Unalaska, AK – The state-waters Pacific cod fishery will have an exceptionally short season this year. The Aleutian Islands district will open to commercial fishing tomorrow, only to close a day and a half later on Thursday.

"I believe that this is probably the latest opening that we've had," says Trent Hartill, a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. "In previous years it's usually early to mid-March."

The state-waters fishery opens up as soon as the federal A season closes. That happened late this year, with the fishery only closing to the catcher-vessel trawl sector this Saturday. Hartill says that there are a number of reasons for that, including a much higher total allowable catch and a lack of processors in Adak.

Vessels participating in the state-waters fishery will be able to harvest
approximately 5,500 metric tons this A season, and then about half of that in the B season that comes later in the year. The total harvest level is determined by taking 3% of the acceptable biological catch. So far, only three vessels have registered to fish Pacific cod in state waters - a lower number than usual.

"I think in years past we've had anywhere from seven to upwards of 15 or so," says Hartill.

Hartill adds that there should be more participation in the state-waters B season if Icicle Seafoods operates a shore-based processing facility in Adak this summer.