Southeast Alaska commercial Dungeness crab season closes Saturday night

Commercial Dungeness crab permit holders in Southeast Alaska have until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 25, to finish fishing the 2026 summer season, after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued emergency order EO 1C5426 closing the season in Registration Area A. The closure was previously announced June 29 and is being carried out in accordance with the Southeastern Alaska Dungeness Crab Management Plan [5 AAC 32.146].

Deadlines and Gear Rules

All Dungeness crab aboard must be landed within 24 hours of closure. Vessel operators who cannot meet that deadline must call Region I Shellfish Biologist Joe Stratman at (907) 772-5238 within that same 24-hour window to request authorization for extended holding. Crab pots may remain in closed waters for up to seven days after closure, but only with all pot doors secured fully open and all bait removed. Operators facing extreme weather or a major vessel breakdown have until 11:59 p.m. on August 1 to request a gear storage extension through Stratman at the same number.

Fall Season

The fall/winter season is scheduled to reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026. ADF&G said the length of that season will be announced after a review of fishery performance data.