Fishery summary as of May 1, 2009 NMFS Alaska Region Inseason Management Juneau: Patty Britza 907 586 7376 Mary Furuness 907 586 7447 Josh Keaton 907 586 7519 Obren Davis 907 586 7241 Steve Whitney 907 586 7269 (Rockfish Pilot Program, Amendment 80) Kodiak: Tom Pearson 907 481 1780 Dutch Harbor: Brian Dixon 907 581 2062 2009 catch reports: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2009/2009.htm. Final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/2009_10hrvstspecs.htm Effort report (updated Tuesdays): http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/reports/aeffort.txt Status of Fisheries reports: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2009/status.htm Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Bering Sea Pollock The catcher processors, motherships, and CDQ sectors completed the A season. The B season opens at noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 10. The B season allocations are: 212,248 mt for inshore, 168,998 mt for catcher processors, 42,240 mt for motherships, and 48,900 mt for CDQ. Trawl halibut mortality The halibut mortality through April 25, 2009 compared to April 26, 2008 is: All trawl gear by target (Other includes Flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and Rockfish) 2009 Total – 1,508 mt Pacific cod 222 mt, Pollock 316 mt, Rock sole 485 mt, Yellowfin 396 mt, Other 91 mt 2008 Total - 1,174 mt Pacific cod 249 mt, Pollock 150 mt, Rock sole 390 mt, Yellowfin 294 mt, Other 91 mt Atka mackerel The non-CDQ A season Atka mackerel fisheries close by regulation April 15. The B season allocations become available September 1. Pacific cod Hook-and-line catcher/processors The B season allocation becomes available at noon, A.l.t., August 15, 2009. Hook-and-line catcher vessels >= 60 feet length overall (LOA) The fishery for hook-and-line catcher vessels >= 60 feet LOA remains open with no participation. In 2008 the fishery remained open until August 28 with no participation, so NMFS reallocated 150 mt to jig gear and 153 mt to hook-and-line and pot vessels < 60 ft LOA. Hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels < 60 feet LOA NMFS reallocated about 400 mt from the B season jig gear allocation to the less than 60 ft hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels fishery. The less than 60 hook-and-line and pot fishery opens at noon, A.l.t., April 30 (see information bulletin #09-50. Jig In 2009, no effort has occurred in this fishery. In 2008, effort started in May and 15 vessels caught 176 mt. Pot The catcher processor and catcher vessel B season allocations become available at noon, A.l.t., September 1, 2009. Trawl The 2009 C season allocation for catcher vessels becomes available at noon, A.l.t., June 10, 2009. The Amendment 80 cooperative is controlling their catch. The 2009 Amendment 80 limited access fishery is closed for the A and B seasons. The 2009 A season closed for AFA catcher/processors effective March 6 and the B season will remain closed. The 2008 A season for AFA catcher/processors closed March 24. Rock sole and yellowfin sole Rock sole was the main flatfish target until March when the fleet started targeting yellowfin sole. For rock sole the 2009 non CDQ total catch of 38,115 mt is close to the 2008 total catch of 36,742 mt. For yellowfin sole the 2009 non CDQ total catch of 44,488 mt is less than the 2008 total catch of 55,325 mt. Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder open for directed fishing by non-trawl gear, vessels in the Amendment 80 cooperative and Amendment 80 trawl limited sector at noon, A.l.t., May 1. As in 2008, the 2009 arrowtooth flounder TAC is 63,750 mt. The 2009 Greenland turbot TACs are 4,327 mt in the Bering Sea and 1,947 mt in the Aleutian Islands compared to the 2008 TACs of 1,488 mt and 672 mt, respectively. In 2008 the Bering Sea directed fishery closed August 1 and NMFS prohibited retention on August 19. The Aleutian Islands closed August 15. NMFS will be closely monitoring this fishery next week with concerns about both halibut mortality and TAC. Gulf of Alaska Western GOA Pacific cod The Western GOA the A season offshore allocation is 970 mt. Current effort in this fishery is low and no closure date is projected. In 2008 the offshore A season fishery closed March 4. Pollock The C season allocations for 610, 620, and 630 become available August 25. The West Yakutat pollock fishery closed March 21 and reopened April 8 to 13. It will remain closed for 2009. Deep and Shallow Water Complex Trawl Fisheries NMFS closed the deep-water species fisheries effective April 23 (see information bulletin #09-51. The 3rd season allocation of halibut mortality becomes available July 1. The remaining amount for the second season allowance is 326 mt in the shallow-water complex. Currently there is little effort in shallow-water complex, however NMFS will be monitoring this fishery closley in the coming weeks. In 2008 the deep-water complex closed April 21 and the shallow water complex closed March 10 and reopened for 24 hours on March 21. Both complexes opened on the third season allowance July 1, 2009. Halibut mortality for the hook-and-line fleet is at 193 mt of the 250 mt first season allowance. The second season allowance of 5 mt becomes available June 10. In 2008 for the same time period the halibut mortality was 203 mt. In 2008 the hook-and-line fishery closed due to halibut mortality October 16. Rockfish pilot program (RPP) License limitation permit holders with rockfish quota share choose to join a cooperative, limited access fishery, or opt-out sectors of the RPP with their catch history. The 2009 participants and allocations are at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm.