5 AAC 27.131. Gillnet specifications and operations for Southeastern Alaska Area

(a) Except as provided in (i) of this section, a vessel fishing for herring may not have more than one herring gillnet on board or operated from any vessel taking herring. A herring gillnet may not be longer than 50 fathoms.

(b) Herring gillnets must be set with an anchor at each end.

(c) Each set gillnet in operation must be buoyed at both ends and each buoy shall be plainly and legibly marked with the permanent vessel plate number (ADF&G number) of the vessel fishing the gear.

(d) A herring gillnet may not be reset after the announced closing time. A herring gillnet may not remain in the water for more than one hour after the closing time. When the department projects that the guideline harvest level would be exceeded in an open period less than one hour in duration, the commissioner may, by emergency order, establish periods that may have an announced closing time, and a herring gillnet may not remain in the water after that closing time.

(e) A set gillnet may not exceed 120 meshes in depth.

(f) In the Section 1-E and Section 1-F herring sac roe fisheries, a gillnet with a mesh size of less than two and one-fourth inches may not be used to take or attempt to take fish.

(g) In addition to the requirements of (c) of this section, a gillnet used to take or attempt to take herring in a sac roe fishery must have one ADF&G identification tag placed on the marked buoys at both ends of the net. The identification tag must be placed on each marked buoy so that it is above the surface of the water. The identification tags will be issued only by ADF&G personnel located on the fishing grounds. Lost identification tags may be replaced upon submission of a sworn statement describing how the tags were lost and a listing of their numbers to the department. The identification tags are in effect for a single season and new tags must be obtained before each fishing season.

(h) In the Southeastern Alaska Area, "stretched measure" of herring net means the average length of any series of 10 consecutive meshes measured from inside the first knot and including the last knot when wet. The 10 meshes, when being measured, must be wet and be an integral part of the net, as hung. The 10 meshes shall be measured perpendicular to the selvages. Measurements shall be made by means of a metal tape measure while the 10 meshes being measured are suspended vertically from a single peg or nail, supporting a one-pound weight.

(i) Two Southeast Alaska set gillnet CFEC permit holders may concurrently fish from the same vessel and jointly operate up to 75 fathoms of set gillnet gear as follows:

(1) before operating set gillnet gear jointly both permit holders shall obtain buoy identification tags for dual operation provided by the department under (g) of this section;

(2) when two Southeast Alaska set gillnet CFEC permit holders fish from the same vessel and jointly operate a set gillnet, the vessel must display its ADF&G permanent license plate number followed by the letter "D" to identify the vessel as a dual vessel; the letter "D" must be removed or covered when the vessel is operating with only one set gillnet CFEC permit holder on board the vessel; the identification number and letters must be displayed

(A) in letters and numerals 12 inches high with lines at least one inch wide;

(B) in a color that contrasts with the background;

(D) in a manner that is plainly visible at all times when the vessel is being operated;

(3) when two CFEC permit holders jointly operate gear each permit holder

(A) must be on board the fishing vessel and present at the fishing site as required by 5 AAC 39.107(d) and (e);

(B) is responsible for ensuring that the entire unit of gear is operated in a lawful manner.

History: In effect before 1983; am 3/9/84, Register 89; am 12/29/84, Register 92; am 4/18/86, Register 98; am 3/16/89, Register 109; am 1/29/98, Register 145; am 5/31/98, Register 146; am 4/24/2003, Register 166; am 4/2/2006, Register 177

Authority: AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.251

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