Southeast shrimp fishery closes, and three areas won't reopen

Southeast Alaska's commercial shrimp pot fishery closes in eight areas at 4 p.m. July 31 — and three of them won't reopen this fall or winter.

Sections 3-B/C and District 14 stay shut for poor fishery performance, and District 15-East for a low remaining quota, cutting off future income from those grounds. The rest close on schedule, with fall and winter openings — potentially including District 4 on Oct. 1 — to be announced by Sept. 15, once the state finishes reviewing harvest and stock data.

The closures come as the catch runs short of target. Season harvest across all districts stands at 325,300 pounds against a combined guideline of 386,600, part of a broader decline in shrimp abundance the department has cited across the region.

Pots can stay in the water until Aug. 7 with doors open and bait removed.