Alaska Administrative Code

(a) Eulachon in the Unuk River, and salmon, trout, char, herring spawn on kelp, and sablefish may only be taken under authority of a subsistence fishing permit. (b) Permits will not be issued for the taking of coho salmon from the Taku River and Stikine River drainages. However, …

Subsistence fishermen shall immediately remove the dorsal fin of all salmon when taken. Notes 5 AAC 01.740 In effect before 1982; am 4/14/82, Register 82; am 4/16/83, Register 86; readopt 5/15/93, Register 126 At its February 23 - 27, 1993 meeting, the Board of Fisheries readopte…

(a) The daily bag limit for halibut is two fish and the possession limit is two daily bag limits. No person may possess sport-taken and subsistence-taken halibut on the same day. (b) No person may possess subsistence-taken and sport-taken salmon on the same day. (c) In the subsis…

(a) Salmon streams flowing across or adjacent to the road systems of Petersburg, Wrangell, and Sitka support only limited runs of salmon. Harvestable numbers of salmon in excess of the spawning escapement needs for those streams are normally of such a small magnitude that these n…

From January 1 through August 31, in the waters of Klawock Harbor enclosed by a line from the northernmost tip of Klawock Island at 55° 33.42' N. lat., 133° 06.38' W. long. to Klawock Island Light to the Klawock Cannery Dock at 55° 33.47' N. lat., 133° 05.96' W. long., a person m…

(a) The management plan in this section provides guidelines to the department for allocating Redoubt Lake sockeye salmon between the commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries. The department shall manage the Redoubt Bay and Lake sockeye salmon fisheries to achieve an optimal e…

Regulations in this chapter apply to subsistence fishing for Dungeness crab, king crab, Tanner crab, shrimp, clams, abalone and other types of shellfish or their parts. The descriptions of legal types of gear (5 AAC 39.105), the definitions (5 AAC 39.975) and the abbreviations an…

Shellfish may be taken for subsistence purposes at any time in any area of the state by any method unless restricted by the subsistence fishing regulations in this chapter. Notes 5 AAC 02.005 In effect before 1988; readopt 5/15/93, Register 126 At its February 23 - 27, 1993 meeti…

(a) Unless otherwise provided in this title, the following are legal types of gear for subsistence fishing: (1) gear specified in 5 AAC 39.105; (2) jigging gear which consists of a line or lines with lures or baited hooks which are operated during periods of ice cover from holes …

(a) Shellfish may be taken by subsistence fishing by proxy only as provided in AS 16.05.405 and in this section. (b) Any species of shellfish that may be taken by subsistence fishing under this chapter may be taken by subsistence fishing by proxy. (c) Before a proxy may take, att…

(a) If a subsistence fishing permit is required by this chapter, the following conditions apply unless otherwise specified by the subsistence fishing regulations this chapter: (1) the numbers of shellfish taken for subsistence use may not exceed the limits set out in the permit; …

A person may not disturb, tamper with, or retrieve another person's shellfish pot gear without prior permission of the owner of that pot gear. Notes 5 AAC 02.019 Eff. 7/1/2006, Register 178; am 9/12/2008, Register 187 Authority:AS 16.05.251 AS 16.05.258 State regulations are upda…

Notes 5 AAC 02.020 Repealed 5/15/93. 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…

Notes 5 AAC 02.021 Eff. 5/15/93, Register 126; repealed 2/22/2015, Register 213, April 2015 As of Register 213, April 2015, the substance of former 5 AAC 02.021 appears in 5 AAC 39.010. Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions…

(a) Limitations on the use of subsistence shrimp pots by vessels and participants in commercial shrimp pot fisheries and the use of subsistence trawls by vessels and participants in commercial shrimp trawl fisheries are contained in 5 AAC 31. (b) Limitations on the use of subsist…

(a) An owner, operator, or employee of a lodge, charter vessel, or other enterprise that furnishes food, lodging, or sport fishing guide services may not furnish to a client or guest of that enterprise, shellfish that has been taken under this chapter, unless the (1) shellfish ha…

(a) No person may possess, transport or place into the possession of another person, raw or unprocessed subsistence-taken shellfish or their parts that the person has taken contrary to state law or regulation. (b) No person may possess or transport raw or unprocessed subsistence-…

In this chapter, the width of shell measurement for king and Tanner crab is the greatest straight-line distance across the carapace at a right angle to a line midway between the eyes to the midpoint of the posterior portion of the carapace, including the spines. Notes 5 AAC 02.03…

(a) Some fisheries have had a documented history of illegal commercial fishing dating back to 1968. Enforcement efforts by the Department of Public Safety have been largely ineffective in controlling this recurring problem on a long-term basis. The board recognizes the difficulty…

The Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area has as its western boundary the longitude of Cape Suckling (144º W. long.), its southern boundary the International Boundary at Dixon Entrance, and its seaward boundary the 400-fathom (732 m) depth contour. Notes 5 AAC 02.100 In effect before …

Districts are as described in 5 AAC 30.200 and 5 AAC 33.200. Notes 5 AAC 02.105 In effect before 1988; readopt 5/15/93, Register 126 At its February 23 - 27, 1993 meeting, the Board of Fisheries readopted 5 AAC 02.105 in its entirety without change, under ch. 1, SSSLA 1992 (the 1…

In the Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area, shellfish may not be taken for subsistence purposes in the Ketchikan Nonsubsistence Area and the Juneau Nonsubsistence Area described in 5 AAC 99.015. Notes 5 AAC 02.106 Eff. 5/9/2015, Register 214, July 2015 Before Register 214, July 2015…

Notes 5 AAC 02.107 Repealed 5/15/93. 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…

The Alaska Board of Fisheries finds that the following shellfish stocks are customarily and traditionally taken or used for subsistence in the following portions of the Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area outside of the nonsubsistence areas described in 5 AAC 99.015(a)(1) and (2): (…

In the Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area, (1) in the subsistence taking of shellfish other than shrimp, no more than five pots of any type, per person, and no more than I 0 pots of any type, per vessel, may be used; (2) in the subsistence taking of sea cucumbers, sea cucumbers may…

In the subsistence taking of shrimp, (1) a pot used to take shrimp must have (A) no more than four tunnel eye openings; a tunnel eye opening may not exceed 15 inches in perimeter; (B) a bottom perimeter of no more than 153 inches; and (C) a volume of no more than 25 cubic feet; (…

In the subsistence taking of Dungeness crab (1) the daily bag and possession limit is 20 crab per person except that, in waters of Thorne Bay west of the longitude of the southernmost tip of Thorne Head, the daily bag and possession limit is five crab; (2) only male Dungeness cra…

In the subsistence taking of king crab (1) repealed 4/23/94; (2) repealed 7/14/85; (3) in the districts described in 5 AAC 30.200 (A) red and blue king crab may not be taken from April 1 through June 30; (B) only male king crab seven inches or larger in width of shell may be take…

In the subsistence taking of Tanner crab (1) the possession limit for Tanner crab is 30 crab per person, per day; only male Tanner crab five and one-half inches or greater in width of shell may be taken or possessed; male Tanner crab less than the minimum legal size and female Ta…

(a) In the subsistence taking of geoducks the bag limit is six geoducks per person per day. (b) Unless opened by emergency order, the Sitka Sound Special Use Area described in 5 AAC 77.674(3) (A)(i) is closed to the harvest of razor clams. Notes 5 AAC 02.130 In effect before 1988…

In the subsistence taking of abalone (1) the possession limit is five abalone per person; (2) the minimum legal size is three and one-half inches (89 mm) in greatest diameter of shell; (3) subsistence fishing is prohibited while engaged in commercial abalone fishing; prior to eng…

In the subsistence taking of rock scallops (Hinnites sp)and weathervane scallops (Pecten sp), the daily bag and possession limit is five rock scallops and 10 weathervane scallops. Notes 5 AAC 02.140 Eff. 9/8/94, Register 131 Authority:AS 16.05.251 AS 16.05.258 State regulations a…

Notes 5 AAC 02.199 Eff. 6/19/97, Register 142; am 6/3/2000, Register 154; am 2/10/2005, Register 173; am 7/1/2006, Register 178; repealed 7/13/2012, Register 203 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our m…

The Prince William Sound Area has as its western boundary the longitude of Cape Fairfield (148º 50.25' W. long.), as its eastern boundary the longitude of Cape Suckling (144º W. long.), and as its seaward boundary the 400-fathom (732 m) depth contour. Notes 5 AAC 02.200 In effect…

A person must obtain a subsistence crab permit, described in 5 AAC 02.015, from the department before harvesting crab with pots in the Prince William Sound Area. Upon taking king or Tanner crab and before concealing the crab from plain view or removing the crab from the fishing s…

In the Prince William Sound Area, (1) king and Tanner crab may be taken only with pots, ring nets, dip nets, diving gear, hooked or hookless hand lines, and by hand; (2) a pot used to take king or Tanner crab (A) must have a minimum of two escape rings that are at least four and …

(a) The Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) finds that shrimp, Dungeness crab, Tanner crab, king crab, and miscellaneous shellfish are customarily and traditionally used for subsistence in the Prince William Sound Area. (b) The board finds that 9,000 - 15,000 pounds of usable weigh…

The department will manage the subsistence shrimp fishery in Prince William Sound as specified in 5 AAC 55.055. In the subsistence taking of shrimp, (1) repealed 7/12/86; (2) repealed 7/12/86; (3) in addition to the marking requirements specified in 5 AAC 02.010(e) (1), each keg …

In the Prince William Sound Area, (1) Dungeness crab may only be taken from March 20 through May 20 and from August 25 through December 31; (2) only male Dungeness crab six and one-half inches or greater in shoulder width may be taken or possessed; male Dungeness crab less than t…

In the Prince William Sound Area, in the subsistence taking of Tanner crab, (1) Tanner crab may be taken only from October 1 through March 31; (2) only male Tanner crab five inches or greater in width of shell may be taken or possessed; (3) the daily bag and possession limit is 1…

(a) Except for golden king crab as described in (b) of this section, the subsistence taking of king crab in the Prince William Sound Area is closed until the king crab stocks recover enough to provide a harvestable surplus and regulations are adopted by the Board of Fisheries tha…

In waters east of 146º W. long. and south of a line from the southernmost tip of Point Bentinck to the southernmost tip of Point Whitshed (1) razor clams may be taken only under the authority of a subsistence razor clam fishing permit; (2) only razor clams four and one-half inche…

Notes 5 AAC 02.235 Eff. 5/15/93, Register 126; repealed 5/6/94, Register 130 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 …

Notes 5 AAC 02.236 Eff. 6/7/95, Register 135; am 9/29/95, Register 135; am 9/12/2008, Register 187; am 9/28/2008, Register 187; repealed 6/7/2025, Register 254, July 2025 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison betw…

The Cook Inlet Area has as its eastern boundary the longitude of Cape Fairfield (148º 50.25' W. long.) and as its southern boundary the latitude of Cape Douglas (58º 51.10' N. lat.). Notes 5 AAC 02.300 In effect before 1988; readopt 5/15/93, Register 126; 5/31/96, Register 138; a…

Districts are as described in 5 AAC 21.200. Notes 5 AAC 02.305 In effect before 1988; readopt 5/15/93, Register 126 At its February 23 - 27, 1993 meeting, the Board of Fisheries readopted 5 AAC 02.305 in its entirety without change, under ch. 1, SSSLA 1992 (the 1992 subsistence l…

In that portion of the Cook Inlet Area outside the nonsubsistence area described in 5 AAC 99.015(a)(3), (1) Tanner crab may be taken only with pots, ring nets, dip nets, diving gear, hooked or hookless hand lines, and by hand; (2) a pot used to take Tanner crab (A) must have a mi…

(a) In that portion of the Cook Inlet Area outside the nonsubsistence area described in 5 AAC 99.015(a) (3), miscellaneous shellfish may be taken for subsistence purposes from January 1 through December 31. (b) In the subsistence taking of clams, (1) clams may be taken only under…

(a) The Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) finds that the shellfish stocks in that portion of the Cook Inlet Area outside the nonsubsistence area described in 5 AAC 99.015(a) (3) are customarily and traditionally taken or used for subsistence. (b) The board finds that (1) 850 - 1,…

In the Cook Inlet Area, a person may not take shrimp for subsistence purposes. Notes 5 AAC 02.313 Eff. 3/15/2008, Register 185 Authority:AS 16.05.251 AS 16.05.258 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our …