January 23, 2017 — Last year was a good year overall for groundfish fisheries in the region.
With a few standout harvests and favorable proposals with the Board of Fisheries, managers are feeling optimistic heading into the new year.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game oversees several groundfish fisheries within the Cook Inlet Management Area, which extends outside of Kachemak Bay to the north Gulf coast.
“These fisheries include Pacific cod, sablefish, a directed pelagic shelf rockfish fishery, lingcod, and a small commissioner’s permit Pollock fishery,” said Jan Rumble, Fish and Game area groundfish management biologist.
Pacific cod stood out in 2016 as it was open all year long for pot and jig gear in either a parallel or state waters fishery, Rumble said.
Despite the extended opening, the state waters fishery only reached 83 percent of its guideline harvest level, or GHL.