5 AAC 34.125. Lawful gear for Registration Area A

(a) King crab may be taken only by king crab pots. King crab taken by other means must be returned to the water without further harm.

(b) The following king crab pot limits are in effect in Registration Area A:

(1) during the commercial red king crab season, the maximum number of king crab pots that may be operated from a vessel registered to fish for king crab is as follows:

(A) no more than 20 king crab pots when the guideline harvest level is at least 200,000 but not more than 399,999 pounds;

(B) no more than 30 king crab pots when the guideline harvest level is at least 400,000 but not more than 499,999 pounds;

(C) no more than 40 king crab pots when the guideline harvest level is at least 500,000 but not more than 599,999 pounds;

(D) no more than 50 king crab pots when the guideline harvest level is 600,000 pounds or more;

(2) when the commercial golden king crab season is open in Registration Area A, and the commercial red king crab or Tanner crab season is closed, no more than 100 king crab pots may be operated from a vessel registered to fish for king crab;

(3) when the commercial golden king crab and Tanner crab seasons are open in Registration Area A at the same time, an aggregate of no more than 80 king and Tanner crab pots may be operated from a vessel registered to fish for both king crab and Tanner crab;

(4) when the commercial red and golden king crab seasons are open in Registration Area A at the same time, the pot limits described in (1) of this subsection apply to any vessel registered to fish for king crab.

(c) Before November 1, 2006, king crab pots must have either at least one-third of one vertical surface of the pot composed of not less than nine-inch stretch mesh webbing or have at least four circular escape rings of six and one-quarter inches minimum inside diameter. Each vertical surface of a pot using escape rings must contain at least one escape ring of six and one-quarter inches minimum inside diameter. Escape rings or stretch mesh webbing must be so located on the vertical plane to permit the escapement of undersize crab. Beginning November 1, 2006, king crab pots must have either at least the bottom one-third of one vertical surface of a square pot, or sloping sidewall surface of a conical or pyramid pot, composed of not less than nine-inch stretch mesh webbing or have at least four circular escape rings of six and one-quarter inches minimum inside diameter. The lowest edge of each escape ring must be within eight inches of the top of the bottom web bar on the pot. One ring must be installed in each quadrant of the pot. Escape rings or stretch mesh webbing must be so located on the vertical or sloping sidewall surface to permit the escapement of undersize crab.

(d) In Registration Area A, a registered king crab vessel may not have, at any time in the aggregate, more than the legal limit of gear on board the vessel, in the water in fishing condition, and in the water in non-fishing condition.

(e) A vessel engaged in taking or transporting king crab may not have on board an otter trawl with a ground line or headline longer than 60 feet.

History: In effect before 1982; am 4/14/82, Register 82; am 7/25/82, Register 83; am 6/30/83, Register 86; am 6/30/84, Register 90; am 7/14/85, Register 95; am 7/12/86, Register 99; am 12/14/86, Register 100; am 7/23/88, Register 107; am 9/19/90, Register 115; am 6/24/93, Register 126; am 3/15/96, Register 137; am 11/6/96, Register 140; am 8/24/2002, Register 163; am 8/14/2005, Register 175

Authority: AS 16.05.251

Editor's note: As of Register 140 (January 1997), the substance of 5 AAC 34.125(d) appears in 5 AAC 34.128, the substance of 5 AAC 34.125(f) appears in 5 AAC 34.127, and the substance of 5 AAC 34.125(g) appears in 5 AAC 34.126.

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