[Federal Register: February 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 22)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5018-5036]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03fe04-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
36 CFR Part 242
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 100
RIN 1018-AI89
Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska,
Subpart C and Subpart D-2004-05 Subsistence Taking of Fish and
Shellfish Regulations
AGENCIES: Forest Service, Agriculture; Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule establishes regulations for seasons, harvest
limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish and shellfish for
subsistence uses during the 2004-05 regulatory year. The rulemaking is
necessary because Subpart D is subject to an annual public review
cycle. This rulemaking replaces the fish and shellfish taking
regulations included in the ``Subsistence Management Regulations for
Public Lands in Alaska, Subpart C and Subpart D-2003 Subsistence Taking
of Fish and Wildlife Regulations,'' which expire on February 29, 2004.
This rule also amends the Customary and Traditional Use Determinations
of the Federal Subsistence Board (Section ------ .24 of Subpart C).
DATES: Sections ------ .24(a)(2) and (3) are effective March 1, 2004.
Sections ------ .27 and ------ .28 are effective March 1, 2004, through
March 31, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Thomas H. Boyd, Office of
Subsistence Management; (907) 786-3888. For questions specific to
National Forest System lands, contact Steve Kessler, Regional
Subsistence Program Manager, USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region, (907)
786-3592.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
(ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3111-3126) requires that the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) implement a
joint program to grant a preference for subsistence uses of fish and
wildlife resources on public lands, unless the State of Alaska enacts
and implements laws of general applicability that are consistent with
ANILCA and that provide for the subsistence definition, preference, and
participation specified in Sections 803, 804, and 805 of ANILCA. The
State implemented a program that the Department of the Interior
previously found to be consistent with ANILCA. However, in December
1989, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in McDowell v. State of Alaska
that the rural preference in the State subsistence statute violated the
Alaska Constitution. The Court's ruling in McDowell required the State
to delete the rural preference from the subsistence statute and,
therefore, negated State compliance with ANILCA. The Court stayed the
effect of the decision until July 1, 1990.
As a result of the McDowell decision, the Department of the
Interior and the Department of Agriculture (Departments) assumed, on
July 1, 1990, responsibility for implementation of Title VIII of ANILCA
on public lands. On June 29, 1990, the Temporary Subsistence Management
Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska were published in the Federal
Register (55 FR 27114). On January 8, 1999 (64 FR 1276), the
Departments extended jurisdiction to include waters in which there
exists a Federal reserved water right. This amended rule conformed the
Federal Subsistence Management
[[Page 5019]]
Program to the Ninth Circuit's ruling in Alaska v. Babbitt. Consistent
with Subparts A, B, and C of these regulations as revised May 7, 2002
(67 FR 30559), the Departments established a Federal Subsistence Board
to administer the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The Board's
composition includes a Chair appointed by the Secretary of the Interior
with concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture; the Alaska Regional
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Alaska Regional Director,
U.S. National Park Service; the Alaska State Director, U.S. Bureau of
Land Management; the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs; and the Alaska Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service. Through
the Board, these agencies participated in the development of
regulations for Subparts A, B, and C, and the annual Subpart D
regulations.
All Board members have reviewed this rule and agree with its
substance. Because this rule relates to public lands managed by an
agency or agencies in both the Departments of Agriculture and the
Interior, identical text would be incorporated into 36 CFR part 242 and
50 CFR part 100.
Applicability of Subparts A, B, and C
Subparts A, B, and C (unless otherwise amended) of the Subsistence
Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, 50 CFR 100.1 to
100.23 and 36 CFR 242.1 to 242.23, remain effective and apply to this
rule. Therefore, all definitions located at 50 CFR 100.4 and 36 CFR
242.4 apply to regulations found in this subpart.
Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils
Pursuant to the Record of Decision, Subsistence Management
Regulations for Federal Public Lands in Alaska, April 6, 1992, and the
Subsistence Management Regulations for Federal Public Lands in Alaska,
36 CFR 242.11 and 242.22 (2002) and 50 CFR 100.11 and 100.22 (2002),
and for the purposes identified therein, we divide Alaska into 10
subsistence resource regions, each of which is represented by a Federal
Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (Regional Council). The Regional
Councils provide a forum for rural residents, with personal knowledge
of local conditions and resource requirements, to have a meaningful
role in the subsistence management of fish and wildlife on Alaska
public lands. The Regional Council members represent varied
geographical, cultural, and user diversity within each region.
The Regional Councils had a substantial role in reviewing the
proposed rule and making recommendations for the final rule. Moreover,
the Council Chairs, or their designated representatives, presented
their Council's recommendations at the Board meeting of December 9-11,
2003.
Summary of Changes
Section ------ .24 (Customary and traditional use determinations)
was originally published in the Federal Register (57 FR 22940) on May
29, 1992. Since that time, the Board has made a number of Customary and
Traditional Use Determinations at the request of impacted subsistence
users. Those modifications, along with some administrative corrections,
were last published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2003 (68 FR
7276). During its December 9-11, 2003, meeting, the Board made
additional determinations in addition to various annual season and
harvest limit changes. The public has had extensive opportunity to
review and comment on all changes. Additional details on the recent
Board modifications are contained below in Analysis of Proposals
Adopted by the Board.
Subpart D regulations are subject to an annual cycle and require
development of an entire new rule each year. Customary and traditional
use determinations are also subject to an annual review process
providing for modification each year. We published proposed Subpart D
regulations for the 2004-05 seasons, harvest limits, and methods and
means on February 12, 2003, in the Federal Register (68 FR 7294). A 45-
day comment period providing for public review of the proposed rule and
calling for proposals was advertised by mail, radio, and newspaper.
During that period, the Regional Councils met and, in addition to other
Regional Council business, received suggestions for proposals from the
public. The Board received a total of 45 proposals for changes to
Customary and Traditional Use Determinations or to Subpart D. This
number included some proposals deferred from previous years. Subsequent
to the review period, the Board prepared a booklet describing the
proposals and distributed it to the public. The public had an
additional 30 days in which to comment on the proposals for changes to
the regulations. The 10 Regional Councils met again, received public
comments, and formulated their recommendations to the Board on
proposals for their respective regions. Six of the proposals were not
considered, being withdrawn before Board consideration. Two proposals
were deferred pending resolution of jurisdictional issues or completion
of research studies relative to the specific proposal. These final
regulations reflect Board review and consideration of Regional Council
recommendations and public comments on the remaining proposals.
Analysis of Proposals Rejected by the Board
The Board rejected or took no action on 20 proposals. All of these
actions were based on recommendations from at least one Regional
Council.
The Board rejected three proposals requesting significant
restrictions on the exercise of customary trade. The Board rejected
these proposals as unnecessary restrictions on subsistence users.
One proposal requested expanding the use of gillnets in the Yukon
River, and one proposal wanted us to allow larger nets on the Kuskokwim
River. These proposals were rejected because of conservation concerns
for salmon in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.
The Board rejected two proposals requesting closure of commercial
fishing in Federal waters on the Yukon River. The Board rejected these
proposals as unnecessary restrictions on nonsubsistence users.
The Board rejected two proposals requesting revisions to the
subsistence fishing schedule for the Yukon River. The Board rejected
these proposals because the current fishing schedules are a result of a
coordinated effort by users and government bodies to rebuild depressed
salmon stocks and are for the long-term benefit of all users.
The Board took no action on four proposals that would have revised
the customary and traditional use determination for the Prince of Wales
archipelago because of their positive action on another proposal
addressing similar issues.
The Board deferred action on two proposals in order to resolve
jurisdictional issues or to assemble additional fisheries data, harvest
information, or to allow communities or Regional Councils additional
time to review the issues and provide additional information.
Two proposals, rejected by the Board, related to the description of
a ``spear.'' These were rejected because evidence was presented that
subsistence users traditionally utilized an additional spear-like
object that would have been excluded with the new definition.
The Board rejected six proposals that would have placed additional
harvest restrictions or additional reporting or marking requirements on
steelhead, trout, or char in southeast Alaska. These
[[Page 5020]]
proposals were rejected because there is no immediate conservation
concern and they would have placed unnecessary restrictions or
regulatory burdens on subsistence users.
Analysis of Proposals Adopted by the Board
The Board adopted 13 proposals. A number of proposals dealing with
the same issue were dealt with as a package. Some proposals were
adopted as submitted and others were adopted with modifications
suggested by the respective Regional Council or developed during the
Board's public deliberations.
All of the adopted proposals were recommended for adoption by at
least one of the Regional Councils and were based on meeting customary
and traditional uses, harvest practices, or protecting fish
populations. Detailed information relating to justification for the
action on each proposal may be found in the Board meeting transcripts,
available for review at the Office of Subsistence Management, 3601 C
Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, Alaska, or on the Office of Subsistence
Management Web site (http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html). Additional
technical clarifications and removal of excess or duplicative text have
been made, which result in a more readable document.
In the final rule we clarified that limited entry and crew permit
holders are not prohibited from participating in customary trade. We
also deleted text that pertained to waters not under Federal
jurisdiction. In addition, we revised the regulations pertaining to
specific management areas as follows:
Yukon-Northern Fishery Management Area
The Board adopted two proposals affecting residents of the Yukon-
Northern Fishery Management Area resulting in the following changes to
the regulations found in Sec. ------.27.
Revised the regulations to allow the use of red
colored buoys and kegs for marking subsistence fishing gear.
Allowed the use of gillnets larger than 3-inch
mesh in Birch Creek for a portion of the year.
Kuskokwim Fishery Management Area
The Board adopted one proposal affecting residents of the Kuskokwim
Fishery Management Area resulting in the following changes to the
regulations found in Sec. ------.27.
Revised the regulations to allow the use of red
colored buoys and kegs for marking subsistence fishing gear.
Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area
The Board adopted two proposals affecting residents of the Bristol
Bay Fishery Management Area resulting in the following changes to the
regulations found in Sec.Sec. ------.24 and ------.27.
Revised the customary and traditional use
determination for the Egegik and Ugashik Districts.
Set dollar limits on sale of salmon in customary
trade in the Bristol Bay Area.
Prince William Sound Fishery Management Area
The Board adopted four proposals affecting residents of the Prince
William Sound Fishery Management Area resulting in the following
changes to the regulations found in Sec.Sec. ------.24 and ------.27.
Revised the customary and traditional use
determinations for salmon and for freshwater fish in a portion of the
fishery management area.
Allowed the accumulation of salmon subsistence
harvest limits with sport harvest limits in the upper Copper River.
Removed the requirement for the submission of a
harvest management plan for community fish wheels.
Southeastern Alaska Fishery Management Area
The Board adopted five proposals affecting residents of the
Southeastern Alaska Fishery Management Area resulting in the following
changes to the regulations found in Sec.Sec. ------.24 and ------.27
Revised the customary and traditional use
determinations in the Prince of Wales Island area.
Included Kosciusko Island in regulations for the
Prince of Wales steelhead fishery.
Revised the customary and traditional use
determinations for Districts 6, 7, and 8.
Established a salmon fishery on the Stikine
River with implementation delayed pending coordination with the Pacific
Salmon Commission.
Additionally, these regulations will be effective for 13 months,
from March 1, 2004, through March 31, 2005. This will allow the annual
fishery regulations to become effective on April 1 in future years.
This change was recommended after a thorough review of the overall
regulatory cycles for both fish and wildlife. The additional month
following the winter Regional Council meetings will allow the
production of necessary materials for the Board meeting and then
production of the public booklets in a timely manner.
Administrative Procedure Act Compliance
The Board finds that additional public notice under the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for this final rule is unnecessary,
and contrary to the public interest. The Board has provided extensive
opportunity for public input and involvement in excess of standard APA
requirements, including participation in multiple Regional Council
meetings, additional public review and comment on all proposals for
regulatory change, and opportunity for additional public comment during
the Board meeting prior to deliberation. Additionally, an
administrative mechanism exists (and has been used by the public) to
request reconsideration of the Board's decision on any particular
proposal for regulatory change. Over the 12 years the Program has been
operating, no benefit to the public has been demonstrated by delaying
the effective date of regulations. A lapse in regulatory control could
seriously affect the continued viability of fish and shellfish
populations, adversely impact future subsistence opportunities for
rural Alaskans, and would generally fail to serve the overall public
interest. Therefore, the Board finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553 (d) to make this rule effective less than 30 days after
publication.
Conformance with Statutory and Regulatory Authorities
National Environmental Policy Act Compliance
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for developing a
Federal Subsistence Management Program was distributed for public
comment on October 7, 1991. That document described the major issues
associated with Federal subsistence management as identified through
public meetings, written comments, and staff analysis and examined the
environmental consequences of four alternatives. Proposed regulations
(Subparts A, B, and C) that would implement the preferred alternative
were included in the DEIS as an appendix. The DEIS and the proposed
administrative regulations presented a framework for an annual
regulatory cycle regarding subsistence hunting and fishing regulations
(Subpart D). The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was
published on February 28, 1992.
Based on the public comment received, the analysis contained in the
FEIS, and the recommendations of the Federal Subsistence Board and the
Department of the Interior's Subsistence
[[Page 5021]]
Policy Group, the Secretary of the Interior, with the concurrence of
the Secretary of Agriculture, through the U.S. Department of
Agriculture-Forest Service, implemented Alternative IV as identified in
the DEIS and FEIS (Record of Decision on Subsistence Management for
Federal Public Lands in Alaska (ROD), signed April 6, 1992). The DEIS
and the selected alternative in the FEIS defined the administrative
framework of an annual regulatory cycle for subsistence hunting and
fishing regulations. The final rule for Subsistence Management
Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, Subparts A, B, and C (57 FR
22940, published May 29, 1992; amended January 8, 1999, 64 FR 1276;
June 12, 2001, 66 FR 31533; and May 7, 2002, 67 FR 30559) implemented
the Federal Subsistence Management Program and included a framework for
an annual cycle for subsistence hunting and fishing regulations.
An environmental assessment was prepared in 1997 on the expansion
of Federal jurisdiction over fisheries and is available by contacting
the office listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The Secretary
of the Interior with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture
determined that the expansion of Federal jurisdiction did not
constitute a major Federal action, significantly affecting the human
environment and has, therefore, signed a Finding of No Significant
Impact.
Compliance With Section 810 of ANILCA
The intent of all Federal subsistence regulations is to accord
subsistence uses of fish and wildlife on public lands a priority over
the taking of fish and wildlife on such lands for other purposes,
unless restriction is necessary to conserve healthy fish and wildlife
populations. A Section 810 analysis was completed as part of the FEIS
process. The final Section 810 analysis determination appeared in the
April 6, 1992, ROD, which concluded that the Federal Subsistence
Management Program may have some local impacts on subsistence uses, but
the program is not likely to significantly restrict subsistence uses.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements contained in this rule have
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and assigned
OMB control number 1018-0075, which expires August 31, 2006. We may not
conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a
collection of information request unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number.
Other Requirements
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)--In
accordance with the criteria in Executive Order 12866 this rule is not
a significant regulatory action subject to OMB review. OMB makes this
determination. This action will not have an annual economic effect of
$100 million or adversely affect any economic sector, productivity,
competition, jobs, the environment, or other units of government.
Therefore, a cost-benefit and economic analysis is not required. This
action will not create inconsistencies with other agencies' actions or
otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency.
This action will not materially affect entitlements, grants, user fees,
loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their recipients. This
action will not raise novel legal or policy issues.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
requires preparation of flexibility analyses for rules that will have a
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities,
which include small businesses, organizations, or governmental
jurisdictions. The Departments have determined that this rulemaking
will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of
small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
This rulemaking will impose no significant costs on small entities;
the exact number of businesses and the amount of trade that will result
from this Federal land-related activity is unknown. The aggregate
effect is an insignificant positive economic effect on a number of
small entities, such as tackle, boat, and gasoline dealers. The number
of small entities affected is unknown; however, the fact that the
positive effects will be seasonal in nature and will, in most cases,
merely continue preexisting uses of public lands indicates that the
effects will not be significant.
In general, the resources harvested under this rule will be
consumed by the local harvester and do not result in a dollar benefit
to the economy. However, we estimate that 24 million pounds of fish
(including 8.3 million pounds of salmon) are harvested by the local
subsistence users annually and, if given a dollar value of $3.00 per
pound for salmon [Note: $3.00 per pound is much higher than the current
commercial value for salmon] and $ 0.58 per pound for other fish, would
equate to about $34 million in food value Statewide.
Title VIII of ANILCA requires the Secretaries to administer a
subsistence preference on public lands. The scope of this program is
limited by definition to certain public lands. Likewise, these
regulations have no potential takings of private property implications
as defined by Executive Order 12630.
The Service has determined and certifies pursuant to the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this rulemaking will
not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given year on local or
State governments or private entities. The implementation of this rule
is by Federal agencies, and no cost is involved to any State or local
entities or Tribal governments.
The Service has determined that these final regulations meet the
applicable standards provided in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive
Order 12988 on Civil Justice Reform.
In accordance with Executive Order 13132, the rule does not have
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
Federalism Assessment. Title VIII of ANILCA precludes the State from
exercising management authority over wildlife resources on Federal
lands.
In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994,
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), 512 DM 2, and E.O. 13175, we have
evaluated possible effects on Federally recognized Indian tribes and
have determined that there are no effects. The Bureau of Indian Affairs
is a participating agency in this rulemaking.
On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 on
regulations that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, or
use. This Executive Order requires agencies to prepare Statements of
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. As this rule is not a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 13211, affecting
energy supply, distribution, or use, this action is not a significant
action and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.
Drafting Information
William Knauer drafted these regulations under the guidance of
Thomas H. Boyd, of the Office of Subsistence Management, Alaska
Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Taylor Brelsford, Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management; Rod
Simmons, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Bob
Gerhard, Alaska
[[Page 5022]]
Regional Office, National Park Service; Dr. Glenn Chen, Alaska Regional
Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Steve Kessler, USDA-Forest
Service, provided additional guidance.
List of Subjects
36 CFR Part 242
Administrative practice and procedure, Alaska, Fish, National
forests, Public lands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Wildlife.
50 CFR Part 100
Administrative practice and procedure, Alaska, Fish, National
forests, Public lands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Wildlife.
0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Subsistence Board
amends Title 36, part 242, and Title 50, part 100, of the Code of
Federal Regulations, as set forth below.
PART --SUBSISTENCE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS IN
ALASKA
0
1. The authority citation for both 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3, 472, 551, 668dd, 3101-3126; 18 U.S.C.
3551-3586; 43 U.S.C. 1733.
Subpart C--Board Determinations
0
2. In Subpart C of 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100, ------.24(a)(2)
and (3) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. ------.24 Customary and traditional use determinations.
(a) * * *
(2) Fish determinations. The following communities and areas have
been found to have a positive customary and traditional use
determination in the listed area for the indicated species:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area Species Determination
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KOTZEBUE AREA....................... All fish................. Residents of the Kotzebue Area.
NORTON SOUND--PORT CLARENCE AREA: All fish................. Residents of Stebbins, St. Michael, and Kotlik.
Norton Sound--Port Clarence Area,
waters draining into Norton Sound
between Point Romanof and Canal
Point.
Norton Sound--Port Clarence Area, All fish................. Residents of the Norton Sound--Port Clarence
remainder. Area.
YUKON-NORTHERN AREA: Yukon River Salmon, other than fall Residents of the Yukon River drainage and the
drainage. chum salmon. community of Stebbins.
Yukon River drainage................ Fall chum salmon......... Residents of the Yukon River drainage and the
communities of Stebbins, Scammon Bay, Hooper
Bay, and Chevak.
Yukon River drainage................ Freshwater fish (other Residents of the Yukon-Northern Area.
than salmon).
Remainder of the Yukon-Northern Area All fish................. Residents of the Yukon-Northern Area, excluding
the residents of the Yukon River drainage and
excluding those domiciled in Unit 26-B.
KUSKOKWIM AREA...................... Salmon................... Residents of the Kuskokwim Area, except those
persons residing on the United States military
installations located on Cape Newenham,
Sparevohn USAFB, and Tatalina USAFB.
Rainbow trout............ Residents of the communities of Quinhagak,
Goodnews Bay, Kwethluk, Eek, Akiachak, Akiak,
and Platinum.
Pacific cod.............. Residents of the communities of Chevak, Newtok,
Tununak, Toksook Bay, Nightmute, Chefornak,
Kipnuk, Mekoryuk, Kwigillingok, Kongiganak,
Eek, and Tuntutuliak.
All other fish other than Residents of the Kuskokwim Area, except those
herring. persons residing on the United States military
installation located on Cape Newenham,
Sparevohn USAFB, and Tatalina USAFB.
Waters around Nunivak Island........ Herring and herring roe.. Residents within 20 miles of the coast between
the westernmost tip of the Naskonat Peninsula
and the terminus of the Ishowik River and on
Nunivak Island.
BRISTOL BAY AREA--Nushagak District, Salmon and freshwater Residents of the Nushagak District and
including drainages flowing into fish. freshwater drainages flowing into the
the district. district.
Naknek-Kvichak District--Naknek Salmon and freshwater Residents of the Naknek and Kvichak River
River drainage. fish. drainages.
Naknek-Kvichak District--Kvichak/ Salmon and freshwater Residents of the Kvichak/Iliamna-Lake Clark
Iliamna-Lake Clark drainage. fish. drainage.
Togiak District, including drainages Salmon and freshwater Residents of the Togiak District, freshwater
flowing into the district. fish. fish drainages flowing into the district and
the community of Manokotak.
Egegik District, including drainages Salmon and freshwater Residents of South Naknek, the Egegik district
flowing into the District. fish. and freshwater drainages flowing into the
district.
Ugashik District, including Salmon and freshwater Residents of the Ugashik District, and
drainages flowing into the district. fish. freshwater drainages flowing into the
district.
Togiak District..................... Herring spawn on kelp.... Residents of the Togiak District and freshwater
drainages flowing into the district.
Remainder of the Bristol Bay Area... All fish................. Residents of the Bristol Bay Area
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AREA............... All fish................. Residents of the Aleutian Islands Area and the
Pribilof Islands.
ALASKA PENINSULA AREA............... Halibut.................. Residents of the Alaska Peninsula Area and the
communities of Ivanof Bay and Perryville.
All other fish in the Residents of the Alaska Peninsula Area.
Alaska Peninsula Area.
CHIGNIK AREA........................ Halibut, salmon and fish Residents of the Chignik Area.
other than rainbow/
steelhead trout.
[[Page 5023]]
KODIAK AREA--except the Mainland Salmon................... Residents of the Kodiak Island Borough, except
District, all waters along the those residing on the Kodiak Coast Guard Base.
south side of the Alaska Peninsula
bounded by the latitude of Cape
Douglas (5852' North
latitude) mid-stream Shelikof
Strait, and east of the longitude
of the southern entrance of Imuya
Bay near Kilokak Rocks (571'22'' North latitude,
15620'30'' West
longitude).
Kodiak Area......................... Fish other than rainbow/ Residents of the Kodiak Area.
steelhead trout and
salmon.
COOK INLET AREA..................... Fish other than salmon, Residents of the Cook Inlet Area.
Dolly Varden, trout,
char, grayling, and
burbot.
Salmon, Dolly Varden, No Determination.
trout, char, grayling,
and burbot.
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AREA: South- Salmon................... Residents of the Southwestern District, which
Western District and Green Island. is mainland waters from the outer point on the
north shore of Granite Bay to Cape Fairfield,
and Knight Island, Chenega Island, Bainbridge
Island, Evans Island, Elrington Island,
Latouche Island and adjacent islands.
North of a line from Porcupine Point Salmon................... Residents of the villages of Tatitlek and
to Granite Point, and south of a Ellamar.
line from Point Lowe to Tongue
Point.
Copper River drainage upstream from Freshwater fish.......... Residents of Cantwell, Chisana, Chistochina,
Haley Creek. Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona,
Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy
Lake, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy,
Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway, Slana,
Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, Tonsina, and
those individuals that live along the Tok
Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta Pass, and along
the Nabesna Road.
Gulkana Wild and Scenic River....... Freshwater fish.......... Residents of Cantwell, Chisana, Chistochina,
Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona,
Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy
Lake, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy,
Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway, Paxson-
Sourdough, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin,
Tok, Tonsina, and those individuals that live
along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta
Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.
Chitina Subdistrict of the Upper Salmon................... Residents of Cantwell, Chisana, Chistochina,
Copper River District. Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona,
Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy
Lake, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy,
Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway, Paxson-
Sourdough, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin,
Tok, Tonsina, and those individuals that live
along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta
Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.
Glennallen Subdistrict of the Upper Salmon................... Residents of the Prince William Sound Area and
Copper River District. residents of Cantwell, Chisana, Dot Lake,
Healy Lake, Northway, Tanacross, Tetlin, Tok
and those individuals living along the Alaska
Highway from the Alaskan/Canadian border to
Dot Lake, along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to
Mentasta Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.
Waters of the Copper River between Salmon................... Residents of Mentasta Lake and Dot Lake.
National Park Service regulatory
markers located near the mouth of
Tanada Creek, and in Tanada Creek
between National Park Service
regulatory markers identifying the
open waters of the creek.
Remainder of the Prince William Salmon................... Residents of the Prince William Sound Area.
Sound Area.
YAKUTAT AREA: Freshwater upstream Salmon................... Residents of the area east of Yakutat Bay,
from the terminus of streams and including the islands within Yakutat Bay, west
rivers of the Yakutat Area from the of the Situk River drainage, and south of and
Doame River to the Tsiu River. including Knight Island.
Freshwater upstream from the Dolly Varden, steelhead Residents of the area east of Yakutat Bay,
terminus of streams and rivers of trout, and smelt. including the islands within Yakutat Bay, west
the Yakutat Area from the Doame of the Situk River drainage, and south of and
River to Point Manby. including Knight Island.
Remainder of the Yakutat Area....... Dolly Varden, trout, Residents of Southeastern Alaska and Yakutat
smelt, and eulachon.. Areas.
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA AREA: District 1- Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of City of the Saxman.
-Section 1-E in waters of the Naha trout, smelt, and
River and Roosevelt Lagoon. eulachon.
[[Page 5024]]
District 1--Section 1-F in Boca de Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Saxman.
Quadra in waters of Sockeye Creek Trout, smelt, and
and Hugh Smith Lake within 500 eulachon.
yards of the terminus of Sockeye
Creek.
Districts 2, 3, and 5 and waters Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents living south of Sumner Strait and
draining into those Districts. trout, smelt, and west of Clarence Strait and Kashevaroff
eulachon. Passage.
District 5--North of a line from Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Kake and in Kupreanof
Point Barrie to Boulder Point. trout, smelt, and Island drainages emptying into Keku Strait
eulachon. south of Point White and north of the Portage
Bay boat harbor.
District 6 and waters draining into Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents living south of Sumner Strait and
that District. trout, smelt, and west of Clarence Strait and Kashevaroff
eulachon. Passage; residents of drainages flowing into
District 6 north of the latitude of Point
Alexander (Mitkof Island); residents of
drainages flowing into Districts 7 & 8,
including the communities of Petersburg &
Wrangell; and residents of the communities of
Meyers Chuck and Kake.
District 7 and waters draining into Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of drainages flowing into District 6
that District. trout, smelt, and north of the latitude of Point Alexander
eulachon. (Mitkof Island); residents of drainages
flowing into Districts 7 & 8, including the
communities of Petersburg & Wrangell; and
residents of the communities of Meyers Chuck
and Kake.
District 8 and waters draining into Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of drainages flowing into Districts 7
that District. trout, smelt, and & 8, residents of drainages flowing into
eulachon. District 6 north of the latitude of Point
Alexander (Mitkof Island), and residents of
Meyers Chuck.
District 9--Section 9-A............. Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Kake and in Kupreanof
trout, smelt, and Island drainages emptying into Keku Strait
eulachon. south of Point White and north of the Portage
Bay boat harbor.
District 9--Section 9-B north of the Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Kake and in Kupreanof
latitude of Swain Point. trout, smelt, and Island drainages emptying into Keku Strait
eulachon. south of Point White north of the Portage Bay
boat harbor.
District 10--West of a line from Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Kake and in Kupreanof
Pinta Point to False Point Pybus. trout, smelt, and Island drainages emptying into Keku Strait
eulachon. south of Point White and north of the Portage
Bay boat harbor.
District 12--South of a line from Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Angoon and along the
Fishery Point to south Passage trout, smelt, and western shore of Admiralty Island north of the
Point and north of the latitude of eulachon. latitude of Sand Island, south of the latitude
Point Caution. of Thayer Creek, and west of 13430' West longitude, including Killisnoo
Island.
District 13--Section 13-A south of Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City and Borough of Sitka in
the latitude of Cape Edward. trout, smelt, and drainages that empty into Section 13-B north
eulachon. of the latitude of Dorothy Narrows.
District 13--Section 13-B north of Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City and Borough of Sitka in
the latitude of Redfish Cape. trout, smelt, and drainages that empty into Section 13-B north
eulachon. of the latitude of Dorothy Narrows.
District 13--Section 13-C........... Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City and Borough of Sitka in
trout, smelt, and drainages that empty into Section 13-B north
eulachon. of the latitude of Dorothy Narrows.
District 13--Section 13-C east of Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Angoon and along the
the longitude of Point Elizabeth. trout, smelt, and western shore of Admiralty Island north of the
eulachon. latitude of Sand Island, south of the latitude
of Thayer Creek, and west of 13430' West longitude, including Killisnoo
Island.
District 14--Sections 14-B and 14-C. Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of the City of Hoonah and in
trout, smelt, and Chichagof Island drainages on the eastern
eulachon. shore of Port Frederick from Gartina Creek to
Point Sophia.
Remainder of the Southeastern Alaska Salmon, Dolly Varden, Residents of Southeastern Alaska and Yakutat
Area. trout, smelt, and Areas.
eulachon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Shellfish determinations. The following communities and areas
have been found to have a positive customary and traditional use
determination in the listed area for the indicated species:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area Species Determination
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BERING SEA AREA..................... All shellfish............ Residents of the Bering Sea Area.
ALASKA PENINSULA-ALEUTIAN ISLANDS Shrimp, Dungeness, king, Residents of the Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian
AREA. and Tanner crab. Islands Area.
KODIAK AREA......................... Shrimp, Dungeness, and Residents of the Kodiak Area.
Tanner crab.
Kodiak Area, except for the Semidi King crab................ Residents of the Kodiak Island Borough except
Island, the North Mainland, and the those residents on the Kodiak Coast Guard
South Mainland Sections. base.
COOK INLET AREA Federal waters in Shellfish................ Residents of Tuxedni Bay, Chisik Island, and
the Tuxedni Bay Area within the Tyonek.
boundaries of Lake Clark National
Park & Preserve or Alaska Maritime
NWR.
[[Page 5025]]
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AREA........... Shrimp, clams, Dungeness, Residents of the Prince William Sound Area.
king, and Tanner crab.
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA--YAKUTAT AREA... ......................... ...............................................
Section 1-E south of the latitude of Shellfish, except shrimp, Residents of the Southeast Area.
Grant Island light. king crab, and Tanner
crab.
Section 1-F north of the latitude of Shellfish, except shrimp, Residents of the Southeast Area.
the northernmost tip of Mary king crag, and Tanner
Island, except waters of Boca de crab.
Quadra.
Section 3-A and 3-B................. Shellfish, except shrimp, Residents of the Southeast Area.
king crab, and Tanner
crab.
District 13......................... Dungeness crab, shrimp, Residents of the Southeast Area.
abalone, sea cucumbers,
gum boots, cockles, and
clams, except geoducks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
0
3. In Subpart D of 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100, ------.27 and
------.28 are added effective March 1, 2004, through March 31, 2005, to
read as follows:
Sec. ------.27 Subsistence taking of fish.
(a) Applicability. (1) Regulations in this section apply to the
taking of fish or their parts for subsistence uses.
(2) You may take fish for subsistence uses at any time by any
method unless you are restricted by the subsistence fishing regulations
found in this section. The harvest limit specified in this section for
a subsistence season for a species and the State harvest limit set for
a State season for the same species are not cumulative, except as
modified by regulations in Sec. ------.27(i). This means that if you
have taken the harvest limit for a particular species under a
subsistence season specified in this section, you may not, after that,
take any additional fish of that species under any other harvest limit
specified for a State season.
(b) [Reserved]
(c) Methods, means, and general restrictions. (1) Unless otherwise
specified in this section or under terms of a required subsistence
fishing permit (as may be modified by this section), you may use the
following legal types of gear for subsistence fishing:
(i) A set gillnet;
(ii) A drift gillnet;
(iii) A purse seine;
(iv) A hand purse seine;
(v) A beach seine;
(vi) Troll gear;
(vii) A fish wheel;
(viii) A trawl;
(ix) A pot;
(x) A longline;
(xi) A fyke net;
(xii) A lead;
(xiii) A herring pound;
(xiv) A dip net;
(xv) Jigging gear;
(xvi) A mechanical jigging machine;
(xvii) A handline;
(xviii) A cast net;
(xix) A rod and reel; and
(xx) A spear.
(2) You must include an escape mechanism on all pots used to take
fish or shellfish. The escape mechanisms are as follows:
(i) A sidewall, which may include the tunnel, of all shellfish and
bottomfish pots must contain an opening equal to or exceeding 18 inches
in length, except that in shrimp pots the opening must be a minimum of
6 inches in length. The opening must be laced, sewn, or secured
together by a single length of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine, no
larger than 30 thread. The cotton twine may be knotted at each end
only. The opening must be within 6 inches of the bottom of the pot and
must be parallel with it. The cotton twine may not be tied or looped
around the web bars. Dungeness crab pots may have the pot lid tie-down
straps secured to the pot at one end by a single loop of untreated, 100
percent cotton twine no larger than 60 thread, or the pot lid must be
secured so that, when the twine degrades, the lid will no longer be
securely closed;
(ii) All king crab, Tanner crab, shrimp, miscellaneous shellfish
and bottomfish pots may, instead of complying with paragraph (c)(2)(i)
of this section, satisfy the following: a sidewall, which may include
the tunnel, must contain an opening at least 18 inches in length,
except that shrimp pots must contain an opening at least 6 inches in
length. The opening must be laced, sewn, or secured together by a
single length of treated or untreated twine, no larger than 36 thread.
A galvanic timed-release device, designed to release in no more than 30
days in saltwater, must be integral to the length of twine so that,
when the device releases, the twine will no longer secure or obstruct
the opening of the pot. The twine may be knotted only at each end and
at the attachment points on the galvanic timed-release device. The
opening must be within 6 inches of the bottom of the pot and must be
parallel with it. The twine may not be tied or looped around the web
bars.
(3) For subsistence fishing for salmon, you may not use a gillnet
exceeding 50 fathoms in length, unless otherwise specified in this
section. The gillnet web must contain at least 30 filaments of equal
diameter or at least 6 filaments, each of which must be at least 0.20
millimeter in diameter.
(4) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, you may not
obstruct more than one-half the width of any stream with any gear used
to take fish for subsistence uses.
(5) You may not use live nonindigenous fish as bait.
(6) You must have your first initial, last name, and address
plainly and legibly inscribed on the side of your fishwheel facing
midstream of the river.
(7) You may use kegs or buoys of any color but red on any permitted
gear, except in the following areas where kegs or buoys of any color,
including red, may be used:
(i) Yukon-Northern Area; and
(ii) Kuskokwim Area.
(8) You must have your first initial, last name, and address
plainly and legibly inscribed on each keg, buoy, stakes attached to
gillnets, stakes identifying gear fished under the ice, and any other
unattended fishing gear which you use to take fish for subsistence
uses.
(9) You may not use explosives or chemicals to take fish for
subsistence uses.
(10) You may not take fish for subsistence uses within 300 feet of
any dam, fish ladder, weir, culvert or other artificial obstruction,
unless otherwise indicated.
[[Page 5026]]
(11) Transactions between rural residents. Rural residents may
exchange in customary trade subsistence-harvested fish, their parts, or
their eggs, legally taken under the regulations in this part, for cash
from other rural residents. The Board may recognize regional
differences and define customary trade differently for separate regions
of the State.
(i) Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area--The total cash value per
household of salmon taken within Federal jurisdiction in the Bristol
Bay Fishery Management Area and exchanged in customary trade to rural
residents may not exceed $500.00 annually.
(ii) [Reserved]
(12) Transactions between a rural resident and others. In customary
trade, a rural resident may trade fish, their parts, or their eggs,
legally taken under the regulations in this part, for cash from
individuals other than rural residents if the individual who purchases
the fish, their parts, or their eggs uses them for personal or family
consumption. If you are not a rural resident, you may not sell fish,
their parts, or their eggs taken under the regulations in this part.
The Board may recognize regional differences and define customary trade
differently for separate regions of the State.
(i) Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area--The total cash value per
household of salmon taken within Federal jurisdiction in the Bristol
Bay Fishery Management Area and exchanged in customary trade between
rural residents and individuals other than rural residents may not
exceed $400.00 annually. These customary trade sales must be
immediately recorded on a customary trade recordkeeping form. The
recording requirement and the responsibility to ensure the household
limit is not exceeded rests with the seller.
(ii) [Reserved]
(13) No sale to, nor purchase by, fisheries businesses.
(i) You may not sell fish, their parts, or their eggs taken under
the regulations in this part to any individual, business, or
organization required to be licensed as a fisheries business under
Alaska Statute AS 43.75.011 (commercial limited-entry permit or crew
license holders excluded) or to any other business as defined under
Alaska Statute 43.70.110(1) as part of its business transactions.
(ii) If you are required to be licensed as a fisheries business
under Alaska Statute AS 43.75.011 (commercial limited-entry permit or
crew license holders excluded) or are a business as defined under
Alaska Statute 43.70.110(1), you may not purchase, receive, or sell
fish, their parts, or their eggs taken under the regulations in this
part as part of your business transactions.
(14) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, you may not take
rainbow/steelhead trout.
(15) You may not use fish taken for subsistence use or under
subsistence regulations in this part as bait for commercial or sport
fishing purposes.
(16) [Reserved]
(17) Unless specified otherwise in this section, you may use a rod
and reel to take fish without a subsistence fishing permit. Harvest
limits applicable to the use of a rod and reel to take fish for
subsistence uses shall be as follows:
(i) If you are required to obtain a subsistence fishing permit for
an area, that permit is required to take fish for subsistence uses with
rod and reel in that area. The harvest and possession limits for taking
fish with a rod and reel in those areas are the same as indicated on
the permit issued for subsistence fishing with other gear types;
(ii) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, if you are
not required to obtain a subsistence fishing permit for an area, the
harvest and possession limits for taking fish for subsistence uses with
a rod and reel are the same as for taking fish under State of Alaska
subsistence fishing regulations in those same areas. If the State does
not have a specific subsistence season and/or harvest limit for that
particular species, the limit shall be the same as for taking fish
under State of Alaska sport fishing regulations.
(18) Unless restricted in this section, or unless restricted under
the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish for
subsistence uses at any time.
(19) Provisions on ADF&G subsistence fishing permits that are more
restrictive or in conflict with the provisions contained in this
section do not apply to Federal subsistence users.
(20) You may not intentionally waste or destroy any subsistence-
caught fish or shellfish; however, you may use for bait or other
purposes, whitefish, herring, and species for which harvest limits,
seasons, or other regulatory methods and means are not provided in this
section, as well as the head, tail, fins, and viscera of legally-taken
subsistence fish.
(21) The taking of fish from waters within Federal jurisdiction is
authorized outside of published open seasons or harvest limits if the
harvested fish will be used for food in traditional or religious
ceremonies that are part of funerary or mortuary cycles, including
memorial potlatches, provided that:
(i) Prior to attempting to take fish, the person (or designee) or
Tribal Government organizing the ceremony contacts the appropriate
Federal fisheries manager to provide the nature of the ceremony, the
parties and/or clans involved, the species and the number of fish to be
taken, and the Federal waters from which the harvest will occur;
(ii) The taking does not violate recognized principles of fisheries
conservation, and uses the methods and means allowable for the
particular species published in the applicable Federal regulations (the
Federal fisheries manager will establish the number, species, or place
of taking if necessary for conservation purposes);
(iii) Each person who takes fish under this section must, as soon
as practical, and not more than 15 days after the harvest, submit a
written report to the appropriate Federal fisheries manager, specifying
the harvester's name and address, the number and species of fish taken,
and the date and locations of the taking; and
(iv) No permit is required for taking under this section; however,
the harvester must be eligible to harvest the resource under Federal
regulations.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Fishing permits and reports. (1) You may take salmon only under
the authority of a subsistence fishing permit, unless a permit is
specifically not required in a particular area by the subsistence
regulations in this part, or unless you are retaining salmon from your
commercial catch consistent with paragraph (f) of this section.
(2) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence
Management may issue a permit to harvest fish for a qualifying
cultural/educational program to an organization that has been granted a
Federal subsistence permit for a similar event within the previous 5
years. A qualifying program must have instructors, enrolled students,
minimum attendance requirements, and standards for successful
completion of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Office
of Subsistence Management 60 days prior to the earliest desired date of
harvest. Permits will be issued for no more than 25 fish per culture/
education camp. Appeal of a rejected request can be made to the Federal
Subsistence Board. Application for an initial permit for a qualifying
cultural/educational program, for a permit when the circumstances have
changed significantly, when no permit has been issued within the
previous 5 years, or
[[Page 5027]]
when there is a request for harvest in excess of that provided in this
paragraph (e)(2), will be considered by the Federal Subsistence Board.
(3) If a subsistence fishing permit is required by this section,
the following permit conditions apply unless otherwise specified in
this section:
(i) You may not take more fish for subsistence use than the limits
set out in the permit;
(ii) You must obtain the permit prior to fishing;
(iii) You must have the permit in your possession and readily
available for inspection while fishing or transporting subsistence-
taken fish;
(iv) If specified on the permit, you must record, prior to leaving
the harvest site, daily records of the catch, showing the number of
fish taken by species, location and date of catch, and other such
information as may be required for management or conservation purposes;
and
(v) If the return of catch information necessary for management and
conservation purposes is required by a fishing permit and you fail to
comply with such reporting requirements, you are ineligible to receive
a subsistence permit for that activity during the following calendar
year, unless you demonstrate that failure to report was due to loss in
the mail, accident, sickness, or other unavoidable circumstances. You
must also return any tags or transmitters that have been attached to
fish for management and conservation purposes.
(f) Relation to commercial fishing activities. (1) If you are a
Federally-qualified subsistence user who also commercial fishes, you
may retain fish for subsistence purposes from your lawfully-taken
commercial catch.
(2) When participating in a commercial and subsistence fishery at
the same time, you may not use an amount of combined fishing gear in
excess of that allowed under the appropriate commercial fishing
regulations.
(g) You may not possess, transport, give, receive, or barter
subsistence-taken fish or their parts which have been taken contrary to
Federal law or regulation or State law or regulation (unless superseded
by regulations in this part).
(h) [Reserved]
(i) Fishery management area restrictions. (1) Kotzebue Area. The
Kotzebue Area includes all waters of Alaska between the latitude of the
westernmost tip of Point Hope and the latitude of the westernmost tip
of Cape Prince of Wales, including those waters draining into the
Chukchi Sea.
(i) You may take fish for subsistence purposes without a permit.
(ii) You may take salmon only by gillnets, beach seines, or a rod
and reel.
(iii) In the Kotzebue District, you may take sheefish with gillnets
that are not more than 50 fathoms in length, nor more than 12 meshes in
depth, nor have a stretched-mesh size larger than 7 inches.
(iv) You may not obstruct more than one-half the width of a stream,
creek, or slough with any gear used to take fish for subsistence uses,
except from May 15 to July 15 and August 15 to October 31 when taking
whitefish or pike in streams, creeks, or sloughs within the Kobuk River
drainage and from May 15 to October 31 in the Selawik River drainage.
Only one gillnet 100 feet or less in length with a stretched-mesh size
from 2\1/2\ to 4\1/2\ inches may be used per site. You must check your
net at least once in every 24-hour period.
(2) Norton Sound-Port Clarence Area. The Norton Sound-Port Clarence
Area includes all waters of Alaska between the latitude of the
westernmost tip of Cape Prince of Wales and the latitude of Point
Romanof, including those waters of Alaska surrounding St. Lawrence
Island and those waters draining into the Bering Sea.
(i) Unless otherwise restricted in this section, you may take fish
at any time in the Port Clarence District.
(ii) In the Norton Sound District, you may take fish at any time
except as follows:
(A) In Subdistricts 2 through 6, if you are a commercial fisherman,
you may not fish for subsistence purposes during the weekly closures of
the State commercial salmon fishing season, except that from July 15
through August 1, you may take salmon for subsistence purposes 7 days
per week in the Unalakleet and Shaktoolik River drainages with gillnets
which have a stretched-mesh size that does not exceed 4\1/2\ inches,
and with beach seines;
(B) In the Unalakleet River from June 1 through July 15, you may
take salmon only from 8 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. Saturday.
(iii) You may take salmon only by gillnets, beach seines,
fishwheel, or a rod and reel.
(iv) You may take fish other than salmon by set gillnet, drift
gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, pot, long line, fyke net, jigging
gear, spear, lead, or a rod and reel.
(v) In the Unalakleet River from June 1 through July 15, you may
not operate more than 25 fathoms of gillnet in the aggregate nor may
you operate an unanchored gillnet.
(vi) You must have a subsistence fishing permit for net fishing in
all waters from Cape Douglas to Rocky Point.
(vii) Only one subsistence fishing permit will be issued to each
household per year.
(3) Yukon-Northern Area. The Yukon-Northern Area includes all
waters of Alaska between the latitude of Point Romanof and the latitude
of the westernmost point of the Naskonat Peninsula, including those
waters draining into the Bering Sea, and all waters of Alaska north of
the latitude of the westernmost tip of Point Hope and west of
141 West longitude, including those waters draining into
the Arctic Ocean and the Chukchi Sea.
(i) Unless otherwise restricted in this section, you may take fish
in the Yukon-Northern Area at any time. You may subsistence fish for
salmon with rod and reel in the Yukon River drainage 24 hours per day,
7 days per week, unless rod and reel are specifically restricted by
this paragraph (i)(3) of this section.
(ii) For the Yukon River drainage, Federal subsistence fishing
schedules, openings, closings, and fishing methods are the same as
those issued for the subsistence taking of fish under Alaska Statutes
(AS 16.05.060), unless superseded by a Federal Special Action.
(iii) In the following locations, you may take salmon during the
open weekly fishing periods of the State commercial salmon fishing
season and may not take them for 24 hours before the opening of the
State commercial salmon fishing season:
(A) In District 4, excluding the Koyukuk River drainage;
(B) In Subdistricts 4-B and 4-C from June 15 through September 30,
salmon may be taken from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. Tuesday and from 6
p.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Friday;
(C) In District 6, excluding the Kantishna River drainage, salmon
may be taken from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
(iv) During any State commercial salmon fishing season closure of
greater than five days in duration, you may not take salmon during the
following periods in the following districts:
(A) In District 4, excluding the Koyukuk River drainage, salmon may
not be taken from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Sunday;
(B) In District 5, excluding the Tozitna River drainage and
Subdistrict 5-D, salmon may not be taken from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6
p.m. Tuesday.
(v) Except as provided in this section, and except as may be
provided by the terms of a subsistence fishing permit,
[[Page 5028]]
you may take fish other than salmon at any time.
(vi) In Districts 1, 2, 3, and Subdistrict 4-A, excluding the
Koyukuk and Innoko River drainages, you may not take salmon for
subsistence purposes during the 24 hours immediately before the opening
of the State commercial salmon fishing season.
(vii) In Districts 1, 2, and 3:
(A) After the opening of the State commercial salmon fishing season
through July 15, you may not take salmon for subsistence for 18 hours
immediately before, during, and for 12 hours after each State
commercial salmon fishing period;
(B) After July 15, you may not take salmon for subsistence for 12
hours immediately before, during, and for 12 hours after each State
commercial salmon fishing period.
(viii) In Subdistrict 4-A after the opening of the State commercial
salmon fishing season, you may not take salmon for subsistence for 12
hours immediately before, during, and for 12 hours after each State
commercial salmon fishing period; however, you may take king salmon
during the State commercial fishing season, with drift gillnet gear
only, from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. Tuesday and from 6 p.m. Wednesday
until 6 p.m. Friday.
(ix) You may not subsistence fish in the following drainages
located north of the main Yukon River:
(A) Kanuti River upstream from a point 5 miles downstream of the
State highway crossing;
(B) Bonanza Creek;
(C) Jim River including Prospect and Douglas Creeks.
(x) You may not subsistence fish in the Delta River.
(xi) In Beaver Creek downstream from the confluence of Moose Creek,
a gillnet with mesh size not to exceed 3-inches stretch-measure may be
used from June 15 to September 15. You may subsistence fish for all
non-salmon species but may not target salmon during this time period
(retention of salmon taken incidentally to non-salmon directed
fisheries is allowed). From the mouth of Nome Creek downstream to the
confluence of Moose Creek, only rod and reel may be used. From the
mouth of Nome Creek downstream to the confluence of O'Brien Creek, the
daily harvest and possession limit is 5 grayling; from the mouth of
O'Brien Creek downstream to the confluence of Moose Creek, the daily
harvest and possession limit is 10 grayling. The Nome Creek drainage of
Beaver Creek is closed to subsistence fishing for grayling.
(xii) You may not subsistence fish in the Toklat River drainage
from August 15 through May 15.
(xiii) You may take salmon only by gillnet, beach seine, fish
wheel, or rod and reel, subject to the restrictions set forth in this
section.
(xiv) In District 4, if you are a commercial fisherman, you may not
take salmon for subsistence purposes during the State commercial salmon
fishing season using gillnets with stretched-mesh larger than 6-inches
after a date specified by ADF&G emergency order issued between July 10
and July 31.
(xv) In Districts 4, 5, and 6, you may not take salmon for
subsistence purposes by drift gillnets, except as follows:
(A) In Subdistrict 4-A upstream from the mouth of Stink Creek, you
may take king salmon by drift gillnets less than 150 feet in length
from June 10 through July 14, and chum salmon by drift gillnets after
August 2;
(B) In Subdistrict 4-A downstream from the mouth of Stink Creek,
you may take king salmon by drift gillnets less than 150 feet in length
from June 10 through July 14.
(xvi) Unless otherwise specified in this section, you may take fish
other than salmon and halibut by set gillnet, drift gillnet, beach
seine, fish wheel, long line, fyke net, dip net, jigging gear, spear,
lead, or rod and reel, subject to the following restrictions, which
also apply to subsistence salmon fishing:
(A) During the open weekly fishing periods of the State commercial
salmon fishing season, if you are a commercial fisherman, you may not
operate more than one type of gear at a time, for commercial, personal
use, and subsistence purposes;
(B) You may not use an aggregate length of set gillnet in excess of
150 fathoms and each drift gillnet may not exceed 50 fathoms in length;
(C) In Districts 4, 5, and 6, you may not set subsistence fishing
gear within 200 feet of other operating commercial, personal use, or
subsistence fishing gear except that, at the site approximately 1 mile
upstream from Ruby on the south bank of the Yukon River between ADF&G
regulatory markers containing the area known locally as the ``Slide,''
you may set subsistence fishing gear within 200 feet of other operating
commercial or subsistence fishing gear and in District 4, from Old
Paradise Village upstream to a point 4 miles upstream from Anvik, there
is no minimum distance requirement between fish wheels;
(D) During the State commercial salmon fishing season, within the
Yukon River and the Tanana River below the confluence of the Wood
River, you may use drift gillnets and fish wheels only during open
subsistence salmon fishing periods;
(E) In Birch Creek, gillnet mesh size may not exceed 3-inches
stretch-measure from June 15 through September 15.
(xvii) In District 4, from September 21 through May 15, you may use
jigging gear from shore ice.
(xviii) You must possess a subsistence fishing permit for the
following locations:
(A) For the Yukon River drainage from the mouth of Hess Creek to
the mouth of the Dall River;
(B) For the Yukon River drainage from the upstream mouth of 22 Mile
Slough to the U.S.-Canada border;
(C) Only for salmon in the Tanana River drainage above the mouth of
the Wood River.
(xix) Only one subsistence fishing permit will be issued to each
household per year.
(xx) In Districts 1, 2, and 3, you may not possess king salmon
taken for subsistence purposes unless the dorsal fin has been removed
immediately after landing.
(xxi) In the Yukon River drainage, chinook (king) salmon must be
used primarily for human consumption and may not be targeted for dog
food. Dried chinook salmon may not be used for dogfood anywhere in the
Yukon River drainage. Whole fish unfit for human consumption (due to
disease, deterioration, deformities), scraps, and small fish (16 inches
or less) may be fed to dogs. Also, whole chinook salmon caught
incidentally during a subsistence chum salmon fishery in the following
time periods and locations may be fed to dogs:
(A) After July 10 in the Koyukuk River drainage;
(B) After August 10, in Subdistrict 5-D, upstream of Circle City.
(4) Kuskokwim Area. The Kuskokwim Area consists of all waters of
Alaska between the latitude of the westernmost point of Naskonat
Peninsula and the latitude of the southernmost tip of Cape Newenham,
including the waters of Alaska surrounding Nunivak and St. Matthew
Islands and those waters draining into the Bering Sea.
(i) Unless otherwise restricted in this section, you may take fish
in the Kuskokwim Area at any time without a subsistence fishing permit.
(ii) For the Kuskokwim area, Federal subsistence fishing schedules,
openings, closings, and fishing methods are the same as those issued
for the subsistence taking of fish under Alaska Statutes (AS
[[Page 5029]]
16.05.060), unless superseded by a Federal Special Action.
(iii) In District 1 and in those waters of the Kuskokwim River
between Districts 1 and 2, excluding the Kuskokuak Slough, you may not
take salmon for 16 hours before, during, and for 6 hours after, each
State open commercial salmon fishing period for District 1.
(iv) In District 1, Kuskokuak Slough, from June 1 through July 31
only, you may not take salmon for 16 hours before and during each State
open commercial salmon fishing period in the district.
(v) In Districts 4 and 5, from June 1 through September 8, you may
not take salmon for 16 hours before, during, and 6 hours after each
State open commercial salmon fishing period in each district.
(vi) In District 2, and anywhere in tributaries that flow into the
Kuskokwim River within that district, from June 1 through September 8
you may not take salmon by net gear or fishwheel for 16 hours before,
during, and 6 hours after each open commercial salmon fishing period in
the district. You may subsistence fish for salmon with rod and reel 24
hours per day, 7 days per week, unless rod and reel are specifically
restricted by this paragraph (i)(4) of this section.
(vii) You may not take subsistence fish by nets in the Goodnews
River east of a line between ADF&G regulatory markers placed near the
mouth of the Ufigag River and an ADF&G regulatory marker placed near
the mouth of the Tunulik River 16 hours before, during, and 6 hours
after each State open commercial salmon fishing period.
(viii) You may not take subsistence fish by nets in the Kanektok
River upstream of ADF&G regulatory markers placed near the mouth 16
hours before, during, and 6 hours after each State open commercial
salmon fishing period.
(ix) You may not take subsistence fish by nets in the Arolik River
upstream of ADF&G regulatory markers placed near the mouth 16 hours
before, during, and 6 hours after each State open commercial salmon
fishing period.
(x) You may only take salmon by gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel,
or rod and reel subject to the restrictions set out in this section,
except that you may also take salmon by spear in the Holitna, Kanektok,
and Arolik River drainages, and in the drainage of Goodnews Bay.
(xi) You may not use an aggregate length of set gillnets or drift
gillnets in excess of 50 fathoms for taking salmon.
(xii) You may take fish other than salmon by set gillnet, drift
gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, pot, long line, fyke net, dip net,
jigging gear, spear, lead, handline, or rod and reel.
(xiii) You must attach to the bank each subsistence gillnet
operated in tributaries of the Kuskokwim River and fish it
substantially perpendicular to the bank and in a substantially straight
line.
(xiv) Within a tributary to the Kuskokwim River in that portion of
the Kuskokwim River drainage from the north end of Eek Island upstream
to the mouth of the Kolmakoff River, you may not set or operate any
part of a set gillnet within 150 feet of any part of another set
gillnet.
(xv) The maximum depth of gillnets is as follows:
(A) Gillnets with 6-inch or smaller stretched-mesh may not be more
than 45 meshes in depth;
(B) Gillnets with greater than 6-inch stretched-mesh may not be
more than 35 meshes in depth.
(xvi) You may take halibut only by a single hand-held line with no
more than two hooks attached to it.
(xvii) You may not use subsistence set and drift gillnets exceeding
15 fathoms in length in Whitefish Lake in the Ophir Creek drainage. You
may not operate more than one subsistence set or drift gillnet at a
time in Whitefish Lake in the Ophir Creek drainage. You must check the
net at least once every 24 hours.
(xviii) Rainbow trout may be taken by only residents of Goodnews
Bay, Platinum, Quinhagak, Eek, Kwethluk, Akiachak, and Akiak. The
following restrictions apply:
(A) You may take rainbow trout only by the use of gillnets, dip
nets, fyke nets, handline, spear, rod and reel, or jigging through the
ice;
(B) You may not use gillnets, dip nets, or fyke nets for targeting
rainbow trout from March 15 through June 15;
(C) If you take rainbow trout incidentally in other subsistence net
fisheries and through the ice, you may retain them for subsistence
purposes;
(D) There are no harvest limits with handline, spear, rod and reel,
or jigging.
(5) Bristol Bay Area. The Bristol Bay Area includes all waters of
Bristol Bay, including drainages enclosed by a line from Cape Newenham
to Cape Menshikof.
(i) Unless restricted in this section, or unless under the terms of
a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish at any time in the
Bristol Bay area.
(ii) In all State commercial salmon districts, from May 1 through
May 31 and October 1 through October 31, you may subsistence fish for
salmon only from 9 a.m. Monday until 9 a.m. Friday. From June 1 through
September 30, within the waters of a commercial salmon district, you
may take salmon only during State open commercial salmon fishing
periods.
(iii) In the Egegik River from 9 a.m. June 23 through 9 a.m. July
17, you may take salmon only from 9 a.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday
and 9 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.
(iv) You may not take fish from waters within 300 feet of a stream
mouth used by salmon.
(v) You may not subsistence fish with nets in the Tazimina River
and within one-fourth mile of the terminus of those waters during the
period from September 1 through June 14.
(vi) Within any district, you may take salmon, herring, and capelin
only by drift and set gillnets.
(vii) Outside the boundaries of any district, you may take salmon
only by set gillnet, except that you may also take salmon by spear in
the Togiak River, excluding its tributaries.
(viii) The maximum lengths for set gillnets used to take salmon are
as follows:
(A) You may not use set gillnets exceeding 10 fathoms in length in
the Egegik River;
(B) In the remaining waters of the area, you may not use set
gillnets exceeding 25 fathoms in length.
(ix) You may not operate any part of a set gillnet within 300 feet
of any part of another set gillnet.
(x) You must stake and buoy each set gillnet. Instead of having the
identifying information on a keg or buoy attached to the gillnet, you
may plainly and legibly inscribe your first initial, last name, and
subsistence permit number on a sign at or near the set gillnet.
(xi) You may not operate or assist in operating subsistence salmon
net gear while simultaneously operating or assisting in operating
commercial salmon net gear.
(xii) During State closed commercial herring fishing periods, you
may not use gillnets exceeding 25 fathoms in length for the subsistence
taking of herring or capelin.
(xiii) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow trout, herring,
capelin, and halibut by gear listed in this part unless restricted
under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.
(xiv) You may take salmon and char only under authority of a
subsistence fishing permit. You may take rainbow trout only under
authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit; permit conditions
and systems to receive special protection will be determined by the
local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with ADF&G and local
users.
(xv) Only one subsistence fishing permit for salmon, one for char,
and one
[[Page 5030]]
for rainbow trout may be issued to each household per year.
(xvi) In the Togiak River section and the Togiak River drainage,
you may not possess coho salmon taken under the authority of a
subsistence fishing permit unless both lobes of the caudal fin (tail)
or the dorsal fin have been removed.
(xvii) You may take rainbow trout only by rod and reel or jigging
gear. Rainbow trout daily harvest and possession limits are 2 per day/2
in possession with no size limit from April 10 through October 31 and 5
per day/5 in possession with no size limit from November 1 through
April 9.
(xviii) If you take rainbow trout incidentally in other subsistence
net fisheries, or through the ice, you may retain them for subsistence
purposes.
(6) Aleutian Islands Area. The Aleutian Islands Area includes all
waters of Alaska west of the longitude of the tip of Cape Sarichef,
east of 172 East longitude, and south of
5436' North latitude.
(i) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout,
or char at any time unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence
fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in
other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence
purposes.
(ii) In the Unalaska District, you may take salmon for subsistence
purposes from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. from January 1 through December 31,
except as may be specified on a subsistence fishing permit.
(iii) In the Adak, Akutan, Atka-Amlia, and Umnak Districts, you may
take salmon at any time.
(iv) You may not subsistence fish for salmon in the following
waters:
(A) The waters of Unalaska Lake, its tributaries and outlet stream;
(B) The waters of Summers and Morris Lakes and their tributaries
and outlet streams;
(C) All streams supporting anadromous fish runs that flow into
Unalaska Bay south of a line from the northern tip of Cape Cheerful to
the northern tip of Kalekta Point;
(D) Waters of McLees Lake and its tributaries and outlet stream;
(E) All freshwater on Adak Island and Kagalaska Island in the Adak
District.
(v) You may take salmon by seine and gillnet, or with gear
specified on a subsistence fishing permit.
(vi) In the Unalaska District, if you fish with a net, you must be
physically present at the net at all times when the net is being used.
(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this
part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.
(viii) You may take salmon, trout, and char only under the terms of
a subsistence fishing permit, except that you do not need a permit in
the Akutan, Umnak, and Atka-Amlia Islands Districts.
(ix) You may take no more than 250 salmon for subsistence purposes
unless otherwise specified on the subsistence fishing permit, except
that in the Unalaska and Adak Districts, you may take no more than 25
salmon plus an additional 25 salmon for each member of your household
listed on the permit. You may obtain an additional permit.
(x) You must keep a record on the reverse side of the permit of
subsistence-caught fish. You must complete the record immediately upon
taking subsistence-caught fish and must return it no later than October
31.
(xi) The daily harvest limit for halibut is two fish, and the
possession limit is two daily harvest limits. You may not possess
sport-taken and subsistence-taken halibut on the same day.
(7) Alaska Peninsula Area. The Alaska Peninsula Area includes all
Pacific Ocean waters of Alaska between a line extending southeast
(135) from the tip of Kupreanof Point and the longitude
of the tip of Cape Sarichef, and all Bering Sea waters of Alaska east
of the longitude of the tip of Cape Sarichef and south of the latitude
of the tip of Cape Menshikof.
(i) You may take fish, other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout,
or char, at any time unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence
fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in
other subsistence net fisheries or through the ice, you may retain them
for subsistence purposes.
(ii) You may take salmon, trout, and char only under the authority
of a subsistence fishing permit.
(iii) You must keep a record on the reverse side of the permit of
subsistence-caught fish. You must complete the record immediately upon
taking subsistence-caught fish and must return it no later than October
31.
(iv) You may take salmon at any time except within 24 hours before
and within 12 hours following each State open weekly commercial salmon
fishing period within a 50-mile radius of the area open to commercial
salmon fishing, or as may be specified on a subsistence fishing permit.
(v) You may not subsistence fish for salmon in the following
waters:
(A) Russell Creek and Nurse Lagoon and within 500 yards outside the
mouth of Nurse Lagoon;
(B) Trout Creek and within 500 yards outside its mouth.
(vi) You may take salmon by seine, gillnet, rod and reel, or with
gear specified on a subsistence fishing permit.
(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this
part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.
(viii) You may not use a set gillnet exceeding 100 fathoms in
length.
(ix) You may take halibut for subsistence purposes only by a single
handheld line with no more than two hooks attached.
(x) You may take no more than 250 salmon for subsistence purposes
unless otherwise specified on your subsistence fishing permit.
(xi) The daily harvest limit for halibut is two fish and the
possession limit is two daily harvest limits. You may not possess
sport-taken and subsistence-taken halibut on the same day.
(8) Chignik Area. The Chignik Area includes all waters of Alaska on
the south side of the Alaska Peninsula enclosed by
15620.22' West longitude (the longitude of the southern
entrance to Imuya Bay near Kilokak Rocks) and a line extending
southeast (135) from the tip of Kupreanof Point.
(i) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout,
or char at any time, except as may be specified by a subsistence
fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in
other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence
purposes.
(ii) You may not take salmon in the Chignik River, upstream from
the ADF&G weir site or counting tower, in Black Lake, or any tributary
to Black and Chignik Lakes.
(iii) You may take salmon, trout, and char only under the authority
of a subsistence fishing permit.
(iv) You must keep a record on your permit of subsistence-caught
fish. You must complete the record immediately upon taking subsistence-
caught fish and must return it no later than October 31.
(v) If you hold a commercial fishing license, you may not
subsistence fish for salmon from 48 hours before the first State
commercial salmon fishing opening in the Chignik Area through September
30.
(vi) You may take salmon by seines, gillnets, rod and reel, or with
gear specified on a subsistence fishing permit, except that in Chignik
Lake you may not use purse seines.
(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this
part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.
(viii) You may take halibut for subsistence purposes only by a
single
[[Page 5031]]
handheld line with no more than two hooks attached.
(ix) You may take no more than 250 salmon for subsistence purposes
unless otherwise specified on the subsistence fishing permit.
(x) The daily harvest limit for halibut is two fish, and the
possession limit is two daily harvest limits. You may not possess
sport-taken and subsistence-taken halibut on the same day.
(9) Kodiak Area. The Kodiak Area includes all waters of Alaska
south of a line extending east from Cape Douglas
(5851.10' North latitude), west of 150
West longitude, north of 5530.00' North latitude; and
east of the longitude of the southern entrance of Imuya Bay near
Kilokak Rocks (15620.22' West longitude).
(i) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout,
char, bottomfish, or herring at any time unless restricted by the terms
of a subsistence fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout
incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them
for subsistence purposes.
(ii) You may take salmon for subsistence purposes 24 hours a day
from January 1 through December 31, with the following exceptions:
(A) From June 1 through September 15, you may not use salmon seine
vessels to take subsistence salmon for 24 hours before, during, and for
24 hours after any State open commercial salmon fishing period. The use
of skiffs from any type of vessel is allowed;
(B) From June 1 through September 15, you may use purse seine
vessels to take salmon only with gillnets, and you may have no other
type of salmon gear on board the vessel.
(iii) You may not subsistence fish for salmon in the following
locations:
(A) Womens Bay closed waters--all waters inside a line from the tip
of the Nyman Peninsula (5743.23' North latitude,
15231.51' West longitude), to the northeastern tip of
Mary's Island (5742.40' North latitude,
15232.00' West longitude), to the southeastern shore of
Womens Bay at 5741.95' North latitude,
15231.50' West longitude;
(B) Buskin River closed waters--all waters inside of a line running
from a marker on the bluff north of the mouth of the Buskin River at
approximately 5745.80' North latitude,
15228.38' West longitude, to a point offshore at
5745.35' North latitude, 15228.15' West
longitude, to a marker located onshore south of the river mouth at
approximately 5745.15' North latitude,
15228.65' West longitude;
(C) All waters closed to commercial salmon fishing within 100 yards
of the terminus of Selief Bay Creek;
(D) In Afognak Bay north and west of a line from the tip of Last
Point to the tip of River Mouth Point;
(E) From August 15 through September 30, all waters 500 yards
seaward of the terminus of Little Kitoi Creek;
(F) All freshwater systems of Afognak Island.
(iv) You must have a subsistence fishing permit for taking salmon,
trout, and char for subsistence purposes. You must have a subsistence
fishing permit for taking herring and bottomfish for subsistence
purposes during the State commercial herring sac roe season from April
15 through June 30.
(v) With a subsistence salmon fishing permit you may take 25 salmon
plus an additional 25 salmon for each member of your household whose
names are listed on the permit. You may obtain an additional permit if
you can show that more fish are needed.
(vi) You must record on your subsistence permit the number of
subsistence fish taken. You must complete the record immediately upon
landing subsistence-caught fish, and must return it by February 1 of
the year following the year the permit was issued.
(vii) You may take fish other than salmon and halibut by gear
listed in this part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence
fishing permit.
(viii) You may take salmon only by gillnet, rod and reel, or seine.
(ix) You must be physically present at the net when the net is
being fished.
(x) You may take halibut only by a single hand-held line with not
more than two hooks attached to it.
(xi) The daily harvest limit for halibut is two fish, and the
possession limit is two daily harvest limits. You may not possess
sport-taken and subsistence-taken halibut on the same day.
(10) Cook Inlet Area. The Cook Inlet Area includes all waters of
Alaska enclosed by a line extending east from Cape Douglas
(5851'06'' North latitude) and a line extending south
from Cape Fairfield (14850'15'' West longitude).
(i) Unless restricted in this section, or unless restricted under
the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish at any
time in the Cook Inlet Area. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout
incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them
for subsistence purposes.
(ii) You may not take grayling or burbot for subsistence purposes.
(iii) You may take fish by gear listed in this part unless
restricted in this section or under the terms of a subsistence fishing
permit (as may be modified by this section).
(iv) You may only take salmon, Dolly Varden, trout, and char under
authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit. Seasons, harvest and
possession limits, and methods and means for take are the same as for
the taking of those species under Alaska sport fishing regulations (5
AAC 56).
(v) You may only take smelt with dip nets or gillnets in fresh
water from April 1 through June 15. You may not use a gillnet exceeding
20 feet in length and 2 inch stretched-mesh. You must attend the net at
all times when it is being used. There are no harvest or possession
limits for smelt.
(vi) Gillnets may not be used in freshwater, except for the taking
of whitefish in the Tyone River drainage or for the taking of smelt.
(11) Prince William Sound Area. The Prince William Sound Area
includes all waters and drainages of Alaska between the longitude of
Cape Fairfield and the longitude of Cape Suckling.
(i) You may take fish, other than rainbow/steelhead trout, in the
Prince William Sound Area only under authority of a subsistence fishing
permit, except that a permit is not required to take eulachon.
(ii) You may take fish by gear listed in paragraph (c)(1) of this
part unless restricted in this section or under the terms of a
subsistence fishing permit.
(iii) If you catch rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in other
subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence
purposes, unless restricted in this section.
(iv) In the Copper River drainage upstream from Haley Creek, you
may take salmon only in the waters of the Upper Copper River District,
or in the vicinity of the Native Village of Batzulnetas. You may
accumulate harvest limits of salmon authorized for the Copper River
drainage upstream from Haley Creek with harvest limits for salmon
authorized under State of Alaska sport fishing regulations.
(v) In the Upper Copper River District, you may take salmon only by
fish wheels, rod and reel, or dip nets.
(vi) Rainbow/steelhead trout and other freshwater fish caught
incidentally to salmon by fish wheel in the Upper Copper River District
may be retained.
(vii) Freshwater fish other than rainbow/steelhead trout caught
incidentally to salmon by dip net in the Upper Copper River District
may be retained. Rainbow/steelhead trout caught incidentally to salmon
by dip net in the Upper Copper River District must be released unharmed
to the water.
(viii) You may not possess salmon taken under the authority of an
Upper Copper River District subsistence
[[Page 5032]]
fishing permit, or rainbow/steelhead trout caught incidentally to
salmon by fishwheel, unless the anal (ventral) fin has been immediately
removed from the fish. You must immediately record all retained fish on
the subsistence permit. Immediately means prior to concealing the fish
from plain view or transporting the fish more than 50 feet from where
the fish was removed from the water.
(ix) You may take salmon in the Upper Copper River District only
from May 15 through September 30.
(x) The total annual harvest limit for subsistence salmon fishing
permits in combination for the Glennallen Subdistrict and the Chitina
Subdistrict is as follows:
(A) For a household with 1 person, 30 salmon, of which no more than
5 may be chinook salmon taken by dip net and no more than 5 chinook
taken by rod and reel;
(B) For a household with 2 persons, 60 salmon, of which no more
than 5 may be chinook salmon taken by dip net and no more than 5
chinook taken by rod and reel, plus 10 salmon for each additional
person in a household over 2 persons, except that the household's limit
for chinook salmon taken by dip net or rod and reel does not increase;
(C) Upon request, permits for additional salmon will be issued for
no more than a total of 200 salmon for a permit issued to a household
with 1 person, of which no more than 5 may be chinook salmon taken by
dip net and no more than 5 chinook taken by rod and reel, or no more
than a total of 500 salmon for a permit issued to a household with 2 or
more persons, of which no more than 5 may be chinook salmon taken by
dip net and no more than 5 chinook taken by rod and reel.
(xi) The following apply to Upper Copper River District subsistence
salmon fishing permits:
(A) Only one subsistence fishing permit per subdistrict will be
issued to each household per year. If a household has been issued
permits for both subdistricts in the same year, both permits must be in
your possession and readily available for inspection while fishing or
transporting subsistence-taken fish in either subdistrict. A qualified
household may also be issued a Batzulnetas salmon fishery permit in the
same year;
(B) Multiple types of gear may be specified on a permit, although
only one unit of gear may be operated at any one time;
(C) You must return your permit no later than October 31 of the
year in which the permit is issued, or you may be denied a permit for
the following year;
(D) A fish wheel may be operated only by one permit holder at one
time; that permit holder must have the fish wheel marked as required by
Section--.27(i)(11) and during fishing operations;
(E) Only the permit holder and the authorized member of the
household listed on the subsistence permit may take salmon;
(F) You must personally operate your fish wheel or dip net;
(G) You may not loan or transfer a subsistence fish wheel or dip
net permit except as permitted.
(xii) If you are a fishwheel owner:
(A) You must register your fish wheel with ADF&G or the Federal
Subsistence Board;
(B) Your registration number and a wood, metal, or plastic plate at
least 12 inches high by 12 inches wide bearing either your name and
address, or your Alaska driver's license number, or your Alaska State
identification card number in letters and numerals at least 1 inch
high, must be permanently affixed and plainly visible on the fish wheel
when the fish wheel is in the water;
(C) Only the current year's registration number may be affixed to
the fish wheel; you must remove any other registration number from the
fish wheel;
(D) You are responsible for the fish wheel; you must remove the
fish wheel from the water at the end of the permit period;
(E) You may not rent, lease, or otherwise use your fish wheel used
for subsistence fishing for personal gain. (xiii) If you are operating
a fishwheel:
(A) You may operate only one fish wheel at any one time;
(B) You may not set or operate a fish wheel within 75 feet of
another fish wheel;
(C) No fish wheel may have more than two baskets;
(D) If you are a permittee other than the owner, you must attach an
additional wood, metal, or plastic plate at least 12 inches high by 12
inches wide, bearing your name and address in letters and numerals at
least 1 inch high, to the fish wheel so that the name and address are
plainly visible.
(xiv) A subsistence fishing permit may be issued to a village
council, or other similarly qualified organization whose members
operate fish wheels for subsistence purposes in the Upper Copper River
District, to operate fish wheels on behalf of members of its village or
organization. The following additional provisions apply to subsistence
fishing permits issued under this paragraph (i)(11)(xiv):
(A) The permit will list all households and household members for
whom the fish wheel is being operated. The permit will identify a
person who will be responsible for each fish wheel in a similar manner
to a fish wheel owner as described in paragraph (i)(11)(xii) of this
section;
(B) The allowable harvest may not exceed the combined seasonal
limits for the households listed on the permit; the permittee will
notify the ADF&G or Federal Subsistence Board when households are added
to the list, and the seasonal limit may be adjusted accordingly;
(C) Members of households listed on a permit issued to a village
council or other similarly qualified organization are not eligible for
a separate household subsistence fishing permit for the Upper Copper
River District;
(D) The permit will include provisions for recording daily catches
for each fish wheel; location and number of fish wheels; full legal
name of the individual responsible for the lawful operation of each
fish wheel as described in paragraph (i)(11)(xii) of this section; and
other information determined to be necessary for effective resource
management.
(xv) You may take salmon in the vicinity of the former Native
village of Batzulnetas only under the authority of a Batzulnetas
subsistence salmon fishing permit available from the National Park
Service under the following conditions:
(A) You may take salmon only in those waters of the Copper River
between National Park Service regulatory markers located near the mouth
of Tanada Creek and approximately one-half mile downstream from that
mouth and in Tanada Creek between National Park Service regulatory
markers identifying the open waters of the creek;
(B) You may use only fish wheels, dip nets, and rod and reel on the
Copper River and only dip nets, spears, and rod and reel in Tanada
Creek;
(C) You may take salmon only from May 15 through September 30 or
until the season is closed by special action;
(D) You may retain chinook salmon taken in a fishwheel in the
Copper River. You may not take chinook salmon in Tanada Creek;
(E) You must return the permit to the National Park Service no
later than October 15.
(xvi) You may take pink salmon for subsistence purposes from
freshwater with a dip net from May 15 until September 30, 7 days per
week, with no harvest or possession limits in the following areas:
(A) Green Island, Knight Island, Chenega Island, Bainbridge Island,
Evans Island, Elrington Island, Latouche
[[Page 5033]]
Island, and adjacent islands, and the mainland waters from the outer
point of Granite Bay located in Knight Island Passage to Cape
Fairfield;
(B) Waters north of a line from Porcupine Point to Granite Point,
and south of a line from Point Lowe to Tongue Point.
(12) Yakutat Area. The Yakutat Area includes all waters and
drainages of Alaska between the longitude of Cape Suckling and the
longitude of Cape Fairweather.
(i) Unless restricted in this section or unless restricted under
the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish at any
time in the Yakutat Area.
(ii) You may not take salmon during the period commencing 48 hours
before a State opening of commercial salmon net fishing season until 48
hours after the closure. This applies to each river or bay fishery
individually.
(iii) When the length of the weekly State commercial salmon net
fishing period exceeds two days in any Yakutat Area salmon net fishery,
the subsistence fishing period is from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday in
that location.
(iv) You may take salmon, trout (other than steelhead), and char
only under authority of a subsistence fishing permit. You may only take
steelhead trout in the Situk and Ahrnklin Rivers and only under
authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit.
(v) If you take salmon, trout, or char incidentally by gear
operated under the terms of a subsistence permit for salmon, you may
retain them for subsistence purposes. You must report any salmon,
trout, or char taken in this manner on your permit calendar.
(vi) You may take fish by gear listed in this part unless
restricted in this section or under the terms of a subsistence fishing
permit.
(vii) In the Situk River, each subsistence salmon fishing permit
holder shall attend his or her gill net at all times when it is being
used to take salmon.
(viii) You may block up to two-thirds of a stream with a gillnet or
seine used for subsistence fishing.
(ix) You must remove the dorsal fin from subsistence-caught salmon
when taken.
(x) You may not possess subsistence-taken and sport-taken salmon on
the same day.
(xi) You must possess a subsistence fishing permit to take Dolly
Varden. The daily harvest and possession limit is 10 Dolly Varden of
any size.
(13) Southeastern Alaska Area. The Southeastern Alaska Area
includes all waters between a line projecting southwest from the
westernmost tip of Cape Fairweather and Dixon Entrance.
(i) Unless restricted in this section or under the terms of a
subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish other than salmon,
rainbow/steelhead trout, and char in the Southeastern Alaska Area at
any time.
(ii) From July 7 through July 31, you may take sockeye salmon in
the waters of the Klawock River and Klawock Lake only from 8 a.m.
Monday until 5 p.m. Friday.
(iii) You must possess a subsistence fishing permit to take salmon,
trout, or char. You must possess a subsistence fishing permit to take
steelhead in Hamilton Bay and Kadake Bay Rivers. You must possess a
subsistence fishing permit to take eulachon from any freshwater stream
flowing into fishing sections 1-C or 1-D.
(iv) You may take steelhead trout on Prince of Wales and Kosciusko
Islands under the terms of Federal subsistence fishing permits. You
must obtain a separate permit for the winter and spring seasons.
(A) The winter season is December 1 through the last day of
February, with a harvest limit of 2 fish per household. You may use
only a dip net, spear, or rod and reel with artificial lure or fly. You
may not use bait. The winter season may be closed when the harvest
level cap of 100 steelhead for Prince of Wales/Kosciusko Islands has
been reached. You must return your winter season permit within 15 days
of the close of the season and before receiving another permit for a
Prince of Wales/Kosciusko steelhead subsistence fishery. The permit
conditions and systems to receive special protection will be determined
by the local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with ADF&G.
(B) The spring season is March 1 through May 31, with a harvest
limit of 5 fish per household. You may use only a dip net, spear, or
rod and reel with artificial lure or fly. You may not use bait. The
spring season may be closed prior to May 31 if the harvest quota of 600
fish minus the number of steelhead harvested in the winter subsistence
steelhead fishery is reached. You must return your spring season permit
within 15 days of the close of the season and before receiving another
permit for a Prince of Wales/Kosciusko steelhead subsistence fishery.
The permit conditions and systems to receive special protection will be
determined by the local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with
ADF&G.
(v) In the Southeastern Alaska Area, except for sections 3A, 3B,
and 3C and the Stikine and Taku Rivers, you may take coho salmon under
the terms of a subsistence fishing permit. There is no closed season.
The daily harvest limit is 20 coho salmon per household, and the annual
limit is 40 coho salmon per household. Only dipnets, spears, gaffs, and
rod and reel may be used. Bait may only be used from September 15
through November 15. You may not retain incidentally caught trout and
sockeye salmon unless taken by gaff or spear.
(vi) You may take coho salmon in Subdistricts 3(A), (B), and (C)
only under the terms of a Federal subsistence fishing permit. There is
no closed season. The daily harvest limit is 20 fish per household.
Only spears, dip net, and rod and reel may be used. Bait may be used
only from September 15 through November 15.
(vii) If you take salmon, trout, or char incidentally with gear
operated under terms of a subsistence permit for other salmon, they may
be kept for subsistence purposes. You must report any salmon, trout, or
char taken in this manner on your permit calendar.
(viii) No permits for the use of nets will be issued for the salmon
streams flowing across or adjacent to the road systems within the city
limits of Petersburg, Wrangell, and Sitka.
(ix) You shall immediately remove the pelvic fins of all salmon
when taken.
(x) You may not possess subsistence-taken and sport-taken salmon on
the same day.
(xi) For the Salmon Bay Lake system, the daily harvest and season
limit per household is 30 sockeye salmon.
(xii) For Virginia Lake (Mill Creek), the daily harvest limit per
household is 20 sockeye salmon, and the season limit per household is
40 sockeye salmon.
(xiii) For Thoms Creek, the daily harvest limit per household is 20
sockeye salmon, and the season limit per household is 40 sockeye
salmon.
(xiv) The Sarkar River system above the bridge is closed to the use
of all nets by both Federally-qualified and non-Federally qualified
users.
(xv) Only Federally-qualified subsistence users may harvest sockeye
salmon in streams draining into Falls Lake Bay, Gut Bay, or Pillar Bay.
In the Falls Lake Bay and Gut Bay drainages, the possession limit is 10
sockeye salmon per household. In the Pillar Bay drainage, the
individual possession limit is 15 sockeye salmon with a household
possession limit of 25 sockeye salmon.
(xvi) In Baranof Lake, Florence Lake, Hasselborg Lake and River,
Mirror Lake, Virginia Lake, and Wilson Lake, in addition to the
requirement for a Federal subsistence fishing permit, the
[[Page 5034]]
following restrictions for the harvest of Dolly Varden, cutthroat, and
rainbow trout apply:
(A) The daily harvest and possession limit is 10 Dolly Varden of
any size;
(B) The daily harvest and possession limit is six cutthroat or
rainbow trout in combination. You may only retain fish between
11 and 22. You may only use a rod and reel
without bait.
(xvii) In all waters, other than those identified in paragraph
(i)(13)(xvi) of this section, in addition to the requirement for a
subsistence fishing permit, you may harvest Dolly Varden and cutthroat
and rainbow trout in accordance with the seasons and harvest limits
delineated in the Alaska Administrative Code, 5 AAC 47. You may only
use a rod and reel without bait unless the use of bait is specifically
permitted in 5 AAC 47.
Sec. ------.28 Subsistence taking of shellfish.
(a) Regulations in this section apply to subsistence taking of
Dungeness crab, king crab, Tanner crab, shrimp, clams, abalone, and
other shellfish or their parts.
(b) [Reserved]
(c) You may take shellfish for subsistence uses at any time in any
area of the public lands by any method unless restricted by this
section.
(d) Methods, means, and general restrictions. (1) The harvest limit
specified in this section for a subsistence season for a species and
the State harvest limit set for a State season for the same species are
not cumulative. This means that if you have taken the harvest limit for
a particular species under a subsistence season specified in this
section, you may not, after that, take any additional shellfish of that
species under any other harvest limit specified for a State season.
(2) Unless otherwise provided in this section or under terms of a
required subsistence fishing permit (as may be modified by this
section), you may use the following legal types of gear to take
shellfish:
(i) Abalone iron;
(ii) Diving gear;
(iii) A grappling hook;
(iv) A handline;
(v) A hydraulic clam digger;
(vi) A mechanical clam digger;
(vii) A pot;
(viii) A ring net;
(ix) A scallop dredge;
(x) A sea urchin rake;
(xi) A shovel; and
(xii) A trawl.
(3) You are prohibited from buying or selling subsistence-taken
shellfish, their parts, or their eggs, unless otherwise specified.
(4) You may not use explosives and chemicals, except that you may
use chemical baits or lures to attract shellfish.
(5) Marking requirements for subsistence shellfish gear are as
follows:
(i) You must plainly and legibly inscribe your first initial, last
name, and address on a keg or buoy attached to unattended subsistence
fishing gear, except when fishing through the ice, you may substitute
for the keg or buoy a stake inscribed with your first initial, last
name, and address inserted in the ice near the hole; subsistence
fishing gear may not display a permanent ADF&G vessel license number;
(ii) Kegs or buoys attached to subsistence crab pots also must be
inscribed with the name or United States Coast Guard number of the
vessel used to operate the pots.
(6) Pots used for subsistence fishing must comply with the escape
mechanism requirements found in Sec. ------.27(c)(2).
(7) You may not mutilate or otherwise disfigure a crab in any
manner which would prevent determination of the minimum size
restrictions until the crab has been processed or prepared for
consumption.
(e) Taking shellfish by designated harvest permit. (1) Any species
of shellfish that may be taken by subsistence fishing under this part
may be taken under a designated harvest permit.
(2) If you are a Federally-qualified subsistence user
(beneficiary), you may designate another Federally-qualified
subsistence user to take shellfish on your behalf. The designated
fisherman must obtain a designated harvest permit prior to attempting
to harvest shellfish and must return a completed harvest report. The
designated fisherman may harvest for any number of beneficiaries but
may have no more than two harvest limits in his/her possession at any
one time.
(3) The designated fisherman must have in possession a valid
designated harvest permit when taking, attempting to take, or
transporting shellfish taken under this section, on behalf of a
beneficiary.
(4) You may not fish with more than one legal limit of gear as
established by this section.
(5) You may not designate more than one person to take or attempt
to take shellfish on your behalf at one time. You may not personally
take or attempt to take shellfish at the same time that a designated
fisherman is taking or attempting to take shellfish on your behalf.
(f) If a subsistence shellfishing permit is required by this
section, the following conditions apply unless otherwise specified by
the subsistence regulations in this section:
(1) You may not take shellfish for subsistence in excess of the
limits set out in the permit unless a different limit is specified in
this section;
(2) You must obtain a permit prior to subsistence fishing;
(3) You must have the permit in your possession and readily
available for inspection while taking or transporting the species for
which the permit is issued;
(4) The permit may designate the species and numbers of shellfish
to be harvested, time and area of fishing, the type and amount of
fishing gear and other conditions necessary for management or
conservation purposes;
(5) If specified on the permit, you must keep accurate daily
records of the catch involved, showing the number of shellfish taken by
species, location and date of the catch, and such other information as
may be required for management or conservation purposes;
(6) You must complete and submit subsistence fishing reports at the
time specified for each particular area and fishery;
(7) If the return of catch information necessary for management and
conservation purposes is required by a subsistence fishing permit and
you fail to comply with such reporting requirements, you are ineligible
to receive a subsistence permit for that activity during the following
calendar year, unless you demonstrate that failure to report was due to
loss in the mail, accident, sickness, or other unavoidable
circumstances.
(g) Subsistence take by commercial vessels. No fishing vessel which
is commercially licensed and registered for shrimp pot, shrimp trawl,
king crab, Tanner crab, or Dungeness crab fishing may be used for
subsistence take during the period starting 14 days before an opening
until 14 days after the closure of a respective open season in the area
or areas for which the vessel is registered. However, if you are a
commercial fisherman, you may retain shellfish for your own use from
your lawfully taken commercial catch.
(h) You may not take or possess shellfish smaller than the minimum
legal size limits.
(i) Unlawful possession of subsistence shellfish. You may not
possess, transport, give, receive, or barter shellfish or their parts
taken in violation of Federal or State regulations.
(j)(1) An owner, operator, or employee of a lodge, charter vessel,
or other
[[Page 5035]]
enterprise that furnishes food, lodging, or guide services may not
furnish to a client or guest of that enterprise, shellfish that has
been taken under this section, unless:
(i) The shellfish has been taken with gear deployed and retrieved
by the client or guest who is a federally-qualified subsistence user;
(ii) The gear has been marked with the client's or guest's name and
address; and
(iii) The shellfish is to be consumed by the client or guest or is
consumed in the presence of the client or guest.
(2) The captain and crewmembers of a charter vessel may not deploy,
set, or retrieve their own gear in a subsistence shellfish fishery when
that vessel is being chartered.
(k) Subsistence shellfish areas and pertinent restrictions. (1)
Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area. No marine waters are currently
identified under Federal subsistence management jurisdiction.
(2) Prince William Sound Area. No marine waters are currently
identified under Federal subsistence management jurisdiction.
(3) Cook Inlet Area. (i) You may take shellfish for subsistence
purposes only as allowed in this section (k)(3).
(ii) You may not take king crab, Dungeness crab, or shrimp for
subsistence purposes.
(iii) In the subsistence taking of Tanner crab:
(A) Male Tanner crab may be taken only from July 15 through March
15;
(B) The daily harvest and possession limit is 5 male Tanner crabs;
(C) Only male Tanner crabs 5\1/2\ inches or greater in width of
shell may be taken or possessed;
(D) No more than 2 pots per person, regardless of type, with a
maximum of 2 pots per vessel, regardless of type, may be used to take
Tanner crab.
(iv) In the subsistence taking of clams:
(A) The daily harvest and possession limit for littleneck clams is
1,000 and the minimum size is 1.5 inches in length;
(B) The daily harvest and possession limit for butter clams is 700
and the minimum size is 2.5 inches in length.
(v) Other than as specified in this section, there are no harvest,
possession, or size limits for other shellfish, and the season is open
all year.
(4) Kodiak Area. (i) You may take crab for subsistence purposes
only under the authority of a subsistence crab fishing permit issued by
the ADF&G.
(ii) The operator of a commercially licensed and registered shrimp
fishing vessel must obtain a subsistence fishing permit from the ADF&G
before subsistence shrimp fishing during a State closed commercial
shrimp fishing season or within a closed commercial shrimp fishing
district, section, or subsection. The permit must specify the area and
the date the vessel operator intends to fish. No more than 500 pounds
(227 kg) of shrimp may be in possession aboard the vessel.
(iii) The daily harvest and possession limit is 12 male Dungeness
crabs per person; only male Dungeness crabs with a shell width of 6\1/
2\ inches or greater may be taken or possessed. Taking of Dungeness
crab is prohibited in water 25 fathoms or more in depth during the 14
days immediately before the State opening of a commercial king or
Tanner crab fishing season in the location.
(iv) In the subsistence taking of king crab:
(A) The annual limit is six crabs per household; only male king
crab with shell width of 7 inches or greater may be taken or possessed;
(B) All crab pots used for subsistence fishing and left in
saltwater unattended longer than a 2-week period must have all bait and
bait containers removed and all doors secured fully open;
(C) You may only use one crab pot, which may be of any size, to
take king crab;
(D) You may take king crab only from June 1 through January 31,
except that the subsistence taking of king crab is prohibited in waters
25 fathoms or greater in depth during the period 14 days before and 14
days after State open commercial fishing seasons for red king crab,
blue king crab, or Tanner crab in the location;
(E) The waters of the Pacific Ocean enclosed by the boundaries of
Womens Bay, Gibson Cove, and an area defined by a line \1/2\ mile on
either side of the mouth of the Karluk River, and extending seaward
3,000 feet, and all waters within 1,500 feet seaward of the shoreline
of Afognak Island are closed to the harvest of king crab except by
Federally-qualified subsistence users.
(v) In the subsistence taking of Tanner crab:
(A) You may not use more than five crab pots to take Tanner crab;
(B) You may not take Tanner crab in waters 25 fathoms or greater in
depth during the 14 days immediately before the opening of a State
commercial king or Tanner crab fishing season in the location;
(C) The daily harvest and possession limit per person is 12 male
crabs with a shell width 5\1/2\ inches or greater.
(5) Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands Area. (i) The operator of a
commercially licensed and registered shrimp fishing vessel must obtain
a subsistence fishing permit from the ADF&G prior to subsistence shrimp
fishing during a closed State commercial shrimp fishing season or
within a closed commercial shrimp fishing district, section, or
subsection; the permit must specify the area and the date the vessel
operator intends to fish; no more than 500 pounds (227 kg) of shrimp
may be in possession aboard the vessel.
(ii) The daily harvest and possession limit is 12 male Dungeness
crabs per person; only crabs with a shell width of 5\1/2\ inches or
greater may be taken or possessed.
(iii) In the subsistence taking of king crab:
(A) The daily harvest and possession limit is six male crabs per
person; only crabs with a shell width of 6\1/2\ inches or greater may
be taken or possessed;
(B) All crab pots used for subsistence fishing and left in
saltwater unattended longer than a 2-week period must have all bait and
bait containers removed and all doors secured fully open;
(C) You may take crabs only from June 1 through January 31.
(iv) The daily harvest and possession limit is 12 male Tanner crabs
per person; only crabs with a shell width of 5\1/2\ inches or greater
may be taken or possessed.
(6) Bering Sea Area. (i) In that portion of the area north of the
latitude of Cape Newenham, shellfish may only be taken by shovel,
jigging gear, pots, and ring net.
(ii) The operator of a commercially licensed and registered shrimp
fishing vessel must obtain a subsistence fishing permit from the ADF&G
prior to subsistence shrimp fishing during a closed commercial shrimp
fishing season or within a closed commercial shrimp fishing district,
section, or subsection; the permit must specify the area and the date
the vessel operator intends to fish; no more than 500 pounds (227 kg)
of shrimp may be in possession aboard the vessel.
(iii) In waters south of 60 North latitude, the
daily harvest and possession limit is 12 male Dungeness crabs per
person.
(iv) In the subsistence taking of king crab:
(A) In waters south of 60 North latitude, the daily
harvest and possession limit is six male crabs per person;
(B) All crab pots used for subsistence fishing and left in
saltwater unattended longer than a 2-week period must have all bait and
bait containers removed and all doors secured fully open;
(C) In waters south of 60 North latitude, you may
take crab only from June 1 through January 31;
[[Page 5036]]
(D) In the Norton Sound Section of the Northern District, you must
have a subsistence permit.
(v) In waters south of 60 North latitude, the daily
harvest and possession limit is 12 male Tanner crabs.
Dated: December 11, 2003.
Thomas H. Boyd,
Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board.
Dated: December 11, 2003.
Steve Kessler,
Subsistence Program Leader, USDA-Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2097 Filed 2-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P