Unalaska, AK – Twenty-two boats are registered for this year's Eastern Aleutian District Tanner crab fishery, which opens at noon on January 15 in Unalaska Bay and Akutan Bay, areas that were off limits last year. The fishery's guideline harvest level will be 84,000 pounds, with a 13 pot limit for each crab boat.

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game put both Unalaska Bay and Akutan Bay off limits in 2006 over concerns about the abundance of crab there. Makushin Bay and Skan Bay are closed this year for the same reason, according to ADF&G area management biologist Forrest Bowers. Both of the latter areas were last closed in 2005 on account of the nearby Selendang Ayu oil spill, but were fished last year.

Tank and gear inspection and registration will begin at noon on January 14.