Petersburg - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the following closures for eulachon smelt (Thaleichthys pacificus) for the 2020 season. These closures will be in effect beginning 12:01 a.m., Thursday, February 27,
2020:
District 1: will be closed to commercial, personal use, and subsistence eulachon smelt fishing in all waters. This includes all Revillagigedo Island and mainland drainages;
District 7: will be closed to commercial, personal use, and subsistence eulachon smelt fishing in all waters;
District 8: will be closed to commercial eulachon fishing. Subsistence and personal use fishing for eulachon smelt will remain open.
Eulachon smelt spawning runs in the southern portions of Southeast Alaska have had large fluctuations in recent years and continue to show poor returns to many areas with traditional runs of eulachon smelt. Stock status information for each of the above areas is limited and a conservative approach is necessary for sustaining and rebuilding the health of these stocks. The Emergency Order corresponding with this announcement is EO 1H0220.
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