Alaska closes Pacific Ocean perch fishing in the Gulf of Alaska

US regulators have banned fishing for Pacific Ocean perch in a specific area off Alaska. This means commercial fishing boats cannot keep any of these fish caught in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska.

Fishing quotas are set each year to manage fish populations. When a quota is reached, regulators close the fishery to prevent overfishing. This specific closure means that for the rest of the year, the commercial take of Pacific Ocean perch in this area is zero. It directly affects the income of fishing fleets that target this species.