The local state-waters pot cod season ended Saturday at 3 p.m., over a month later than last year. The extra fishing time is a result of a boost in quota allocated by the Board of Fisheries this winter. Up until this season, the quota was split 50-50 between pots and jig fishermen. This year saw that change to 75 percent for pot boats and 25 percent for jig boats, giving pot boats 1.64 million pounds and jig boats 548,000 pounds. That change in allocation became effective Feb. 13. The board also increased the Cook Inlet cod allocation from 3 percent of the federal quota to 3.75 percent. That action upped the overall quota from 2.19 million pounds in state waters to 2.74 million pounds, adding 412,500 pounds to the quota for pot boats. In order to avoid a break in the season, necessitating boats bringing in their gear, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game adopted the increased fishery allocation via emergency order, effective March 16.

The Sitka Sound herring fishery wrapped up Monday with a cooperative fishery for the remaining 1,035 tons that resulted in a 20-ton per boat limit for the 51 boats registered for the fishery. The total 2005 Guideline Harvest Level was 11,192 tons, the bulk of which was caught in four previous openings beginning with a phenomenal 2 hour 10-minute opening on March 23 that resulted in a catch of 3,820 tons. Herring openings generally run 15 to 30 minutes. Fishery managers said that the reason for the long opening was that fish did not seem to be concentrated in fishable schools. The March 23 opening was followed by a 15-minute opening on March 25 that resulted in minimal catches, which was followed by an open-ended harvest period the same day that ended up running for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The cumulative catch for that day was 1,720 tons. The bulk of the remaining 5,570 tons was caught Marc0h 27 in a 1 hour, 59 minute period, leaving the cooperative harvest on March 28. This year's Sitka Sound GHL is one of the highest on record, comparable to last year's 10,618 ton harvest, but 38 percent higher than the 2003 GHL of 6,969 tons.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets April 6-11 at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, with committee and panel meetings beginning April 4, including an advisory panel meeting April 4 and a crab rationalization workshop April 5. The advisory panel has revised its operating guidelines to incorporate a strict time management approach to its meetings. Rules for testimony before the advisory panel have been developed which are similar to those used by the council. Members of the public wishing to testify before the panel must sign up on the list for each topic listed on the agenda. Sign-up sheets are provided in a special notebook located at the back of the room. The deadline for registering to testify is when the agenda topic comes before the panel. The time available for individual and group testimony will be based on the number registered and determined by the chairman. The advisory panel may not take public testimony on items for which they will not be making recommendations to the council. On the agenda under new or continuing business is Community Development Quota program, Gulf of Alaska groundfish rationalization, Gulf of Alaska rockfish demonstration program, Bering Sea/Aleutian Island Pacific cod allocations, Bering Sea/Aleutian Island salmon bycatch and Bairdi crab split. A complete agenda and instructions for testifying before the NPFMC can be found on their Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ npfmc/default.htm.

Cristy Fry has commercial fished in Homer since 1978, and has also designed and built gear for the industry. She currently longlines for halibut and sablefish, and gillnets salmon in Upper Cook Inlet aboard the F/V Realist.