5 AAC 06.367 - Nushagak District Commercial Set and Drift Gillnet Sockeye Salmon Fisheries Management and Allocation Plan

(a) The purpose of this management plan is to establish the allocation of sockeye salmon between the commercial set and drift gillnet fisheries within the Nushagak District and to establish management measures for the department to achieve the allocation.

(b) Consistent with 5 AAC 06.355 and other applicable provisions of this chapter, the department shall manage the Nushagak District set and drift gillnet fisheries during the fishing periods specified in 5 AAC 06.320(b) (1) to achieve biological escapement goals into river systems of the Nushagak District and to distribute the harvestable surplus of sockeye salmon to the drift and set gillnet fisheries as follows:

(1) drift gillnet - 74 percent; and

(2) set gillnet - 26 percent as follows:

(A) Igushik Section set gillnet fishery - six percent; and

(B) Nushagak Section set gillnet fishery - 20 percent;

(3) repealed 4/4/2013.

(c) For the purpose of calculating the set and drift gillnet allocation percentages specified in (b) of this section, the accounting period is from June 1 through July 17.

(d) To achieve the allocations specified in (b) of this section, consistent with the management principles of 5 AAC 06.355 and other applicable provisions of this chapter, the commissioner

(1) may open, by emergency order, concurrent fishing periods and set gillnet only fishing periods at approximately two and one-half to three hours before high water, except that when a tide is greater than 18 feet, openings will begin at least three hours before high water; set and drift gillnet fishing periods may be established at different times to obtain the set and drift gillnet sockeye salmon allocations specified in (b) of this section or at other times consistent with 5 AAC 06.355;

(2) may use short open commercial fishing periods so that all user groups have the opportunity to harvest fish;

(3) may address changing conditions using publicized short notice openings.

(e) If the commissioner determines it necessary for the protection of sockeye salmon, the commissioner may open, by emergency order, fishing periods in the Nushagak District during which gillnet mesh size may not exceed four and three-quarters inches.

Notes

5 AAC 06.367

Eff. 6/10/90, Register 114; am 3/1/92, Register 122; am 6/19/92, Register 122; am 5/14/98, Register 146; am 7/5/2000, Register 155; am 4/4/2013, Register 206

Authority:AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.251