Alaska Administrative Code
Title 5 - Fish and Game
Part 1 - Commercial and Subsistence Fishing and Private Nonprofit Salmon Hatcheries
Chapter 32 - Dungeness Crab Fishery
Article 1 - Registration Areas
5 AAC 32.035 - Closure of Dungeness crab registration areas and appeal procedures

(a) The commissioner shall monitor the condition of Dungeness crab in all registration areas by using the data and information that are practically available.

(b) When the commissioner finds that continued Dungeness crab fishing would jeopardize the health of the Dungeness crab stock within a registration area or portion of a registration area, the commissioner, by emergency order, shall close fishing for Dungeness crab in that registration area or portion of the registration area.

(c) In determining whether to close a registration area, the commissioner shall consider all appropriate factors to the extent there is information available on such factors. Factors which may be considered include

(d) If a registration area or portion of a registration area is closed to fishing for Dungeness crab, the holder of a valid CFEC interim use or limited entry permit for Dungeness crab in the registration area or portion of the registration area, or the vessel owner, or the owner's agent, of a vessel that was validly registered to fish for Dungeness crab in the registration area or portion of the registration area may submit a written request to the commissioner to reopen the registration area or portion of the registration area. The person making a request to reopen the closed area shall make the request within five days following the closure. In considering the request to reopen, the commissioner shall consider all relevant information concerning the condition of Dungeness crab stocks within the closed registration area or portion of the registration area. Within 14 days after receiving the request, the commissioner shall publicly announce a decision either to maintain the closure or to reopen by emergency order the registration area or portion of the registration area.

(e) Repealed 5/8/98.

(f) The provisions of (a) - (d) of this section also apply to closures of districts, subdistricts, sections or any other portion of a registration area to fishing for Dungeness crab.