The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced the closure of subsistence and sport shrimp fisheries in Section 13-B and Section 13-C of West Crawfish Inlet and Hoonah Sound, respectively. The closure is effective from January 1 through December 31, 2025, in an effort to allow the spot shrimp population to rebuild to sustainable levels.
Data from both commercial and subsistence fisheries has shown a decline in spot shrimp stock health in Crawfish Inlet and West Crawfish Inlet. Similarly, surveys conducted in Hoonah Sound indicate a decline in catch rates of younger, small spot shrimp since 2015. However, recent surveys show an improvement in spot shrimp stock in Hoonah Sound, potentially supporting limited subsistence fishing opportunities in the future.
The subsistence and sport shrimp fisheries in Hoonah Sound have been closed since March 2020, with reopening for the commercial pot shrimp fishery not warranted for the 2025/26 season. The emergency orders corresponding to this closure are EOs 1C0525 and 1-SHR-D-02-25.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is committed to conserving the spot shrimp population for sustainable harvest and encourages fishermen to comply with the closure regulations. Any updates on the potential reopening of the subsistence fishery in Hoonah Sound will be announced in the spring of 2025.
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