5 AAC 34.816. Bristol Bay red king crab harvest strategy

(a) In accordance with 5 AAC 34.080, the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery shall be managed based on the following harvest strategy:

(1) the threshold level of abundance is 8,400,000 mature female red king crab and 14,500,000 pounds of effective spawning biomass; the Bristol Bay red king crab season may open only if analysis of preseason survey data indicates that the population of red king crab is more than both of these indices of stock reproductive potential; the Bristol Bay red king crab season will not open if preseason survey data indicates that the population is at or below either of these two indices of stock reproductive potential; the minimum total allowable catch threshold (not including the CDQ quota) for the commercial red king crab fishery is 4,000,000 pounds; neither the commercial red king crab fishery or the CDQ fishery under 5 AAC 39.690 will open if the minimum total allowable catch threshold is not met;

(2) if the Bristol Bay red king crab season is open under (1) of this subsection and the effective spawning biomass is at least 14,500,000 pounds, but less than 34,750,000 pounds, the number of legal male red king crab available for harvest will be no more than 10 percent of the mature male red king crab abundance or no more than 50 percent of the legal-sized male red king crab abundance, whichever is less;

(3) if the Bristol Bay red king crab season is open under (1) of this subsection and the effective spawning biomass is at least 34,750,000 pounds, but less than 55,000,000 pounds, the number of legal male red king crab available for harvest will be no more than 12.5 percent of the mature male red king crab abundance or no more than 50 percent of the legal-sized male red king crab abundance, whichever is less;

(4) if the Bristol Bay red king crab season is open under (1) of this subsection and the effective spawning biomass is 55,000,000 pounds or more, the number of legal male red king crab available for harvest will be no more than 15 percent of the mature male red king crab abundance or no more than 50 percent of the legal-sized male red king crab abundance, whichever is less;

(5) when applying this harvest strategy, the department shall consider the reliability of the estimates of abundance of red king crab, other factors necessary to be consistent with sustained yield principles, and the best scientific information available.

(b) For the purpose of this section,

(1) "effective spawning biomass" means the estimated biomass of mature female red king crab that the population of mature male red king crab could successfully mate in a given year;

(2) "mature female red king crab" means female red king crab that are 3.5 inches (90 mm) or more in carapace length;

(3) "mature male red king crab" means male red king crab that are 4.7 inches (120 mm) or more in carapace length.

History: Eff. 11/6/96, Register 140; am 8/24/2002, Register 163; am 9/21/2003, Register 167; am 8/14/2005, Register 175

Authority: AS 16.05.251

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