Title 5 . Fish and Game

Chapter 24 . Transportation, Possession and Release of Live Fish; Aquatic Farming

Section 367. Main Bay Salmon Hatchery Harvest Management Plan

5 AAC 24.367. Main Bay Salmon Hatchery Harvest Management Plan

(a) The purpose of the Main Bay salmon hatchery harvest management plan in this section is to provide an equitable distribution of harvest opportunity and to reduce conflicts between users in the vicinity of the Main Bay salmon hatchery. The department, in consultation with the hatchery operator, shall manage the Main Bay Subdistrict to achieve the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation's escapement goal for the Main Bay Hatchery.

(b) In the Main Bay Subdistrict

(1) no portion of a drift gillnet may be operated within 25 fathoms of a set gillnet, except in the zone outside of the offshore end of the set gillnet;

(2) no set gillnet buoy may be more than 20 feet seaward of the set gillnet to which it is attached;

(3) a set gillnet must be operated in substantially a straight line, except that no more than 25 fathoms of a set gillnet may be used as a hook, in any configuration;

(4) the inshore end of a set gillnet or set gillnet lead may not be operated in water deeper than two fathoms at low tide.

(c) In the Main Bay Subdistrict west of a line from 60ΓΈ 32.26' N. lat., 148ΓΈ 04.85' W. long. to 60ΓΈ 31.88' N. lat., 148ΓΈ 04.03' W. long. (Main Bay Terminal Harvest Area),

(1) no set gillnet may exceed 50 fathoms in length;

(2) a set gillnet may be operated only from the mainland shore;

(3) repealed 5/22/94;

(4) no part of a set gillnet may be operated within 50 fathoms of any part of another set gillnet;

(5) in order to protect the Main Bay Hatchery barrier seine, no part of a set gillnet or drift gillnet may be operated within the Alternating Gear Zone described in (d) of this section unless that zone is open to the use of that gear under (d)(1) of this section.

(d) In the Main Bay Subdistrict south of a line from 60ΓΈ 31.43' N. lat., 148ΓΈ 05.67' W. long. to 60ΓΈ 31.36' N. lat., 148ΓΈ 05.52' W. long. (Main Bay Alternating Gear Zone),

(1) set gillnet gear and drift gillnet gear may be operated only on alternating days during periods established by emergency order throughout the season; the department shall alternate the gear type that is allowed to operate at the start of each opening;

(2) the operator of a set gillnet shall remove all nets, anchors, and associated equipment from the waters of this zone at the end of the fishing day for that gear type;

(3) notwithstanding 5 AAC 24.335, set gillnet gear may be operated without regard to the proximity of any part of another set gillnet.

(e) The Main Bay Hatchery Special Harvest Area consists of the waters of Main Bay west of a line from 60ΓΈ 31.61' N. lat., 148ΓΈ 05.02' W. long. to 60ΓΈ 31.85' N. lat., 148ΓΈ 05.42' W. long.

(f) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 24.320 and 5 AAC 24.330 and except as otherwise provided by emergency order, a corporation holding a permit under AS 16.10.400 for the Main Bay Salmon Hatchery, and an agent, contractor, or employee of that corporation who is authorized under 5 AAC 40.005(g) , may harvest salmon within the Main Bay Hatchery Special Harvest Area from 6:00 a.m. June 1 through 6:00 p.m. August 15, using purse seines, hand purse seines, and beach seines.

(g) The provisions of 5 AAC 39.290(a) and 5 AAC 24.350(12) apply to salmon streams in the Main Bay Subdistrict only during the period from July 8 through December 31 of each year.

History: Eff. 4/9/89, Register 110; am 4/30/91, Register 118; am 5/22/94, Register 130; am 5/24/97, Register 142; am 5/11/2003, Register 166; am 3/30/2006, Register 177

Authority: AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.251