Alaska Administrative Code
Title 5 - Fish and Game
Part 1 - Commercial and Subsistence Fishing and Private Nonprofit Salmon Hatcheries
Chapter 28 - Groundfish Fishery
Article 2 - General Specifications
5 AAC 28.020 - Groundfish area registration

(a) Before a person uses a vessel to operate groundfish gear in the territorial waters of Alaska, except for the Eastern Gulf of Alaska registration area, the vessel owner or the owner's authorized agent shall register the vessel with the department. However, the commissioner may waive this registration requirement for a specific fishery or season if the commissioner considers waiver to be necessary.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, a vessel may be registered to fish for groundfish in one or more registration areas in a calendar year except that

(c) Before operating groundfish gear within a registration area, the vessel owner, or the owner's authorized agent, shall complete the registration requirements in person, or by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail, at a department office located within the registration area, unless otherwise specified by the department. A completed form validated by the department satisfies the registration requirements. In the form, the department may require check-in and check-out procedures for specified fishing periods or subsections within the registration area. A copy of the completed form must be retained on board a vessel operating groundfish gear in the registration area.

(d) Before registering for another registration area, the vessel operator shall check out of the current registration area by contacting in person, or by telephone, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or radio, a department representative at an office located within that registration area. Delay in validation of subsequent registration forms in other areas may result if check out has not been accomplished.

(e) A valid registration becomes invalid

(f) Groundfish legally taken in one registration area may be landed in another registration area without check out and re-registration if the vessel operator intends to return the vessel to the registration area where validly registered to continue fishing for groundfish and does not fish for groundfish in any other registration area.

(g) In registration areas where a permit issued by the commissioner is required before operating gear to take groundfish, the permit completes the registration, and the requirements of (d) and (e) of this section do not apply.

(h) Repealed 4/4/97.

(i) Repealed 4/4/97.