NMFS closes directed perch fishing in the Western Aleutian district

The Western Aleutians closed to Pacific ocean perch fishing at noon Friday for one group of trawlers, and stays closed the rest of the year. It is the second Aleutian perch closure for that fleet in eight days.

The group is the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands trawl limited access sector, and its share of Western Aleutian perch for the year was 214 metric tons. Federal managers determined that number has been caught or soon will be.

The Central Aleutians closed to the same fleet on Aug. 27, after it took the 480 metric tons allotted there.

Boats can still keep perch they catch while fishing for something else, up to the usual retention limits.

Fisheries managers skipped the normal notice and comment period to do it. The most recent catch data arrived only the day before, and the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that waiting would be "impracticable and contrary to the public interest."

The same district closed to the same fleet on Sept. 4 last year.