Section 5 AAC 29.110 - Management of coho salmon troll fishery(a) Coho salmon may be taken from June 1 through September 20. However, the commissioner, in years when wild coho salmon abundance is projected by the department to meet escapement needs after considering harvest and effort, may extend, by emergency order, the coho salmon fishery in any portions of Districts 1 - 16 for up to 10 days after September 20.(b) The commissioner may close, by emergency order, the coho salmon troll fishery in the Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area for conservation of coho salmon stocks as follows: (1) for up to seven days beginning on or after July 25 if the total projected commercial harvest of wild coho salmon is less than 1.1 million; or(2) for up to 10 days, if the department makes an assessment and determines that (A) the number of coho salmon reaching inside waters might be inadequate to provide for spawning requirements under normal or restricted inside fisheries for coho salmon and other species; the primary abundance indicators for the assessment consist of relative harvest levels by all fisheries and, in particular, catch per unit of effort in inside drift gillnet and sport fisheries as compared to average 1971 - 1980 levels and escapement projections for streams where escapement goals have been established; or(B) the proportional share of coho salmon harvest by the salmon troll fishery is larger than that of inside gillnet and sport fishing fisheries compared to average 1971 - 1980 levels; primary inside fisheries indicators for the assessment are overall coho salmon harvests and catch per unit of effort in the District 1, 6, 11, and 15 drift gillnet fisheries and by anglers sport fishing from boats in the salt water sport fishery that return to any port connected to the Juneau road system.(c) Following any closure made under (b) of this section, the commissioner shall reopen, by emergency order, waters for salmon troll fishing as specified in this chapter.(d) If the department determines that the strength of the coho salmon run in the inshore and terminal salmon fishing waters is less than required to provide a spawning escapement that will maintain the runs on a sustained-yield basis, the department may make additional closures of the salmon troll fishing seasons, periods, and areas.(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the department may, for the purpose of allowing the troll fleet to harvest enhanced coho salmon, and in consultation with hatchery operators, define areas where coho salmon retention is permitted during closures under (b) of this section.Eff. 10/1/98, Register 147; am 6/14/2000, Register 154; am 7/26/2003, Register 167; am 7/13/2012, Register 203; am 6/17/2018,Register 226, July 2018Before Register 147, Oct. 1998, the substance of 5 AAC 29.110 was contained in former 5 AAC 30.310(b), 5 AAC 33.311(c), and 5 AAC 33.365(b) (3)-(5). The history note for 5 AAC 29.110 does not contain the history of the provision before Register 147, Oct. 1998.
Authority:AS 16.05.060
AS 16.05.251