Section 5.57.170. Kenai River Coho Salmon Management Plan.

	(a)  The purpose of this management plan is to ensure an adequate escapement of coho salmon into the Kenai River drainage and to provide management guidelines to the department. The department shall manage the Kenai River coho salmon stocks primarily to provide sport and guided sport fishermen with a reasonable opportunity to harvest these salmon resources over the entire run.  
	(b)  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter, for the conservation of coho salmon stocks, the department shall manage sport fishing in the Kenai River drainage as follows:  
		(1) coho salmon fishing is closed in the Middle and Upper Sections from November 1 through June 30, and in the Lower Section from December 1 through June 30; any coho salmon caught incidentally must be released immediately without further harm;  
		(2) repealed 6/4/2008;  
		(3) coho salmon may be taken as follows:  
			(A) from July 1 through October 31, in the Middle and Upper Sections;  
			(B) from July 1 through November 30, in the Lower Section;  
			(C) from July 1 through August 31, the daily bag and possession limit for coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length is two fish;  
			(D) from September 1 through November 30, the daily bag and possession limit for coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length is three fish.  
	(c)  If the commissioner determines that additional conservation measures are necessary for the inriver sport or personal use fisheries, the commissioner may close, by emergency order, the season and immediately reopen a season during which any or a combination of the following restrictions may be applied:  
		(1) the daily bag and possession limit for coho salmon is one fish;  
		(2) only unbaited artificial lures may be used;  
		(3) fishing time may be reduced;  
		(4) fishing areas may be reduced.  
	(d)  The department will, to the extent practicable, conduct habitat assessments on a schedule that conforms to the Board of Fisheries (board) triennial meeting cycle. If the assessments demonstrate a net loss of riparian habitat caused by noncommercial fishermen, the department is requested to report those findings to the board and submit proposals to the board for appropriate modification of this management plan.  

Authorities

16.05.060;16.05.251

Notes

Authority

AS 16.05.060 AS 16.05.251

History

Eff. 10/1/2006, Register 179; am 11/12/2006, Register 180; am 6/4/2008, Register 186