


U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Category |
II |
Estimated Number of Participants |
168 |
Target Species |
Salmon |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
N/A |
Observer Coverage |
N/A |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Gray Whale, Eastern North Pacific; Harbor porpoise, Southeastern AK; Harbor seal, Southeast AK; Humpback whale, Central North Pacific (Southeast AK) |
^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.
*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).
1 Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.
Due to insufficient information on this particular fishery, it was classified as a Category II fishery based on analogy to other Category II AK set gillnet fisheries that use similar gear and operate in the same manner as this fishery.
This fishery generally operates from June 4 to the end of August. The Yakutat salmon set gillnet fishery consists of multiple set gillnet fisheries occurring in two fishing districts, the Yakutat District and the Yakataga District. As many as 25 different areas in the Yakutat and Yakataga Districts are open to commercial fishing each year. The Yakutat District fisheries primarily target sockeye and Coho salmon, although all species of salmon are harvested. The Yakataga District fisheries target Coho salmon. With a few exceptions, set gillnetting is confined to the intertidal area inside the mouths of rivers and streams, and to the ocean waters immediately adjacent to each.
This fishery uses set gillnet gear with continuous soak times during the opener, throughout during the day and night. The catch is picked from the net every 2-4 hours each day or continuously during peak fishing times.
Salmon may only be fished commercially during periods known as openers established by the AK Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) in-season. Openers may last days or weeks. The ADFG posts weekly notices of fishing openers and announces the openers on regular radio channels. Fishing periods are often extended by emergency order during the last 24 hours of the opener.
This fishery is managed by the AK Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) as a limited entry fishery with gear restrictions on the mesh and net size, and area closures. Due to the terminal nature of these fisheries, ADFG has developed salmon escapement goals for most of the major, and several of the minor, fisheries.
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
II (1996) |
Original Number of Participants |
152 |
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was categorized as a Category II based on analogy with other gillnet fisheries because observer coverage was inadequate. Logbook data showed the total known mortality and serious injury for harbor seals across all fisheries did not exceed 10% of the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level, but low levels of observer coverage were inadequate and data suggests take levels may be exceed 10%. The known mortality and serious injury of harbor seals (Southeast AK) in this fishery was 30 animals/year, or 1.5% of PBR (PBR=2,000). |
Past Names |
N/A |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
2015 |
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2013 |
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2009 |
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2006 |
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2001 |
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1999 |
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1998 |
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