5 AAC 32.390. Cook Inlet Area Dungeness Crab Fisheries Management Plan

(a) The Board of Fisheries (board) is concerned that the current stock abundance of Dungeness crab is insufficient to ensure that the commercial, sport, or personal use fisheries can be conducted in a sustainable manner. Therefore, the commercial, sport, and personal use, Dungeness crab fisheries shall be closed until the stock recovers and the board has approved a management plan that considers the following factors:

(1) a minimum acceptable biomass level;

(2) maximum allowable exploitation rates;

(3) minimum thresholds for implementation of commercial and noncommerical fisheries;

(4) age and sex composition information;

(5) fishing seasons that avoid the biologically sensitive periods and areas;

(6) a regular schedule and mechanism for the stock assessment;

(7) area-specific limits on the incidental catch of non-target fish, including any considerations for the sex and size of target species, if appropriate;

(8) operating requirements, including gear, vessel, and time restrictions;

(9) reporting requirements, including logbooks;

(10) full accountability of fishing mortality, including deadloss and discards;

(11) potential user group conflicts;

(12) the ecosystem function of both target and non-target species;

(13) maintenance of the geographic distribution of the resource; and

(14) an analysis of customary and traditional subsistence use patterns.

(b) After development of a draft management plan by the department, the board will, in its discretion, consider and act upon the management plan and associated regulations at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

History: Eff. 9/12/97, Register 143; am 7/5/2000, Register 155; am 7/31/2003, Register 167

Authority: AS 16.05.251

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