Board of Fisheries to weigh closing Homer Spit waters to commercial fishing

The Alaska Board of Fisheries will take up two proposals that would close waters around the Homer Spit to commercial fishing when it meets Dec. 1-4 in Seward. One would ban commercial fishing within a half-mile of the Spit. The other would push the closure line out to a full mile.

The proposals are part of a larger Lower Cook Inlet package in the board's proposal book. Others would repeal the use of commercial beach seine gear in all Cook Inlet waters, repeal the Cook Inlet sablefish trip limit and repeal the Port Graham Hatchery Salmon Hatchery Management Plan. This board cycle also covers finfish proposals for the Upper Cook Inlet and Kodiak management areas.

The Cook Inlet sablefish fishery's 2026 guideline harvest level is 115,000 pounds, about 1% below the 116,000 pounds set for 2025, according to the department's 2026 groundfish outlook.

Local fish and game advisory committees will review the package and send recommendations to the board, which makes the final call. Written comments to the board are due Nov. 16.