Section 5.34.915. Norton Sound Section red king crab harvest strategy.

	(a)  The department shall manage the summer and winter commercial seasons of the Norton Sound Section red king crab fishery in accordance with 5 AAC 34.080 and 5 AAC 34.910, as follows:  
		(1) the threshold level of abundance of legal male red king crab biomass is 1.25 million pounds; the Norton Sound red king crab winter and summer commercial seasons may open only if analysis of preseason survey data indicates that the population of legal male red king crab exceeds this level; if the winter and summer commercial seasons for red king crab are opened under this paragraph,  
			(A) eight percent of the guideline harvest level may be taken during the winter season; and   
			(B) any remaining guideline harvest level not taken during the winter season may be taken during the summer commercial season;  
		(2) if the Norton Sound red king crab season is open under (1) of this subsection and the legal male red king crab biomass is less than two million pounds, the number of legal male red king crab available for harvest will be no more than seven percent of the legal male red king crab abundance;  
		(3) if the Norton Sound red king crab season is open under (1) of this subsection and the legal male red king crab biomass is at least two million pounds, but less than three million pounds, the number of legal male red king crab available for harvest will be no more than 13 percent of the legal male red king crab abundance;  
		(4) if the Norton Sound red king crab season is open under (1) of this subsection and the legal male red king crab biomass is three million pounds or more, the number of legal male red king crab available for harvest will be no more than 15 percent of the legal male red king crab abundance;  
		(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, the best scientific information available, and harvest efficiency;  
		(6) the commissioner may, by emergency order, reduce by small increments the closed waters described in 5 AAC 34.935(a) to no less than three miles from mean lower low tide to allow the commercial king crab fishery to efficiently obtain the allowable harvest of red king crab.  
	(b)  Notwithstanding 5 AAC 39.690(e)(7), the commissioner may, by emergency order, open a CDQ fishery in Norton Sound, with an allocation of 7.5 percent of the forecasted guideline harvest level for male red king crab.  

Authorities

16.05.060;16.05.251

Notes

Reference

5 AAC 34.935

Authority

AS 16.05.060 AS 16.05.251

History

In effect before 1982; am 7/25/82, Register 83; am 6/30/83, Register 86; am 7/23/88, Register 107; am 6/23/99, Register 150; am 8/24/2002, Register 163; am 9/12/2008, Register 187; am 7/13/2012, Register 203; am 5/18/2014, Register 210; am 7/1/2015, Register 214