Alaska Administrative Code
Title 5 - Fish and Game
Part 1 - Commercial and Subsistence Fishing and Private Nonprofit Salmon Hatcheries
Chapter 18 - Kodiak Area
Article 3 - Salmon Fishery
5 AAC 18.360 - Cape Igvak Salmon Management Plan

(a) In years when a harvestable surplus beyond escapement goals for the first (Black Lake) and second (Chignik Lake) runs of Chignik River system sockeye salmon is expected to be less than 600,000, there will be no commercial salmon fishery allowed in the Cape Igvak Section, as described in 5 AAC 18.200(g) (8), until a harvest of 300,000 sockeye salmon in the Chignik Area, as described in 5 AAC 15.100, is achieved. After July 8, after at least 300,000 sockeye salmon have been harvested in the Chignik Area, and if escapement goals are being met, the department shall manage the fishery so that the number of sockeye salmon harvested in the Chignik Area will be at least 600,000 through July 5 and the harvest in the Cape Igvak Section will approach as near as possible 7.5 percent of the total Chignik sockeye salmon catch.

(b) In years when a harvestable surplus beyond escapement goals for the first and second runs of Chignik River system sockeye salmon is expected to be more than 600,000 through July 5, but the first run fails to develop as predicted and it is determined that a total sockeye salmon harvest in the Chignik Area of 600,000 or more through July 5 may not be achieved, the Cape Igvak Section commercial salmon fishery will be curtailed in order to allow at least a minimum harvest in the Chignik Area of 600,000 sockeye salmon through July 5 if that number offish are determined to be surplus to the escapement goals of the Chignik River system. After at least 300,000 sockeye salmon have been harvested in the Chignik Area, and if escapement goals are being met, the department shall manage the fishery so that the number of sockeye salmon harvested in the Chignik Area will be at least 600,000 through July 5 and the harvest in the Cape Igvak Section will approach as near as possible 7.5 percent of the total Chignik sockeye salmon catch.

(c) In years when a harvestable surplus beyond the escapement goals for the first and second runs of Chignik River system sockeye salmon is expected to be more than 600,000 through July 5 and the department determines the runs are as strong as expected, the department will manage the fishery in such a manner whereby the number of sockeye salmon taken in the Cape Igvak Section will approach as near as possible 7.5 percent of the total Chignik sockeye salmon catch.

(d) The total Chignik sockeye salmon catch constitutes those sockeye salmon caught within the Chignik Area plus 80 percent of the sockeye salmon caught in the East Stepovak, Southwest Stepovak, Stepovak Flats, Balboa Bay, and Beaver Bay Sections, as described in 5 AAC 09.200(f), plus 90 percent of the sockeye salmon caught in the Cape Igvak Section. The harvest in the Cape Igvak Section at any time through July 5 may be permitted to fluctuate above or below 7.5 percent of the cumulative Chignik sockeye salmon catch.

(e) This allocation method will be in effect through July 5. The first fishing period of the commercial salmon fishing season in the Cape Igvak Section will not occur before the first fishing period of the commercial salmon fishing season in the Chignik Area.

(f) During the period from approximately June 26 through July 5, the strength of the second run of Chignik River system sockeye salmon cannot be evaluated. In order to prevent overharvest of the second run, commercial salmon fishing in the Cape Igvak Section will, in the department's discretion, be disallowed or severely restricted during this period.

(g) The department shall announce commercial salmon fishing periods by emergency order. The department shall give at least one-day notice prior to the opening of a commercial salmon fishing period unless it is an extension of a fishing period in progress.