cost recovery goal on Aug. 10, and through Saturday the Valdez Fisheries Development Association had collected 26% of its 270 million pink egg take goal, reporting broodstock secured. PWSAC recommends the Armin F. Koernig, Cannery Creek and Wally Noerenberg hatchery areas stay closed to build brood.

The next announcement is expected by 2 p.m. Monday. Recorded announcements run at 907-424-7345 for seine and 907-424-7535 for gillnet.