The Alaska Department of Fish & Game released an advisory announcement regarding the Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet Areas 2023 Central Region Groundfish Fisheries Outlook containing Emergency Orders # 2-GF-E-01-23 and # 2-GF-H-01-23.
The ADF&G annual advisory announcement provides a brief overview of Prince William Sound Area (PWS) and Cook Inlet Area (CI) commercial groundfish fishing opportunities for the 2023 calendar year.
In order to land groundfish or halibut, an individual must possess a gear-specific, valid Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) interim-use or limited entry permit card. In addition, all vessels operating gear for groundfish must possess a valid fishery-specific area registration from ADF&G. A vessel may be registered for only one groundfish registration area at a time and must check-out of an area prior to registering for another area.
Fishers, processors, and buyers must adhere to current Statewide Commercial Groundfish Fishing Regulations available online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.commercial or from ADF&G offices in Homer, Cordova (907-424-3212), Anchorage (907-267-2104), and Soldotna (907-262-9368).
Contact the Homer office with groundfish regulatory and registration questions (907-235-8191).
Cook Inlet Area or Prince William Sound Area registrations may be obtained in person from ADF&G offices in Homer, Cordova, Anchorage, Soldotna, and Kodiak. A fisher must possess the appropriate CFEC permit card to register for PWS and CI groundfish fisheries. To register by fax or email, contact the Homer area office.
Anyone intending to fish in federal waters, further than 3 nautical miles (nmi) from shore, should contact the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for information prior to fishing.
The complete Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet Areas 2023 Central Region Groundfish Fisheries Outlook containing Emergency Orders # 2-GF-E-01-23 and # 2-GF-H-01-23 is available at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/