The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced Thursday the guideline harvest level (GHL) for the 2025 Norton Sound commercial Red King crab fishery, following recommendations set by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) during its December meeting.
The council established an overfishing level (OFL) of 628,000 pounds and an acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 440,000 pounds for the species. The ABC includes both retained and discarded catch. ADF&G estimates the legal male biomass (LMB) at 4.56 million pounds, with the commercial GHL set at 8.99% of the LMB, totaling 410,000 pounds of Red King crab.
The winter commercial fishery GHL is 8% of the total commercial GHL, amounting to 32,800 pounds. The Community Development Quota (CDQ) fishery will receive 7.5% of the commercial GHL, which equates to 30,750 pounds.
Participants in the winter commercial fishery must hold a 2025 Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) permit specific to Norton Sound Red King crab. Registration at the ADF&G office in Nome is required to receive pot tags before crabbing. For village residents, registration can be completed by calling 1-800-560-2271. Pot tags will be sent via local airlines.
At the time ADF&G announced the harvest levels, no permit holders or buyers have registered for the winter fishery. Without registered buyers, permit holders will need to sell crab as registered catcher-sellers or through other State of Alaska marketing programs.
ADF&G also noted that subsistence fishermen wishing to transition to the commercial fishery must deregister as subsistence fishers and remove their gear from the water for at least 14 days before February 1.
Catcher-seller application forms are available at the Nome Fish & Game office or online at the ADF&G website. Those assisting permit holders must hold a 2025 commercial crewmember license or a State of Alaska commercial fishing permit for any fishery. Crewmember licenses can also be purchased at the Nome Fish & Game office or online.
