Fish and Game gives Districts 6 and 8 gillnetters an extra day, closes Section 6-D

Drift gillnet permit holders around Kupreanof and Mitkof islands get one more day on the water, though Section 6-D stays closed. Districts 6 and 8 now close at noon Thursday, Aug. 27, under Emergency Order 1S6926, signed Aug. 25 by Petersburg Assistant Area Management Biologist Tom Kowalske of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Division of Commercial Fisheries.

Section 8-A is closed west of a line running from a point one nautical mile off the Kupreanof Island shoreline through Sukoi Islets Light to Frederick Point, and east of a line from Mitkof Island to the western end of Coney Island. Section 8-B is closed north and west of a line from Babbler Point to Hour Point, and north and east of a line running from Point Highfield through the southern end of Liesnoi Island to Greys Island.

Districts 6 and 8 were also extended 24 hours on Aug. 5, under an order that kept Section 6-D closed and restricted Salmon Bay and Sections 8-A and 8-B. The notice gives no escapement or harvest figures.

Drift gillnet stakeholders have told federal regulators they prefer real-time, escapement-based openings to fixed preseason limits.