Section 5.33.331. Gillnet specifications and operation.

	(a)  A person may not operate a drift gillnet vessel that has on the reel or in the water more than one legal limit of drift gillnet gear. Extra gillnet gear may be on board the vessel. Any gear in excess of one legal limit of drift gillnet gear must be sacked or bagged. The sack or bag must totally contain the net and must be secured closed. However, unassembled gillnet gear components, including cork, webbing, or leadline may be on board a fishing vessel without being sacked or bagged. For the purposes of this section, the legal limit of drift gillnet gear is one gillnet no longer than the maximum length specified in (c) of this section.  
	(b)  In the Southeastern Alaska Area, a drift gillnet may not be more than 60 meshes in depth, except that there is no maximum depth restriction for a gillnet operated for king salmon cost recovery by a private nonprofit hatchery operator or under contract to a regional aquaculture association in a special harvest area described in 5 AAC 40.030 - 5 AAC 40.081.  
	(c)  In the Southeastern Alaska Area, the maximum length for drift gillnets is as follows:  
		(1) in District 1, a gillnet may not be more than 200 fathoms in length;  
		(2) in District 6, a gillnet may not be more than 300 fathoms in length, except that a gillnet may not exceed 75 fathoms in length in Wrangell Narrows during seasons established by emergency order;  
		(3) in District 8, a gillnet may not be more than 300 fathoms in length, except that a gillnet may not exceed 150 fathoms in length in Blind Slough during seasons established by emergency order;  
		(4) in District 11, a gillnet may not be more than 200 fathoms in length;  
		(5) in District 15, a gillnet may not be more than 200 fathoms in length.  
	(d)  In Districts 8, 11, and 15, through the fourth Saturday in June, the commissioner may, by emergency order, establish fishing periods during which the maximum gillnet mesh size is six inches.  
	(e)  In Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15, the commissioner may, by emergency order, establish fishing periods during which the minimum gillnet mesh size is six inches, except that  
		(1) in District 8, from the first Monday in May through the second Saturday in June, during periods established by emergency order, the minimum mesh size is seven inches;  
		(2) in District 11, from the first Monday in May through the third Saturday in June, during periods established by emergency order, the minimum mesh size is seven inches.  
	(f)  In the Southeastern Alaska Area, gillnet mesh size is measured by averaging the length of five consecutive meshes measured from inside the first knot and including the last knot when wet. The five meshes being measured must be an integral part of the net, as hung, and measured perpendicular to the selvages. Measurements must be made by means of a metal tape measure while the five meshes are suspended vertically from a single peg or nail, under a one-pound weight.  
	(g)  Repealed 5/31/85.  
	(h)  Repealed 5/31/85.  
	(i)  Repealed 4/2/88.  
	(j)  Notwithstanding 5 AAC 39.240(a), a vessel may have on board at the same time drift  gillnet gear as described in this section and hand troll gear or power troll gear as described in 5 AAC 29.120. One or more persons on board the vessel must possess a CFEC permit or interim use permit for Southeastern drift gillnet gear and either a hand troll or power troll permit. Both gear permits must be in possession on board the vessel and available for inspection by a local representative of the department or a peace officer of the state. Each permit holder on board the vessel must ensure that  
		(1) fish harvested by one gear type are offloaded, landed, and documented on a fish ticket before operating any other gear type;  
		(2) any gillnet gear is bagged and stowed below deck before and during operation of troll gear and when troll-caught fish are on board the vessel;  
		(3) cannon balls and other troll weights on board the vessel are removed from trolling wires and stored below deck before and during operation of gillnet gear and when gillnet-caught fish are on board the vessel.  

Authorities

16.05.060;16.05.251

Notes

Reference

5 AAC 29.120

Authority

AS 16.05.060 AS 16.05.251

History

In effect before 1982; am 7/25/82, Register 83; am 4/28/84, Register 90; am 5/31/85, Register 94; am 4/18/86, Register 98; am 6/10/87, Register 102; am 4/2/88, Register 105; am 6/25/89, Register 110; am 4/30/91, Register 118; am 4/23/94, Register 130; am 6/28/97, Register 142; am 6/14/2000, Register 154; am 7/26/2003, Register 167; em am 4/13/2005 - 8/10/2005, Register 174; am 5/26/2006, Register 178; am 5/31/2009, Register 190; am 7/13/2012, Register 203; am 5/9/2015, Register 214; am 7/1/2015, Register 214