5 AAC 35.511 - Permits for tanneri and angulatus Tanner crab in Registration Area J

(a) Male Tanner crab of the species Chionoecetes tanneriand Chionoecetes angulatusmay be taken in Registration Area J only under the conditions of a permit issued by the commissioner.

(b) C. tanneriand C. angulatusTanner crab may be taken only with pots as follows:

(1) in the Kodiak, Chignik, and South Peninsula Districts of Area J,

(A) pots may be longlined;

(B) no more than 150 large pots or 300 small pots may be operated from a vessel, except that in the Kodiak District no more than 75 large pots or 150 small pots may be operated from a vessel;

(C) for purposes of this paragraph, a small pot is a pot that is no more than 20 feet in perimeter and no more than 42 inches high, and a large pot is a pot that is more than 20 feet in perimeter and no more than 42 inches high;

(2) in that portion of Registration Area J not described in (1) of this subsection, pots may be longlined only in areas where the longlining of pots is permitted for golden king crab.

(c) Fishing operations are restricted to waters 200 fathoms or greater in depth, unless the fishery for golden king crab in that location is closed and an alternate depth is specified in the permit.

(d) The permit required in (a) of this section

(1) may, notwithstanding (c) of this section, restrict the depth of fishing operations;

(2) may specify season dates; the season may be closed during periods before and after other shellfish fisheries;

(3) may specify areas of fishing operations by registration area or by district;

(4) may establish minimum legal size limits;

(5) may require an onboard observer during all operations;

(6) may require a logbook report of operations; and

(7) may, notwithstanding (b) of this section, specify the type, size, and configuration of pots; pots must include an escape mechanism designed to allow female and undersize male crab to exit the pot during fishing operations.

(e) Participation in superexclusive Tanner crab fisheries does not exclude a vessel or permit holder from participation in this permit fishery in any area during periods when other Tanner crab fisheries in that area are closed.

(f) Except as provided in (b) of this section, the pot limits specified in the registration areas described in 5 AAC 35 for Tanner crab do not apply to Chionoecetes tanneriand Chionoecetes angulatusTanner crab.

Notes

5 AAC 35.511

Eff. 8/14/96, Register 139; am 8/14/2005, Register 175

Authority:AS 16.05.251