5 AAC 34.082. Permits for

(a) Male king crab of the species Lithodes couesi may be taken in Registration Areas K, M, O, Q, and T only under the conditions of a permit issued by the commissioner.

(b) Lithodes couesi may be taken only with pots as follows:

(1) in Registration Areas K and M,

(A) pots may be longlined;

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

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

(2) in Registration Areas O, Q, and T, pots may be longlined only in locations where the longlining of pots is permitted for golden king crab.

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

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

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

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

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

(4) may establish minimum size limits;

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

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

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

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

(f) Except as provided in (b) of this section, the pot limits specified in the registration areas described in 5 AAC 34 for king crab do not apply to Lithodes couesi king crab.

History: Eff. 7/23/88, Register 107; am 6/15/95, Register 134; am 8/14/96, Register 139; am 8/14/2005, Register 175

Authority: AS 16.05.251

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