There may be fewer fish in the sea, but the challenges Kodiak fishermen face are only increasing.

Not only has the total allowable catch decreased for at least three fisheries – cod, Tanner crab and snow crab – but those fishing face weather conditions as unstable as the economy.

“The weather hasn’t been all that great, with heavy freezing spray,” said Tom Pearson, a fisheries biologist for the National Marine Fishery Service. Pearson noted the cod fishery, which opened Jan. 1 for those with fixed gear and will open to trawl gear Jan. 20, has had a slow start. Still, he said that is not unusual.

“There’s usually a slow start,” he said.

The cod fishery, which is federally managed, has a total quota of 41,807 tons for the Gulf of Alaska. That is further broken down between in-shore and off-shore components and A and B seasons.

The in-shore processing component for the gulf has a quota of 12,767 tons for the A season, Pearson said, and is the component most Kodiakans would be involved in. The in-shore A season quota has fallen from last year, when the total allowable catch was 15,350 tons.

The B season, which begins Sept. 1, for has a quota of 8,510 tons.

Pearson said the A season closed last year on Feb. 20. However, there was a little leftover in the quota and the season was reopened for 24-hours on Feb. 29. The B season closed Oct. 3.

Pearson said the main reason for the split seasons is a protection measure for the Steller sea lion population. Cod are an important prey species for the sea lions and Pearson said it was deemed a bad idea to have the entire quota caught in one brief fishery which might result in a temporary but dramatic depletion of cod.

Pearson said he does not track the number of vessels from different locations, but noted there are several hundred vessels that participate in the cod fishery. A few vessels have begun making deliveries, Pearson said.

Cod prices fell during last year’s B season. During the A season, Pearson said a pound of cod sold for 50 to 55 cents, but dropped to 30 cents per pound later in the year.

While Pearson could not verify the story, he said he heard from one fishermen that a bank which gave loans to purchase cod failed late last year, resulting in the declining prices. A processor, however, has said the situation has been resolved and fishermen might see cod prices rise again to where they were last year at this time.

“Interesting story, but I can’t vouch for it,” Pearson said.

Prices for crab fisheries, both Tanner and snow crab, are not yet known. The snow crab fishery opened Oct. 15, but Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Forrest Bowers, said most fishing occurs between January and mid-April.

Bowers said prior to rationalization, the fishery did not open until Jan. 15. When rationalization was instituted the date changed but most of the industry stuck with the traditional timing.

The total allowable catch for the fishery is 52.7 million, which comprises only the individual fishing quota. The community development quota has a separate allocation of 5.3 million pounds.

Preseason registration for the fishery yielded 96 boats, though 21 are currently active. About one-third of the vessels are from Alaska, and that number is divided between Kodiak and Homer.

Only one vessel has returned with snow crab, but Bowers did not know the price for their yield. Last year snow crab sold for about $1.60 per pound.

Bowers said he would likely have more information on the progress of the fishery in a week or so. There is some concern regarding the cold weather and rapidly forming sea ice.

“Fishing ground is being covered by ice,” he said.

This year’s quota is lower than last year, which was 60 million pounds.

“Crab stock fluctuates,” Bowers said. “They’re not static … Snow crab is typically pretty volatile.”

Weak year classes have been blamed for lower quotas in snow crab, Tanner crab and cod. Several factors can influence the population, including predation and fluctuations in the environment. Pearson said that for cod there is a bright note. The 2006 year class was strong, and the quota may increase for next year if cod is found in abundance this summer.

The Tanner crab fishery opens Jan. 15, said Nick Sagalkin, an area biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Kodiak. Two sections will be open to the fishery, including the east and northeast sides of the Kodiak district.

Total allowable catch for the east side is 300,000 pounds, a significant drop from the 400,000 pound quota last year. The northeast side has a 100,000 pound quota, the same as last year.

In the northeast, Womens Bay is closed, while in the east Ugak and Kiliuda are both closed.

Last year, 34 boats participated in the fishery and Sagalkin said he expects a similar effort this year.

“A lot of people like this fishery,” he said. “A lot of people enjoy crab fishing.”

Vessels are limited to 20 pots. Fishermen can retrieve their pots from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Depending on crab density in the area, they may choose to check once or twice a day, Sagalkin said.

Tanner crabs must have a shell width of 5.5 inches or greater. Pots are required to have escapement rings to allow smaller crabs to get out. On deck, fishermen must still sort crabs and return smaller ones to the water.

The fishery can be delayed due to weather. Last year it was delayed a day, opening on Jan. 16 and it took only four days to fill the quota for the east side. The northeast side never closed fully, though portions of it did close. Roughly 87,000 pounds of Tanner crab were caught.