5 AAC 27 — Herring Fishery (Article 1 to 14)

Unless otherwise specified, the requirements set out in this chapter apply only to commercial herring fishing. Subsistence, personal use, and sport fishing regulations that affect commercial herring fishing vessels or activity are set out in the subsistence fishing regulations in…

Herring fishery registration areas and code letters are: Code Letter A - Southeastern Alaska Area (5 AAC 27.100) D - Yakutat Area (5 AAC 27.200) E - Prince William Sound Area (5 AAC 27.300) H - Cook Inlet Area (5 AAC 27.400) K - Kodiak Area (5 AAC 27.500) L - Chignik Area (5 AAC …

(a) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, the regulations in this chapter that apply to a herring registration area also apply to the waters of the exclusive economic zone that are adjacent to the herring registration area. (b) The commissioner may suspend the application o…

Notes 5 AAC 27.020 Repealed 4/14/82. State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compar…

(a) Except as specified in (b) of this section, a herring fishing vessel must land all herring within the registration area in which the herring were taken. (b) The vessel owner, or the owner's agent, of a herring fishing vessel that desires to land herring in a registration area…

(a) The commissioner shall monitor the condition of herring stocks in all registration areas by using the data and information that are practically available. (b) When the commissioner finds that continued herring fishing would jeopardize the health of herring stock within a regi…

In any registration area or portion of a registration area, the commissioner may delay the opening beyond the earliest date specified in the regulations if the commissioner finds that the delay would effect the orderly conduct of the fishery or the conservation of the fishery res…

(a) During an open herring fishing season in a registration area, herring may only be taken by seines, gillnets, trawls, or pounds as specified in 5 AAC 27.100 - 5 AAC 27.990. In areas in which legal gear is not specified in 5 AAC 27.100 - 5 AAC 27.990 for use during an open herr…

The taking of herring spawn for commercial purposes may be conducted only under the terms of a permit issued by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, unless otherwise provided in 5 AAC 27.100 - 5 AAC 27.990. Notes 5 AAC 27.055 In effect before 1988; am 5/31/98, Registe…

(a) If the department has adequate information, and if department management programs are in place, the department may manage commercial herring sac roe fisheries, to enhance the value of the landed product as follows: (1) fishing periods may be established by emergency order in …

(a) The department shall follow the directives of the Bering Sea Herring Management Plan, as well as the regulations that govern the individual herring fisheries, when managing the commercial herring fisheries that take place in the Bering Sea. (b) Unless otherwise specified in t…

Notes 5 AAC 27.070 Repealed 4/14/82. State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compar…

(a) A person may not possess unprocessed herring aboard a vessel licensed as a commercial fishing vessel within any registration area unless the season is open or unless the person is acting under the authorization of 5 AAC 27.030(b). This prohibition does not apply to herring po…

Notes 5 AAC 27.092 In effect before 1988; repealed 5/31/98, Register 146 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be adde…

Notes 5 AAC 27.093 In effect before 1985; am 5/11/85, Register 94; repealed 6/15/95, Register 134 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More compari…

Notes 5 AAC 27.095 In effect before 1982; am 4/14/82, Register 82; am 5/11/85, Register 94; repealed 5/31/98, Register 146 As of Register 146, July 1998, the substance of former 5 AAC 27.095 appears in 5 AAC 27.510(b), 5 AAC 27.560(c), and 5 AAC 27.610(f). State regulations are u…

Notes 5 AAC 27.096 In effect before 1988; repealed 5/31/98, Register 146 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be adde…

Notes 5 AAC 27.097 In effect before 1988; repealed 5/31/98, Register 146 As of Register 146, July 1998, the substance of former 5 AAC 27.097 appears in 5 AAC 27.030(b). State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison betwee…

Notes 5 AAC 27.098 In effect before 1988; repealed 5/31/98, Register 146 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be adde…

The Southeastern Alaska Area has as its southern boundary the International Boundary at Dixon Entrance, and as its northern Boundary a line extending seaward from the western tip of Cape Fairweather, at 58º 47.89' N. lat., 137º 56.68' W. long., to the intersection with the seawar…

Districts are as described in 5 AAC 33.200. Notes 5 AAC 27.105 In effect before 1988 Authority:AS 16.05.251(a) State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release.…

(a) Herring may be taken from October 1 through February 28 (winter food and bait fishery), only during periods established by emergency order, in the following Districts and Sections: 1 - 10, 11-B, 11-C, 12, 13-A, 13-B south of the latitude of Aspid Cape (56º 41.75' N. lat.), 14…

(a) Herring may be taken during the open season by purse seines and gillnets. (b) Herring pounds for fresh bait and tray pack operations may be used only under the terms of a permit issued by the commissioner. (c) Herring pounds for the taking of spawn-on-kelp in pounds may be op…

(a) Except as provided in (i) of this section, a vessel fishing for herring may not have more than one herring gillnet on board or operated from any vessel taking herring. A herring gillnet may not be longer than 50 fathoms. (b) Herring gillnets must be set with an anchor at each…

(a) A herring purse seine may not be more than 200 fathoms in length. (b) A herring purse seine may not be more than 1,700 meshes in depth, except that for Section 12-A, the commissioner may, by emergency order, open a purse seine herring fishery during which a herring purse sein…

Herring may not be taken in (1) District 1, in the waters of Clover Pass, Tongass Narrows, Moser Bay, and Naha Bay that are south and east of a line from Indian Point located at 55º 36.85' N. lat., 131º 42.03' W. long., to the northeastern tip of Betton Island located at 55º 32.5…

(a) Repealed 12/29/84. (b) The herring harvest quota for bait pound operations is as follows: (1) Scow Bay: 100 tons; (2) Section 13-B: 100 tons; (3) Lisianski Inlet: 25 tons; (4) Section 1-E: 10 percent of the guideline harvest level for the West Behm Canal stock; (5) Sections 1…

(a) In addition to the requirements of 5 AAC 39.130(n), a tender operator, buyer, or buyer's agent shall report in person to and register with a local representative of the department upon arrival in the registration area before commencing operations and before changing location …

The holder of a valid CFEC interim use or limited entry permit may take but may not sell herring for use as bait in the commercial fishery for which the permit is held as follows: (1) herring may be taken at any time; (2) herring may be taken by any gear specified in 5 AAC 39.105…

(a) The owner or operator of a vessel used in the winter food and bait herring fishery must obtain a permit issued by the commissioner. In the permit, the commissioner shall set the date when the permit holder may begin fishing. The date shall occur during a 14-day period followi…

(a) A herring pound operator shall obtain a permit before April 1 from the commissioner for fresh bait pound operations and for tray pack pound operations 30 days before starting operations. (b) A person operating a fresh bait or tray pack herring pound may not sell, offer to sel…

(a) In Sections 3-B, 12-A, and 13-C, and District 7, of the Southeastern Alaska Area, the department shall set an annual guideline harvest range for herring spawn on kelp in pounds based on the forecasted return of mature spawning herring. The department shall manage the fishery …

(a) In Sections 3-B, 7-B, 12-A, and 13-C (1) the initial buyer or processor of herring spawn on kelp shall issue a fish ticket when the spawn on kelp is delivered by a CFEC permit holder and shall, within seven days of delivery, provide a copy of the fish ticket to the department…

For the management of herring fisheries in the Southeastern Alaska Area, the department (1) shall identify stocks of herring on a spawning area basis; (2) shall establish minimum spawning biomass thresholds below which fishing will not be allowed; (3) shall assess the abundance o…

(a) In managing the commercial sac roe herring fishery in section 13-B north of the latitude of Aspid Cape (Sitka Sound), the department shall (1) manage the fishery consistent with the applicable provisions of 5 AAC 27.160(g) and 5 AAC 27.190; (2) distribute the commercial harve…

(a) In managing the commercial sac roe herring fishery in Section 1-E and the waters of Section 1-F north of the latitude of South Vallenar Point, the commissioner will open and close fishing periods and areas open for fishing using set gillnet gear by emergency order, during whi…

The Yakutat Area has as its western boundary the longitude of Cape Suckling (144º W. long.), and as its southern boundary a line extending seaward from the western tip of Cape Fairweather, at 58º 47.89' N. lat., 137º 56.68' W. long., to the intersection with the seaward limit of …

Districts are as described in 5 AAC 30.200. Notes 5 AAC 27.205 In effect before 1988 Authority:AS 16.05.251(a) State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release.…

Herring may be taken from October 1 through February 28 (winter food and bait fishery), only during periods established by emergency order. Notes 5 AAC 27.210 In effect before 1988; am 4/30/91, Register 118 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we curren…

Herring may be taken by purse seines and gillnets. Notes 5 AAC 27.230 In effect before 1988; am 4/23/94, Register 130 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version an…

Herring may not be taken in Yakutat Bay. Notes 5 AAC 27.250 Eff. 1/29/98, Register 145 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. …

The holder of a valid CFEC interim use or limited entry permit may take but may not sell herring for use as bait in the commercial fishery for which the permit is held as follows: (1) herring may be taken at any time; (2) unless use of a gear is restricted in 5 AAC 27 - 5 AAC 39,…

The Prince William Sound Area includes all waters of Alaska between 148° 50.25' W. long., (near Cape Fairfield) and 144° 00.00' W. long., (near Cape Suckling). Notes 5 AAC 27.300 In effect before 1988; am 5/31/98, Register 146; am 6/7/2025, Register 254, July 2025 Authority: AS 1…

Notes 5 AAC 27.305 In effect before 1983; am 4/16/83, Register 86; am 4/18/86, Register 98; repealed 9/17/94, Register 131 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarte…

(a) Prince William Sound District: all waters of the Prince William Sound Area, excluding the Kayak Island District. (b) Kayak Island District: all waters from a line from a point at 60° 01.16' N. lat., 144° 00.00' W. long., to a point at 59° 57.98' N. lat., 144° 00.00' W. long.,…

(a) From March 1 through June 30 (sac roe season), herring may be taken only during periods established by emergency order. (b) Herring may be taken for food and bait from October 1 through January 31, only during periods established by emergency order. (c) Herring spawn on kelp …

(a) From March 1 through June 30, herring may be taken only by purse seines and gillnets. (b) For the wild herring spawn-on-kelp (not in pounds) fishery, herring spawn on kelp may be taken by hand cutting as specified in 5 AAC 27.333. (c) Repealed 9/17/94. (d) A pound for the her…

(a) During the herring food and bait season, herring gillnets operated from a herring fishing vessel may not exceed 150 fathoms in aggregate length. (b) From March 1 through June 30, herring gillnets operated from a herring fishing vessel may not exceed 120 meshes in depth and 10…

A person may not operate a purse seine that is more than 1,025 meshes in depth and more than 150 fathoms in length from April 15 through June 30. Notes 5 AAC 27.332 In effect before 1988; am 5/31/98, Register 146; am 3/30/2000, Register 153 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulation…

(a) A person may take wild herring spawn on kelp (not in pounds) without a permit issued by the commissioner and only under the following conditions: (1) herring spawn may not be taken on imported or transplanted aquatic plants or on any other substrate, except for kelp in its na…