5 AAC 39.145. Escape mechanism for shellfish and bottomfish pots

Pot gear must include an escape mechanism in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) A sidewall, which may include the tunnel, of all shellfish and bottomfish pots must contain an opening equal to or exceeding 18 inches in length, except that in shrimp pots the opening must be a minimum of six inches in length. The opening must be laced, sewn, or secured together by a single length of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine, no larger than 30 thread. The cotton twine may be knotted at each end only. The opening must be within six inches of the bottom of the pot and must be parallel with it. The cotton twine may not be tied or looped around the web bars. Dungeness crab pots may have the pot lid tie-down straps secured to the pot at one end by a single loop of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine no larger than 60 thread, as a substitute for the above requirement; the pot lid must be secured so that, when the twine degrades, the lid will no longer be securely closed.

(2) All king crab, Tanner crab, shrimp, miscellaneous shellfish and bottomfish pots may, instead of complying with (1) of this section, satisfy the following: a sidewall, which may include the tunnel, must contain an opening at least 18 inches in length, except that shrimp pots must contain an opening at least six inches in length. The opening must be laced, sewn, or secured together by a single length of treated or untreated twine, no larger than 36 thread. A galvanic timed release (GTR) device, designed to release in no more than 30 days in salt water, must be integral to the length of twine so that, when the device releases, the twine will no longer secure or obstruct the opening of the pot. The twine may be knotted only at each end and at the attachment points on the galvanic timed release device. The opening must be within six inches of the bottom of the pot and must be parallel with it. The twine may not be tied or looped around the web bars.

(3) in an area open to commercial, personal use, sport, or subsistence fishing with pot gear, including a pot storage area, a registered commercial fishing vessel or a vessel used for personal use, sport, or subsistence fishing may not have on board the vessel or in the water, in fishing or stored condition, any bottomfish or shellfish pot gear that does not have an opening or rigging as specified in (1) or (2) of this section.

History: In effect before 1984; am 6/30/84, Register 90; am 9/19/90, Register 115; am 4/30/91, Register 118; am 6/24/93, Register 126, am 7/15/93, Register 127; am 7/23/94, Register 131; am 5/19/2001, Register 158; am 8/24/2002, Register 163; am 7/31/2003, Register 167

Authority: AS 16.05.251

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