Lingcod bycatch retention closes in Icy Bay Subdistrict at 11:59 p.m. Monday

Longline boats working the Icy Bay Subdistrict lose the ability to keep lingcod caught incidentally after 11:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, when the Alaska Department of Fish and Game closes bycatch retention across the entire subdistrict. Lingcod that come up on the gear after that hour go back over the rail.

The department's Aug. 20 advisory states the reason plainly: the 12,670 lb lingcod guideline harvest level (GHL) for IBS longline fisheries is estimated to be taken by the time of closure. Alex McCarrel, the Region I groundfish biologist, is listed as the contact on the notice. The emergency order carrying the closure is EO 1G1626.

This is the second Southeast longline lingcod closure in under two weeks. Retention shut in the Northern Southeast Inside Subdistrict at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 13 under a separate order, after its 9,600-pound guideline harvest level was projected to be reached.

Retention stays open for longline fisheries, excluding sablefish, in the East Yakutat and Northern Southeast Outside sections, the Central Southeast Outside Section, and the Southern Southeast Outer Coast Sector. ADF&G frames these rolling, area-specific closures as a conservation and allocation measure tied to preset harvest limits, not an overfishing emergency, and says further closures are possible on short notice.

Affected longline fishers and processors, whose trip planning and retained value shift with the closure date, could not be reached for comment.

Skippers can check status by calling the Groundfish Hotline at 907-747-4882; closures also go out over Coast Guard and National Weather Service marine broadcasts.