Chignik District red sea cucumber divers get first fishing period Sept. 30 to Oct. 7

Commercial divers can harvest red sea cucumbers in the Chignik District from noon Wednesday, Sept. 30, to 11:59 am Wednesday, Oct. 7, under an emergency order the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Monday. It's the first fishing period of the 2026/27 season.

The season opened Sept. 15, but divers can fish only during periods the department sets. The district's harvest for the whole season is capped at 15,000 pounds, weighed with the sea cucumbers' internal organs removed. The department says it will track how fishing effort is spread and how the fishery performs, and it could close areas before the cap is reached if the fishery performs poorly.

Divers need a Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission permit card for the fishery, a department diver registration or commissioner permit, and a buyer lined up. Logbooks are due after every period. Forms and logbooks are available from the department's Kodiak office.

Kodiak's red sea cucumber season, capped at 120,000 pounds, and South Peninsula's, capped at 20,000 pounds, open Oct. 1.

Questions go to area management biologist Nat Nichols or assistant area management biologist Cassandra Whiteside at the Kodiak office, 907-486-1840.