Section 5.77.664. Personal use king crab fishery.

	(a)  Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this section, or if the commissioner closes the applicable portion of the Southeastern Alaska Area because of conservation concerns for king crab, in the personal use taking of king crab,  
		(1) the daily bag and possession limit is six male crab per person; if the regionwide harvestable biomass of mature red and blue king crab is below 200,000 pounds, the commissioner may, by emergency order, reduce the bag and possession limit of red and blue king crab;  
		(2) the king crab seasons are as follows:  
			(A) red and blue king crab may be taken only from July 1 through March 31;  
			(B) golden king crab may be taken only from July 1 through June 15;  
		(3) only male king crab seven inches or greater in width of shell may be taken or possessed.  
	(b)  In the waters described in 5 AAC 33.200 as Sections 12-B, 15-B, and 15-C, in the personal use taking of king crab, the daily bag and possession limits are three male crab per person, except that the commissioner may close and immediately reopen, by emergency order, a personal use red and blue king crab season during which there is a reduced bag and possession limit for red and blue king crab.  
	(c)  In the waters described in 5 AAC 33.200 as Section 11-A, in the personal use taking of king crab,  
		(1) red and blue king crab may only be taken under the authority of a permit issued under 5 AAC 77.015;  
		(2) the daily bag and possession limit is three male king crab per person;  
		(3) the commissioner may close and immediately reopen, by emergency order, a personal use red and blue king crab season during which one or more of the following conditions applies:  
			(A) a reduced bag and possession limit;  
			(B) a seasonal limit for king crab;  
			(C) a reduced pot and ring net limit.  
	(d)  Male king crab less than the minimum legal size and female king crab that have been taken must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.  
	(e)  A person may not utilize a live holding facility to accumulate or pool multiple bag limits.  
	(f)  Notwithstanding 5 AAC 77.010(i), no more than four pots or 10 ring nets per vessel may be used to take king crab. A pot used to take king crab under this section must have at least two escape rings on opposing vertical or sloping sides of the pot that are not less than six and one-quarter inches inside diameter.  

Authorities

16.05.251;44.62.125

Notes

Reference

5 AAC 77.662
5 AAC 77.666

Authority

AS 16.05.251 Editor's note: As of Register 216 (January 2016), the regulations attorney made a technical correction under AS 44.62.125(b)(6), to 5 AAC 77.664(a).

History

Eff. 7/1/86, Register 99; am 7/1/95, Register 134; am 7/1/96, Register 138; am 8/8/99, Register 151; am 3/11/2001, Register 157; am 8/24/2002, Register 163; am 8/14/2005, Register 175; am 7/29/2009, Register 191; am 9/27/2009, Register 191; am 5/11/2012, Register 202; am 5/9/2015, Register 214

References

5.77.664