Contact:
Daniel Teske
Juneau Assistant Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-465-4270

Juneau - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reminding sport and personal use shrimpers that the sport and personal use shrimp fisheries in Tenakee Inlet remain closed until further notice. The closed area will consist of all marine waters of Tenakee Inlet west of a line extending across the entrance of Tenakee Inlet from South Passage Point to East Point. (see attached map). 

Data from the department’s annual shrimp survey indicates that Tenakee Inlet shrimp abundance is at historically low levels. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the 2011 and 2012 abundance surveys were the lowest observed since the surveys began in 2000. The commercial fishery in Tenakee Inlet has not been opened since in 2010.

The intention of these closures is to allow shrimp abundance to rebound from the current low level. The department will continue annual surveys to monitor the Tenakee Inlet shrimp resource, and all Tenakee Inlet shrimp fisheries will remain closed until survey data indicates abundance can sustain future harvests. The annual survey for 2013 is scheduled for September.

For further information concerning this news release contact Dan Teske at (907) 465-4270, or Dave Harris at (907) 465-4250 at the Juneau Regional Office in Douglas.