Section 5.35.508. Bering Sea District C. bairdi Tanner crab harvest strategy.

	(a)  In the Bering Sea District, the commercial C. bairdi Tanner crab fishery may open only if an analysis of preseason survey data indicates that the population at the time of the survey is at or above 40 percent of the long-term average (1975 - 2010) of mature female crab biomass in the Eastern Subdistrict.  
	(b)  If preseason survey data indicates that the population at the time of the survey is at or above 40 percent of the long-term average of mature female crab biomass in the Eastern Subdistrict for the second consecutive year, the department shall establish a separate total allowable catch level for that portion of the Bering Sea District that is east of 166_ W. long. and for that portion that is west of 166_ W. long. under the provisions of (c) and (d) of this section. If the commercial C. bairdi Tanner crab fishery in the Bering Sea District did not open in the previous season because the threshold requirements specified in (a) of this section were not met, the total allowable catch level for that portion of the Bering Sea District that is east of 166_ W. long. and for that portion that is west of 166_ W. long., as computed under (c) and (d) of this section, shall be reduced by one-half.   
	(c)  In that portion of the Bering Sea District that is east of 166_ W. long., and under the restrictions of (e) and (f) of this section, the total allowable catch level shall be established as follows:  
		(1) if BE is less than 25 percent of BE,(1975-2010), the fishery will not open;  
		(2) if BE is at least 25 percent but not greater than 100 percent of BE,(1975-2010), the total allowable catch will be computed as (0.9)x(BE/BE,(1975-2010))x CE,MSY; and  
		(3) if BE is greater than 100 percent of BE,(1975-2010), the total allowable catch will be computed as (0.9)x CE,MSY.   
	(d)  In that portion of the Bering Sea District that is west of 166_ W. long., and under the restrictions of (e) and (f) of this section, the total allowable catch level will be established as follows:   
		(1) if Bw is less than 25 percent of BW,(1975-2010), the fishery will not open;  
		(2) if Bw is at least 25 percent but not greater than 100 percent of BW,(1975-2010), the total allowable catch will be computed as (0.9)x(BW/BW,(1975-2010))xCW,MSY; and  
		(3) if Bw is greater than 100 percent of BW,(1975-2010), the total allowable catch will be computed as (0.9)xCW,MSY.  
	(e)  Notwithstanding (b) - (d) of this section, the total allowable catch for  
		(1) that portion of the Bering Sea District east of 166_ W. long. may not exceed 50 percent of the estimated biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab, that are 127 millimeters (five inches) or greater in carapace width, including the lateral spines, discounted by fishery selectivity, that would survive in the absence of fishing mortality until the estimated mean time of mating; and  
		(2) that portion of the Bering Sea District west of 166_ W. long. may not exceed 50 percent of the estimated biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab that are 127 millimeters (five inches) or greater in carapace width, including the lateral spines, discounted by fishery selectivity, that would survive in the absence of fishing mortality until the estimated mean time of mating.  
	(f)  Notwithstanding (b) - (e) of this section, in implementing this harvest strategy, the department shall consider the reliability of estimates of C. bairdi Tanner crab, the manageability of the fishery, and other factors the department determines necessary to be consistent with sustained yield principles and to use the best scientific information available and consider all sources of uncertainty as necessary to avoid overfishing.  
	(g)  In this section,  
		(1) "BE" means the biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab in the portion of the Bering Sea District east of 166_ W. long. that are more than 112 millimeters in carapace width estimated for the time of the preseason survey;  
		(2) "BE,(1975-2010) means the mean value of the biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab in the portion of the Bering Sea District east of 166_ W. long. that are more than 112 millimeters in carapace width annually estimated for the time of the preseason survey for the period 1975 - 2010;  
		(3) "Bw means the biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab in the portion of the Bering Sea District west of 166_ W. long. that are more than 102 millimeters in carapace width estimated for the time of the preseason survey;  
		(4) "BW,(1975-2010)" means the mean value of the biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab in the portion of the Bering Sea District  west of 166_ W. long. that are more than 102 millimeters in carapace width annually estimated for the time of the preseason survey for the period 1975 - 2010;  
		(5) "CE,MSY" means the catch biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab in the portion of the Bering Sea District east of 166_ W. long. that are 127 millimeters (five inches) or greater in carapace width, including the lateral spines, resulting from fishing on the estimated mature male biomass at the estimated mean time of mating at the full-selection FMSY rate or a proxy for the FMSY rate;  
		(6) "CW,MSY" means the catch biomass of male C. bairdi Tanner crab in the portion of the Bering Sea District west of 166_ W. long. that are 127 millimeters (five inches) or greater in carapace width, including the lateral spines, resulting from fishing on the estimated mature male biomass of C. bairdi Tanner crab at the estimated mean time of mating at the full-selection FMSY  rate or a proxy for the FMSY  rate;  
		(7) "mature female crab" means for  
			(A) that portion of the Bering Sea District that is east of 166_ W. long., a female C. bairdi Tanner crab that is more than 84 millimeters in carapace width; and  
			(B) that portion of the Bering Sea District that is west of 166_ W.  long., a female C. bairdi Tanner crab that is more than 79 millimeters in carapace width.  

Authorities

16.05.251

Notes

Authority

AS 16.05.251

History

Eff. 8/8/99, Register 151; am 3/11/2001, Register 157; am 8/24/2002, Register 163; am 8/14/2005, Register 175; am 8/28/2005, Register 175; am 7/1/2006, Register 178; am 7/16/2011, Register 199; am 7/1/2015, Register 214