Alaska Administrative Code
Title 5 - Fish and Game
Part 1 - Commercial and Subsistence Fishing and Private Nonprofit Salmon Hatcheries
Chapter 28 - Groundfish Fishery
Article 4 - Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area (Registration Area A)
5 AAC 28.171 - Rockfish possession and landing requirements for Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area

(a) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, a CFEC permit holder fishing for groundfish or halibut must retain, weigh, and report all rockfish and thornyhead rockfish caught. Except as provided in (b) of this section, all demersal shelf rockfish in excess of 10 percent, round weight, of all target species on board the vessel must be weighed and reported as bycatch overage on an ADF&G fish ticket. All rockfish and thornyhead rockfish in excess of allowable bycatch limits shall be reported as bycatch overage on an ADF&G fish ticket. All proceeds from the sale of excess rockfish and thornyhead rockfish by catch shall be surrendered to the state. Based on harvest data, the commissioner may, by emergency order, close a fishing season or a by catch season and immediately reopen a fishing season or a bycatch season during which a different rockfish or thornyhead rockfish bycatch level is allowed.

(b) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, a person operating a trawl vessel shall retain, weigh, and report all rockfish and thornyhead rockfish caught. All demersal shelf rockfish in excess of one percent, round weight, of all target species on board the vessel must be weighed and reported as bycatch overage on an ADF&G fish ticket. All rockfish and thornyhead rockfish in excess of allowable bycatch limits shall be reported as bycatch overage on an ADF&G fish ticket. All proceeds from the sale of excess rockfish and thornyhead rockfish bycatch shall be surrendered to the state.

(c) The department may establish additional bycatch allowances by emergency order.

(d) In the Southeast District east of 13 7° W. long., a vessel or CFEC permit holder may not take or possess on board the vessel, or deliver more than 6,000 pounds of demersal shelf rockfish (whole or bled weight) in any five-day period. All demersal shelf rockfish taken in excess of 6,000 pounds (whole or bled weight) by a vessel or CFEC permit holder in any five-day period must be weighed and reported on an ADF& G fish ticket as a trip limit overage. All proceeds from the sale of demersal shelf rockfish in excess of 6,000 pounds (whole or bled weight) shall be surrendered to the state.

(e) In the East Yakutat Section, a vessel or CFEC permit holder may not take or possess on board the vessel, or deliver more than 8,000 pounds of demersal shelf rockfish (whole or bled weight) in any five-day period. All demersal shelf rockfish taken in excess of 8,000 pounds (whole or bled weight) by a vessel or CFEC permit holder in any five-day period must be weighed and reported on an ADF & G fish ticket a a trip limit overage. All proceeds from the sale of demersal shelf rockfish in excess of 8,000 pounds (whole or bled weight) shall be surrendered to the state.

(f) Repealed 9/25/2022.

(g) Repealed 9/25/2022.

(h) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, shortspine thornyhead, longspine thornyhead, shortraker, rougheye, and redbanded rockfish may be taken only as bycatch.