Prince William Sound seiners get 12 hours Sunday across six districts

Prince William Sound purse seine permit holders get 12 hours on the water Sunday, from 8 am to 8 pm, across the Eastern, Northern, Coghill, Northwestern, Montague and Southeastern districts.

Two are open only in part: the Eastern south of a set boundary line, and the Northern between Granite Point and Perry Point. Coghill is open to drift gillnet gear as well as seine, excluding the Esther Subdistrict and the Wally Noerenberg Hatchery terminal and special harvest areas.

Area management biologists Todd Johnson and Jeremy Botz set the period, announced Saturday by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Cordova office. The department attributed the opening to aerial surveys from the week of Aug. 10 showing improvement in wild stock escapement, with the Eastern, Coghill, Eshamy and Southeastern districts within anticipated ranges for the date.

The fishery moved to a two-day-on, two-day-off rotation on Aug. 6, with a two-day opening that began Friday. The department expects future openings to shift to every other day.

In the Northern District, anadromous stream closures within Hidden Bay are lifted for the period. All other closed waters and stream closures stand.

The Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation completed its 2026 pink salmon cost recovery goal on Aug. 10. Through Saturday, the Valdez Fisheries Development Association had collected 26% of its 270 million pink egg take goal and reported broodstock secured. PWSAC recommends the Armin F. Koernig, Cannery Creek and Wally Noerenberg hatchery areas stay closed to build brood.

The next announcement is expected by 2 pm Monday.