Alaska Administrative Code

(a) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 38.054, a person may use dive gear to fish commercially for other shellfish and miscellaneous shellfish during the 14 days immediately before the scheduled opening date of a commercial red sea urchin fishery except that a person who participates in that …

In Registration Area A, the commissioner may require a person to obtain a transport permit from the department before transporting unprocessed red sea urchins from Registration Area A, if the commissioner determines that the call-in reporting process is inadequate. Before issuing…

(a) Octopus may only be taken as incidental bycatch in Registration Area A in pot and longline gear fisheries. (b) The guideline harvest range for octopus in Registration Area A is 0 - 35,000 pounds. (c) The maximum bycatch allowance for octopus that may be on board a vessel oper…

Registration Area D (Yakutat) 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 seawa…

(a) Yakataga District: waters between the longitude of Cape Suckling (144º W. long.) and the longitude of Icy Cape (141º 42' W. long.). (b) Yakutat District: waters between the longitude of Icy Cape (141º 42' W. long.) and a line running southwest from the westernmost tip of Cape…

There is no closed season on clams, except that clam harvesting may be conducted only under the terms of a permit issued by the commissioner. The permit may specify the species to be harvested, method of fishing, area of operation, harvest levels and other related information. No…

In Scallop Registration Area D, described in 5 AAC 38.076(b) (2), weathervane scallops may be taken only from July 1 through February 15 unless the season is closed by emergency order. When the season is closed under 5 AAC 38.168, a person may take weathervane scallops only if th…

In Scallop Registration Area D, described in 5 AAC 38.076(b) (2), the guideline harvest range for the taking of weathervane scallops is 0 - 285,000 pounds of shucked meat. Notes 5 AAC 38.168 Eff. 6/27/93, Register 126; am 7/23/94, Register 131; am 6/17/2018,Register 226, July 201…

The waters of Yakutat Bay east of a line from the easternmost tip of Ocean Cape at 59º 32.05' N. lat., 139º 52.03' W. long. to the southernmost tip of Point Manby at 59º 41.07' N. lat., 140º 18.06' W. long. are closed to the taking of scallops. Notes 5 AAC 38.180 Eff. 4/30/91, Re…

Registration Area E has as its western boundary a line running along the longitude of Cape Fairfield at 148° 50.25' W. long., south to the latitude of Cape Douglas at 58° 51.10' N.lat., then west to 149° W. long., then south along 149° W. long., and as its eastern boundary the lo…

(a) Inside District: all waters in the Prince William Sound Area enclosed by lines from Point Whitshed to Point Bentinck, from Cape Hinchinbrook to Zaikof Point, and from Cape Cleare to Cape Puget. (b) Outside District: all waters in the Prince William Sound Area that are seaward…

(a) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 38.020(a) (1), Registration Area E is a separate registration area for all miscellaneous shellfish. (b) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 38.062(a), a commercial clam fishery in Registration Area E may only be conducted under a commissioner's permit as specified in …

There is no closed season for clams and mussels. Notes 5 AAC 38.210 In effect before 1988; am 9/19/90, Register 115 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 …

(a) Razor clams may be taken by shovels and forks. (b) Butter clams (Saxidomus giganteus)and littleneck clams (Protothaca staminea)may be taken by shovels, forks, or floating hydraulic clam diggers. (c) Hydraulic or mechanical clam diggers may be used to take razor clams only in …

Notes 5 AAC 38.212 Repealed 9/19/90. 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…

Razor clams may not be taken from Kanak Island for any purposes other than for human consumption as food. Notes 5 AAC 38.214 Eff. 7/14/85, Register 95 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison b…

Notes 5 AAC 38.215 Eff. 7/14/85, Register 95; repealed 7/13/2012, Register 203 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 b…

(a) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 38.062, in Registration Area E, octopus may be taken (1) in a directed fishery as specified in (e) - (l) of this section; or (2) as bycatch in pot, trawl, and longline gear in commercial fisheries. (b) The guideline harvest range for octopus in Registrat…

In Scallop Registration Area E, weathervane scallops may be taken only in the Eastern Section of the Outside District from July 1 through February 15, unless the season is closed by emergency order. Notes 5 AAC 38.220 In effect before 1988; am 6/27/93, Register 126; am 7/23/94, R…

In Scallop Registration Area E, the guideline harvest range for weathervane scallops is 0 - 50,000 pounds of shucked scallop meat. Notes 5 AAC 38.221 Eff. 6/27/93, Register 126; am 7/1/2015, Register 214, July 2015 In accordance with the procedures adopted by the Board of Fisheri…

Scallops may not be taken in the waters enclosed by a line running along the longitude of Cape Suckling at 144° W. long. to a point at 60° N. lat., then west along 60° N. lat. to a point at 146° W. long., then north along 146° W. long. until it intersects a line drawn between Poi…

Notes 5 AAC 38.230 Repealed 6/30/83. 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…

Registration Area H 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 38.300 In effect before 1988; am 5/8/98, Register 146; am 3/11/2001, Register 157 Aut…

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, districts are as described in 5 AAC 21.200. (b) For clams and mussels, the subdistricts in the Southern District (Kachemak Bay) are described as follows: (1) Subdistrict 1: All waters of Kachemak Bay east of a line from the mouth of …

(a) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 38.020(a) (1), Registration Area H is a separate registration area for all miscellaneous shellfish. (b) The registration deadline for the registration year for the clam and mussel fishery in the Southern District of Registration Area H is April 1. Notes …

Notwithstanding 5 AAC 38.062(a), and unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, all hardshell clam and razor clam species may be taken only under the terms of a permit issued by the commissioner. In the permit the commissioner may (1) specify the depth of fishing gear used; (…

(a) Razor and hardshell clams may be taken with shovels and forks. (b) Permits may be issued by the commissioner under 5 AAC 38.050(b) authorizing the taking of hardshell clams by mechanical or hydraulic clam diggers in specific locations. Notes 5 AAC 38.311 Eff. 5/8/98, Register…

(a) Razor clams may not be taken on the east side of Cook Inlet from the Kenai River to the end of the Homer Spit. (b) Razor clams may not be taken from the Polly Creek certified beach (from Redoubt Point at 60º 17.25' N. lat., 152º 25' W. long., south to 60º 13' N. lat., 152º 34…

Notes 5 AAC 38.315 Repealed 6/30/79. 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) In the Southern District described in 5 AAC 38.305(b), clams and mussels may be taken from March 16 through May 14 and September 16 through October 31 at any time. From May 15 through September 15, clams and mussels may be taken only from 1:00 a.m. Monday through 11:00 p.m. F…

In Scallop Registration Area H, weathervane scallops may be taken or possessed in the Kamishak District from August 15 through October 31. In all other districts, from January 1 through December 31, a person may harvest weathervane scallops if the department issues the person a p…

In the Kamishak, Southern, and Central Districts, scallops may be taken only with a single dredge. The opening of a dredge may not be more than six feet in width. Notes 5 AAC 38.322 Eff. 6/30/84, Register 90 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we curre…

Scallops may not be taken in the following waters: (1) Cook Inlet north of a line from Cape Douglas to Point Adam, except for the Kamishak District; (2) inshore from a line from Point Adam to Cape Elizabeth then to the southwestern point of Perl Island then to the southern point …

Notes 5 AAC 38.325 Eff. 9/12/97, Register 143; repealed 8/23/2009, Register 191 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 …

(a) In the Kamishak Bay District, an operator of a vessel fishing for scallops must complete logbook pages issued by the department immediately after each tow and return the completed pages to the department either by mail or facsimile as specified in the permit issued by the dep…

The guideline harvest range for the taking of scallops from the Kamishak District is 10,000 - 20,000 pounds of shucked meat. Notes 5 AAC 38.330 Eff. 7/14/85, Register 95 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Belo…

There is no open season for directed fishing for octopus, but retention as bycatch is allowed as follows: (1) octopus may be retained as bycatch only, in an amount not to exceed 20 percent, by weight, of the directed catch on board a vessel; (2) the annual guideline harvest level…

The commercial fisheries for miscellaneous shellfish species, except for mussels in the Southern District, and clams, scallops, and octopus, are closed until the board has adopted by regulations a management plan regarding a specific miscellaneous shellfish species. Notes 5 AAC 3…

Registration Area J consists of all Pacific Ocean waters that are south of the latitude of Cape Douglas at 58º 51.10' N. lat. and west of 149º W. long., and the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean waters that are east of the Maritime Boundary Agreement Line as that line is described in …

Except for scallop fisheries, Registration Area J fishing districts are as described in 5 AAC 35.505. Notes 5 AAC 38.405 Eff. 7/1/2015, Register 214, July 2015 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a com…

All territorial waters surrounding St. Matthew Island, Hall Island, and Pinnacle Island are closed to the taking of miscellaneous shellfish. Notes 5 AAC 38.407 Eff. 7/31/2003, Register 167 Authority:AS 16.05.251 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versi…

(a) A person may take razor clams by shovels and forks. (b) A person may take hardshell clams by shovels and forks. In the portion of Registration Area J west of the longitude of Kilokak Rocks, a person may also take hardshell clams by hydraulic or mechanical clam diggers. (c) A …

There is no closed season on clams. Notes 5 AAC 38.410 In effect before 1988 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. More compa…

In the Chignik, South Pcnjnsula, Eastern Aleutian, Western Aleutian, and Bering Sea districts of Registration Area J, a person may take sea cucumbers only under the authority of a permit issued by the commissioner under 5 AAC 38.062, only during fishing periods established by eme…

In Registration Area J, a person may take sea urchins only from October I through January 31, during fishing periods established by emergency order, and only under the authority of a permit issued by the commissioner under 5 AAC 38.062. Notes 5 AAC 38.412 Eff. 9/12/97, Register 1…

(a) In Registration Area J west of the longitude of Cape Kumlik at 157° 27' W. long., a person may take hair crab from January I through December 3 ll during fishing periods established by emergency order, and only under the authority of a permit issued by the commissioner under …

(a) A permit described in 5 AAC 38.062 is not required for the taking of sea cucumbers in the Kodiak District, as specified in this section. (b) Before harvesting sea cucumbers, a person shall validly register with the department. (c) Sea cucumbers may be taken from October 1 thr…

In Registration Area J, octopus may be taken during a directed fishery or as bycatch in a directed groundfish or shellfish fishery as follows: (1) in a directed fishery, a person may take octopus only under the authority of a permit issued by the commissioner under 5 AAC 38.062; …

(a) In Registration Areas J weathervane scallops may be taken from July 1 through February 15 in the following scallop registration areas described in 5 AAC 38.076: (1) Scallop Registration Area K (Kodiak); (2) Scallop Registration Area M (Alaska Peninsula); (3) Scallop Registrat…

Scallops may not be taken in (1) all waters of Registration Area J around Trinity Islands as depicted in Figure 5 to 50 C.F.R. Part 679 (revised February 18, 2014), and as enclosed by a line from Low Cape at 56° 59.40' N. lat., 154° 31.10' W. long., to a point offshore at 57° 00.…