Section 5.18.361. Alitak District Salmon Management Plan.

	(a)  The department shall manage the commercial salmon fishery in the Alitak District in accordance with the management plan set out in this section. The goal of the management plan is to achieve escapement and harvest objectives of salmon stocks returning to the Humpy-Deadman Section systems, and the Horse Marine, Frazer, Akalura, and Upper Station systems. It is the intent of the board that  
		(1) salmon bound to these systems be harvested to the extent possible by the traditional fisheries located in the Cape Alitak, Humpy-Deadman, Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections;  
		(2) the Frazer sockeye salmon run be managed for maximum sustained yield; the provisions of this paragraph do not apply during the 2014 - 2016 commercial fishing seasons;  
		(3) the early Upper Station sockeye salmon run be managed for sustained yield by an optimal escapement goal of 25,000 fish, except that during the 2014 - 2016 commercial fishing seasons the early Upper Station sockeye salmon run will be managed for sustained yield by an optimal escapement goal of 30,000 fish only if the department determines that the upper end of the Frazer system sockeye salmon escapement goal will be exceeded.  
	(b)  In the Cape Alitak, Humpy-Deadman, Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections, from June 1 through June 13, the commissioner may open, by emergency order, a 33-hour commercial test fishing period beginning at 12:00 noon. From the conclusion of the commercial test fishing period through September 15, there shall be a minimum closure of 69 consecutive hours in every 10-day period, to apply to each section individually as each section closes, unless the department determines that the sockeye salmon escapement goals will be achieved for the Frazer and Upper Station sockeye salmon runs.  
	(c)  Except for the 2014 - 2016 commercial fishing seasons and during the commercial test fishing period under (b) of this section, from June 1 through September 15, the commissioner shall open and close, by emergency order, fishing periods for the Cape Alitak, Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections at different times, as follows:  
		(1) in the Olga Bay Section, fishing periods shall open at 6:00 a.m., and shall close at 9:00 a.m. the following day;  
		(2) in the Moser Bay Section, fishing periods shall open at 12:00 noon the same day as the Olga Bay Section under this subsection, and shall close at 3:00 p.m. the following day;  
		(3) in the Alitak Bay Section, fishing periods shall open at 6:00 p.m. the same day as the Olga Bay and Moser Bay Sections under this subsection, and shall close at 9:00 p.m. the following day;  
		(4) in the Cape Alitak Section, fishing periods shall open at 6:00 a.m. the day following the opening of the Olga Bay, Moser Bay, and Alitak Bay Sections under this subsection, and shall close at 9:00 a.m. the following day.  
	(d)  If the commissioner extends, by emergency order, fishing time in a section, opened under (c) of this section, the commissioner shall also extend, by emergency order, equal fishing time to all other sections specified in (c) of this section open for fishing. After the fishing periods in all sections have closed, reopening of fishing periods shall be as specified in (c) of this section.  
	(e)  Repealed 4/9/2005.  
	(f)  Repealed 4/9/2005.  
	(g)  The Cape Alitak Section shall be managed, from June 1 through July 15, based on the Frazer and early Upper Station systems sockeye salmon returns. From July 16 through August 9, in odd-numbered years, the Cape Alitak Section shall be managed based on either the sockeye salmon or pink salmon return to the Frazer system, and in even-numbered years it shall be managed based on the sockeye salmon return to either the Frazer system or to Upper Station. From August 10 through August 25, in odd-numbered years, the Cape Alitak Section shall be managed based on the sockeye salmon return to Upper Station, and in even-numbered years it shall be managed based on either the pink salmon return to the Frazer system or on the sockeye salmon return to the Upper Station system. From August 26 through the end of the fishing season, the Cape Alitak Section shall be managed based on the coho and sockeye salmon returns to the entire Alitak District.  
	(h)  The Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections shall be managed, from June 1 through July 15, based on the Frazer and early Upper Station systems sockeye salmon returns. From July 16 through August 9, in odd-numbered years, the Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections shall be managed based on either the sockeye salmon or pink salmon return to the Frazer system, and in even-numbered years it shall be managed based on the sockeye salmon return to either the Frazer system or Upper Station. From August 10 through August 25, in odd-numbered years, the Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections shall be managed based on the sockeye salmon return to Upper Station, and in even-numbered years it shall be managed based on either the pink salmon return to the Frazer system or on the sockeye salmon return to the Upper Station system. From August 26 through the end of the fishing season, the Alitak Bay, Moser Bay, and Olga Bay Sections shall be managed based on the coho and late sockeye salmon returns to all Olga Bay systems.  
	(i)  The Humpy-Deadman Section shall be managed, from June 1 through July 15, at the same time, and with equal fishing time, with the Cape Alitak Section. After July 15, the Humpy-Deadman Section shall be managed based on the strength of salmon returns to systems located within the Humpy-Deadman Section.  
	(j)  The Dog Salmon Flats Section shall be managed, from June 1 through August 20, based on sockeye and pink salmon returns to the Frazer system. From August 21 through the end of the fishing season, the Dog Salmon Flats Section shall be managed based on coho salmon returns to the Dog Salmon River and Horse Marine systems. Except for the 2014 - 2016 commercial fishing seasons, the Dog Salmon Flats Section may be opened to fishing only when the department determines that escapement goals will be exceeded. These openings may not jeopardize achievement of minimum escapement goals for other salmon species. The department shall give at least 24-hours' advance notice before opening the Dog Salmon Flats Section.  
	(k)  The Inner and Outer Akalura Sections shall be managed, from June 1 through August 20, based on sockeye salmon returns to the Akalura system. From August 21 through August 26, the Inner and Outer Akalura Sections shall be managed based on coho and sockeye salmon returns to the Akalura system. After August 26, the Inner and Outer Akalura Sections shall be managed based on coho salmon returns to the Akalura system. The Inner and Outer Akalura Sections may be opened to fishing only when the department determines that escapement goals will be exceeded. These openings may not jeopardize achievement of minimum escapement goals for other salmon species. The department shall give at least 24-hours' advance notice before opening either the Inner or Outer Akalura Sections.  
	(l) The Inner and Outer Upper Station Sections shall be managed, from June 1 through August 25, based on early and late returns of sockeye salmon to the Upper Station system. After August 25, the Inner and Outer Upper Station Sections shall be managed based on coho and late sockeye salmon returns to the Upper Station system. The Inner and Outer Upper Station Sections may be opened to fishing only when the department determines that escapement goals will be exceeded. These openings may not jeopardize achievement of minimum escapement goals for other salmon species. The department shall give at least 24-hours' advance notice before opening either the Inner or Outer Upper Station Sections.  

Authorities

16.05.060;16.05.251

Notes

Authority

AS 16.05.060 AS 16.05.251

History

Eff. 6/2/88, Register 106; am 5/29/99, Register 150; am 5/4/2002, Register 162; am 6/5/2003, Register 166; am 4/9/2005, Register 174; am 4/21/2011, Register 198; am 5/1/2014, Register 210