Section 5.15.357. Chignik Area Salmon Management Plan.

	(a)  The department shall manage the commercial salmon fishery in the Chignik Area in accordance with the guidelines set out in the management plan under this section. The goal of this management plan is to allow traditional fisheries in the area to be conducted on Chignik Area salmon stocks, and to achieve the department's biological escapement goals for both Black Lake (early-run) and Chignik Lake (late-run) sockeye salmon and local stocks of pink, chum, coho, and king salmon.  
	(b)  In the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, the commercial salmon fishery shall open concurrently based on escapement objectives for the Chignik Lakes' system sockeye salmon runs, except that  
		(1) the commissioner may open, by emergency order, the commercial salmon fishery when 20,000 sockeye salmon have escaped into the Chignik River; however, if the department determines that a strong buildup of sockeye salmon exists in Chignik Lagoon and that 20,000 sockeye salmon will escape into the Chignik River, the commissioner may open, by emergency order, the commercial salmon fishery before 20,000 sockeye salmon have escaped into the Chignik River;  
		(2) during the period of transition from the predominance of the early-run sockeye salmon to that of the late-run sockeye salmon, usually late June through mid-July, the commissioner shall open and close, by emergency order, the fishing periods to harvest surplus early-run sockeye salmon without jeopardizing the late-run sockeye salmon escapement objectives;  
		(3) from the end of the transition period, described in (2) of this subsection until September 14,  
			(A) the commissioner shall open and close, by emergency order, fishing periods in the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, based on the Chignik Lakes' system sockeye salmon escapement goals;  
			(B) the department shall manage the commercial fishery to allow for the passage of at least 75,000 sockeye salmon above the Chignik River weir, in addition to late-run sockeye salmon escapement needs, to provide an inriver harvestable surplus above the Chignik River weir in August and September of at least 25,000 fish in August and 50,000 fish from September 1 through September 30;  
			(C) the commissioner may take additional emergency order actions to protect or harvest local pink, chum, king, and coho salmon runs; and  
		(4) beginning September 15, fishing periods in the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, may be no more than 48 hours per week, and shall be based on the department's evaluation of the sockeye salmon run strength and the subsistence needs for Chignik Lake late-season sockeye salmon.  
	(c)  In the Eastern District,  
		(1) during June, the commercial salmon fishery shall open concurrently with the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, and the openings shall be based on achieving the Black Lake sockeye salmon escapement goals;  
		(2) from approximately June 26 through July 8,  
			(A) the department shall evaluate the strength of the sockeye salmon late run; and  
			(B) in order to continue managing the Black Lake sockeye salmon harvest and escapement, while assessing the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run strength, commercial salmon fishing in the Eastern District will, in the department's discretion, be disallowed or severely restricted;  
		(3) from the end of the transition period, described in (b)(2) of this section, until the end of the fishing season, the department shall manage the commercial salmon fishery based on its evaluation of local pink, chum, and coho salmon runs, and the escapement objectives of the Chignik Lakes' system sockeye salmon.  
	(d)  In the Western District, excluding the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, and the Perryville District, the department may open the commercial salmon fishery beginning July 6, except that  
		(1) from approximately late June to mid-July (transition period),  
			(A) the department shall evaluate the strength of the sockeye salmon late run; and  
			(B) in order to allow the department to assess the Chignik Lake run strength, the department may keep closed or severely restrict commercial salmon fishing in the Western District, except the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, and in the Perryville District;  
		(2) from the end of the transition period, described in (b)(2) of this section, until approximately August 20, fishing periods shall be based on the department's evaluation of local pink and chum salmon runs, and its evaluation of the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run; from July 22 through July 31,  
			(A) repealed 3/29/2008;  
			(B) the commissioner may, by emergency order, open fishing in the following terminal harvest areas:  
				(i) those portions of the Western and Perryville Districts north of a line from Cape Ikti at 56_ 00.32' N. lat., 158_ 32.02' W. long., to Coal Cape at 55_ 53.42' N. lat., 159_ 00.45' W. long. to Cape Alexander at 55_ 47.22' N. lat., 159_ 24.57' W. long.;   
				(ii) waters in the Ivanof Bay Section of the Perryville District that are north of the latitude from Alexander Point at 55_ 47.37' W. long., to Kupreanof Peninsula; and  
				(iii) those portions of the Chignik Bay and Central Districts known locally as Jack's Box, which consists of those waters east of  158_ 15.36' W. long., south of 56_ 20' N. lat., and west of 158_ 10' W. long.;  
		(3) from approximately August 20 until the end of the fishing season, fishing periods shall be based on the department's evaluation of local pink, chum, and coho salmon runs, and its evaluation of the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run.  
	(e)  Notwithstanding the provisions of (d) of this section, in the Western District, excluding the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, the commercial salmon fishery shall open concurrently with the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, from June 1 through July 5 for no more than two fishing periods up to 48 hours each with a closure for a minimum of 48 hours between the fishing periods.  

Authorities

16.05.060;16.05.251

Notes

Authority

AS 16.05.060 AS 16.05.251

History

Eff. 5/29/99, Register 150; am 5/4/2002, Register 162; am 3/6/2003, Register 165; am 3/13/2005, Register 173; am 4/9/2005, Register 174; am 3/29/2008, Register 185; am 5/1/2011, Register 198; am 3/19/2014, Register 209; am 2/22/2015, Register 213; am 6/5/2016, Register 218