5 AAC 15.001. Application of this chapter. Requirements set out in this chapter apply to commercial fishing only, unless otherwise specified. Subsistence, personal use, and sport fishing regulations affecting commercial fishing vessels or affecting any other commercial fishing activity are set out in the subsistence fishing regulations in 5 AAC 01 and 5 AAC 02, personal use fishing regulations in 5 AAC 77, and sport fishing regulations in 5 AAC 65 and 5 AAC 75.

5 AAC 15.100. Description of area. The Chignik Area includes all waters of Alaska on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula bounded by a line extending 135° southeast for three miles from a point near Kilokak Rocks at 57° 10.34' N. lat., 156° 20.22' W. long., (the longitude of the southern entrance to Imuya Bay) then due south, and a line extending 135° southeast from Kupreanof Point at 55° 33.98' N. lat., 159° 35.88' W. long.

5 AAC 15.200. Fishing districts, sections, and subsections. (a) The Eastern District includes all waters from the latitude of the southernmost ADF&G regulatory marker 500 yards from the mouth of Aniakchak Lagoon to the eastern boundary of the Chignik Area. (1) Agripina Section: all waters bounded by the eastern boundary of the Chignik Area described in 5 AAC 15.100 and a line extending 130° from Cape Providence at 56° 58.67' N. lat., 156° 33.47' W. long.; (2) Chiginagak Section: all waters bounded by a line extending 130° from Cape Providence at 56° 58.67' N. lat., 156° 33.47' W. long., and a line extending 150° from Cape Kuyuyukak at 56° 53.85' N. lat., 156° 49.72' W. long.; (3) Nakalilok-Yantarni Section: all waters bounded by a line extending 150° from Cape Kuyuyukak at 56° 53.85' N. lat., 156° 49.72' W. long., the longitude of Cape Kunmik at 56° 45.88' N. lat., 157° 12.05' W. long., and the southern boundary of the Eastern District; (4) Big River Section: all waters of Amber and Aniakchak Bays bounded by 157° 12.05' W. long., and the latitude of the southernmost ADF&G regulatory marker 500 yards from the mouth of Aniakchak Lagoon. (b) The Chignik Bay District includes all waters of Chignik Bay and Lagoon west of a line from a point near Jack Bay at 56° 17.60' N. lat., 158° 12.80' W. long., to the creek at 56° 24.12' N. lat., 158° 27.73' W. long. (c) The Western District includes all waters south of the latitude of a point southwest of Jack Point at 56° 16.43' N. lat., 158° 12.60' W. long., excluding the waters of Chignik Lagoon, and north and east of a line extending 170° from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long. (1) Castle Cape Section: all waters bounded by the latitude of a point southwest of Jack Point at 56° 16.43' N. lat., 158° 12.60' W. long., and a line extending 165° from a point on Seal Cape at 55° 59.56' N. lat., 158° 26.27' W. long.; (A) Inner Castle Cape Subsection: all waters of the Castle Cape Section within and adjacent to Castle Bay enclosed by the northern boundary line of the Castle Cape Section and west of 158° 07.20' W. long.; (B) Outer Castle Cape Subsection: all waters of the Castle Cape Section, north of 56° 14.55' N. lat., and east of 158° 07.20' W. long.; (C) Chankliut Island Subsection: all waters of the Castle Cape Section bounded by the Outer Castle Cape Subsection and a line extending 165° from a point on Ship Mountain Point at 56° 07.46' N. lat., 158° 21.04' W. long.; (D) Devil's Bay Subsection: all waters of the Castle Cape Section bounded by a line extending 165° from a point on Ship Mountain Point at 56° 07.46' N. lat., 158° 21.04' W. long., and a line extending 165° from a point on Seal Cape at 55° 59.56' N. lat., 158° 26.27' W. long.; (2) Dorner Bay Section: all waters bounded by a line extending 165° from a point on Seal Cape at 55° 59.56' N. lat., 158° 26.27' W. long., and a line extending 165° from a point on the west side of Dorner (Kuiukta) Bay's entrance at 55° 57.05' N. lat., 158° 40.14' W. long.; (3) Mitrofania Section: all waters, including Mitrofania Island, bounded by a line extending 165° from a point on the west side of Dorner (Kuiukta) Bay's entrance at 55° 57.05' N. lat., 158° 40.14' W. long., and a line extending 170° from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long. (d) The Perryville District includes all waters bounded by a line extending 170° from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., and a line extending 135° southeast from Kupreanof Point at 55° 33.98' N. lat., 159° 35.88' W. long. (1) Perryville Section: all waters, including the Chiachi Islands, bounded by a line extending 170° from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., and a line extending 155° from Coal Point at 55° 51.47' N. lat., 159° 18.95' W. long.; (A) Inner Perryville Subsection: all waters of the Perryville Section north of a line from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., to Alexander Point at 55° 47.32' N. lat., 159° 24.68' W. long.; (B) Outer Perryville Subsection: all waters of the Perryville Section south of a line from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., to Alexander Point at 55° 47.32' N. lat., 159° 24.68' W. long.; (2) Humpback Bay Section: all waters, including Paul and Jacob Islands, bounded by a line extending 155° from Coal Point at 55° 51.47' N. lat., 159° 18.95' W. long., and the longitude of Alexander Point at 55° 47.32' N. lat., 159° 24.68' W. long.; (A) Inner Humpback Bay Subsection: all waters of the Humpback Bay Section north of a line from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., to Alexander Point at 55° 47.32' N. lat., 159° 24.68' W. long.; (B) Outer Humpback Bay Subsection: all waters of the Humpback Bay Section south of a line from Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., to Alexander Point at 55° 47.32' N. lat., 159° 24.68' W. long.; (3) Ivanof Bay Section: all waters bounded by the longitude of Alexander Point at 55° 47.32' N. lat., 159° 24.68' W. long., and a line extending 135° southeast from Kupreanof Point at 55° 33.98' N. lat., 159° 35.88' W. long. (e) The Central District includes all waters, excluding the waters of the Chignik Bay District, bounded by the latitude of a point southwest of Jack Point at 56° 16.43' N. lat., 158° 12.60' W. long., and the latitude of the southernmost ADF&G regulatory marker 500 yards from the mouth of Aniakchak Lagoon; (1) Cape Kumlik Section: all waters, including Sutwik Island, bounded by the latitude of the southernmost ADF&G regulatory marker 500 yards from the mouth of Aniakchak Lagoon and the longitude of a point on the southwest side of Cape Kumlik at 56° 36.48' N. lat., 157° 40.53' W. long.; (2) Kujulik Section: all waters bounded by the longitude of a point on the southwest side of Cape Kumlik at 56° 36.48' N. lat., 157° 40.53' W. long., and a line extending 145° from a point on Cape Kumliun at 56° 28.58' N. lat., 157° 51.55' W. long.; (3) Outer Chignik Bay Section: all waters, including Nakchamik Island, bounded by a line extending 145° from a point on Cape Kumliun at 56° 28.58' N. lat., 157° 51.55' W. long., and the latitude of a point southwest of Jack Point at 56° 16.40' N. lat., 158° 12.50' W. long., excluding the waters of the Chignik Bay District.

5 AAC 15.206. Use of global positioning systems (GPS). In the Chignik Area, boundaries, lines, and coordinates are identified with the global positioning system (GPS). If the global positioning system is not operating, the boundaries, lines, and coordinates are as identified by ADF&G regulatory markers.

5 AAC 15.310. Fishing seasons. (a) In the Chignik Bay District, salmon may be taken only from June 1 through October 31. (b) The Perryville, Western, Central and Eastern Districts are opened by emergency order.

5 AAC 15.320. Weekly fishing periods. (a) Salmon fishing periods shall be established by emergency order. (b) Repealed 3/13/75.

5 AAC 15.330. Gear. (a) Salmon may be taken only by purse seine and hand purse seine. (b) Repealed 4/24/80.

5 AAC 15.332. Seine specifications and operations. (a) In the Eastern, Central, Western, and Perryville Districts, a purse seine may not be less than 100 fathoms or more than 225 fathoms in length. (b) In the Eastern, Central, Western, and Perryville Districts, a hand purse seine may not be less than 100 fathoms or more than 225 fathoms in length. (c) In the Chignik Bay District, purse seines and hand purse seines may not be less than 100 fathoms or more than 125 fathoms in length. (d) A seine may not be less than three fathoms or more than 375 meshes in depth. In addition, a maximum of 25 meshes of chafing gear with a maximum mesh size of seven inches may be used. (e) A lead may not be more than 75 fathoms in length. In the Eastern, Central, Western, and Perryville Districts, the aggregate length of seine and lead may not be more than 225 fathoms in length. (f) When a purse seine or hand purse seine is in the water for the purpose of taking fish, the seine shall be attached to the licensed vessel operating the gear. (g) A purse seine is considered to have ceased fishing as specified in 5 AAC 39.260(c).

5 AAC 15.342. Vessel identification. Repealed 4/18/86.

5 AAC 15.350. Closed waters. Salmon may not be taken in the following waters: (1) Chignik Lagoon: (A) Mallard Duck and Schooner Bays: south of a line from the tip of Green Point at 56° 16.75' N. lat., 158° 33.90' W. long. to Chignik Island at 56° 16.63' N. lat., 158° 34.90' W. long., and south of a line from 56° 16.53' N. lat., 158° 37.87' W. long. to Chignik Island at 56° 16.35' N. lat., 158° 35.97' W. long.; (B) Humes Point: south of a line from the tip of Humes Point at 56° 17.67' N. lat., 158° 36.89' W. long. to Chignik Island at 56° 17.42' N. lat., 158° 35.50' W. long.; (C) Mensis Point: southwest of a line from the tip of Mensis Point at 56° 16.90' N. lat., 158° 38.51' W. long. to a point on the south bank of the Chignik River at 56° 16.56' N. lat., 158° 38.40' W. long.; (D) Pillar Rock: southwest of a line from the north bank of the Chignik River at 56° 16.74' N. lat., 158° 39.01' W. long. to a point on the south bank of the Chignik River at 56° 16.57' N. lat., 158° 38.84' W. long.; (2) Kilokak Rocks Bay: northwest of a line from the southern entrance of the bay at 57° 09.78' N. lat., 156° 20.78' W. long., then to the opposite shore 500 yards northeast of the mouth of Kilokak Rocks Creek at 57° 10.07' N. lat., 156° 20.78' W. long.; (3) Agripina River: west of a line from 57° 06.72' N. lat., 156° 28.22' W. long., to 57° 06.44' N. lat., 156° 28.67' W. long.; (4) Chiginagak Bay: north of a line from 57° 00.50' N. lat., 156° 45.75' W. long., to 57° 01.68' N. lat., 156° 41.97' W. long.; (5) Nakalilok Lagoon: the lagoon and within 500 yards of the entrance; (6) Yantarni Lagoon: the lagoon and within 500 yards of the entrance; (7) Aniakchak River: northwest of a line from approximately 500 yards northeast of the mouth at 56° 45.86' N. lat., 157° 28.88' W. long., to an ADF&G regulatory marker on the southern tip of the island directly off the mouth and then to approximately 1,000 yards southwest of the mouth at 56° 45.28' N. lat., 157° 31.53' W. long.; (8) Aniakchak Lagoon: the lagoon and within 500 yards of the entrance; (9) Kujulik Bay: the southwest end of the bay southwest of a line from 56° 35.85' N. lat., 157° 59.12' W. long., to the opposite shore at 56° 34.50' N. lat., 157° 54.63' W. long.; (10) Portage Bay: west of a line from 56° 11.68' N. lat., 158° 33.07' W. long., to 56° 10.58' N. lat., 158° 33.07' W. long.; (11) Ivan Bay: north of a line from the ADF&G regulatory marker on the northwest shore, 1,000 yards from the stream mouth, to the ADF&G regulatory marker on the southeast shore 750 yards from the stream mouth; (12) Humpback Bay: within 1,000 yards of the terminus of Humpback Bay stream at 55° 52.68' N. lat., 159° 20.12' W. long.; (13) Ivanof Bay: all waters northwest of a line from a point on the northeast shore at 55° 52.42' N. lat., 159° 28.40' W. long., to a point on the north end of the spit at 55° 50.95' N. lat., 159° 31.02' W. long. (all waters northwest of Road Island are closed); (14) Alfred Creek: before August 1, the 500-yard closure at the terminus described in 5 AAC 39.290 does not apply; the 500-yard closure does apply from August 1 to the end of the salmon fishing season; (15) Dago Frank Creek: before August 1, the 500-yard closure at the terminus described in 5 AAC 39.290 does not apply; the 500-yard closure does apply from August 1 to the end of the salmon fishing season; (16) Hook Bay: southwest of a line from the tip of Hook Bay Spit at 56° 30.07' N. lat., 158° 08.18' W. long., to a point northwest of the spit at 56° 30.61' N. lat., 158° 09.27' W. long.; (17) unnamed stream at 55° 48.98' N. lat., 159° 24.45' W. long.; the 500-yard closure at the terminus described in 5 AAC 39.290 does not apply; (18) Lake Bay: all waters southwest of a line drawn at the entrance to Lake Bay at 56° 18.80' N. lat., 158° 17.62' W. long., extending across the entrance to Lake Bay to a point at 56° 18.32' N. lat., 158° 16.20' W. long.; (19) Mud Bay: all waters southwest of a line from 56° 19.42' N. lat., 158° 25.10' W. long., extending across the entrance to Mud Bay; (20) from July 6 through August 31, all waters of Alaska in the Ivanof Bay Section, between a line extending 135° from Kupreanof Point at 55° 33.98' N. lat., 159° 35.88' W. long., and a line extending 65° from 55° 34.90' N. lat., 159° 37.10' W. long.

5 AAC 15.355. Reporting requirements. (a) The operator of a floating salmon processing vessel or tender, or a shorebased processing operation, and a company employing aircraft used for transporting salmon, shall report in person, or by radio or telephone, to a local representative of the department located in the management area of intended operation before the start of processing or buying operations. The report must include the location and the date of intended operation, and identify and describe each vessel or other method of transport employed in hauling or processing salmon. (b) A commercial fisherman shall report, on an ADF&G fish ticket at the time of landing, the number of salmon taken but not sold.

5 AAC 15.357. Chignik Area Salmon Management Plan. (a) The department shall manage the commercial salmon fishery in the Chignik Area in accordance with the guidelines set out in the management plan under this section. The goals of this management plan are to allow traditional fisheries in the area to be conducted on Chignik Area salmon stocks and to achieve the escapement goals for sockeye salmon and local stocks of pink, chum, coho, and king salmon. The department shall manage the Chignik area sockeye salmon fishery to achieve (1) an optimal escapement goal for Black Lake (early run) sockeye salmon of 300,000 to 400,000 fish; (2) an optimal escapement goal for Chignik Lake (late run) sockeye salmon of 240,000 to 360,000 fish. (b) In the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, the commercial salmon fishery shall open concurrently based on escapement objectives for the Chignik Lakes' system sockeye salmon runs, except that (1) the commissioner may open, by emergency order, the commercial salmon fishery when 40,000 sockeye salmon have escaped into the Chignik River; however, if the department determines that a strong buildup of sockeye salmon exists in Chignik Lagoon and that 40,000 sockeye salmon will escape into the Chignik River, the commissioner may open, by emergency order, the commercial salmon fishery before 40,000 sockeye salmon have escaped into the Chignik River; (2) during the period of transition from the predominance of the early-run sockeye salmon to that of the late-run sockeye salmon, usually late June through mid-July, the commissioner shall open and close, by emergency order, the fishing periods to harvest surplus early-run sockeye salmon without jeopardizing the late-run sockeye salmon escapement objectives; (3) from the end of the transition period described in (2) of this subsection until July 31, (A) the commissioner shall open and close, by emergency order, fishing periods in the Chignik Bay and Central Districts, and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, based on the Chignik Lakes' system sockeye salmon optimal escapement goals; (B) the commissioner may take additional emergency order actions to protect or harvest local pink, chum, king, and coho salmon runs; (4) from August 1 until September 15, if the Chignik River late-run sockeye salmon escapement goals are being met weekly, fishing periods in the Chignik Bay and Central Districts and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District will run from 6:00 a.m. Monday until 10:00 p.m. Friday. (c) In the Eastern District, (1) during June, the commercial salmon fishery will open concurrently with the Chignik Bay and Central Districts and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District, and the openings shall be based on the department's expectation of achieving the Black Lake sockeye salmon optimal escapement goal; (2) from approximately June 26 through July 8, (A) the department shall evaluate the strength of the sockeye salmon late run; and (B) in order to continue managing the Black Lake sockeye salmon harvest and escapement, while assessing the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run strength, commercial salmon fishing in the Eastern District will, in the department's discretion, be disallowed or severely restricted; (3) from the end of the transition period, described in (b)(2) of this section, until July 31, the department shall manage the commercial salmon fishery based on its evaluation of local pink and chum salmon runs, and the strength of the Chignik Lakes' system sockeye salmon; (4) after July 31, the department shall manage the commercial salmon fishery based on its evaluation of local pink, chum, and coho salmon runs or the strength of the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run. (d) From June 1 through July 5, in the Western District, excluding the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, and in the Perryville District, the department may open the commercial salmon fishery concurrently with the Chignik Bay and Central Districts and the Inner Castle Cape Subsection of the Western District; during this time period the Perryville District may open for no more than three 48 hour fishing periods with a minimum closure of 48 hours between each period; beginning July 6, the department may open the commercial salmon fishery in the Western District, excluding the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, and in the Perryville District, except that, (1) from approximately late June to mid-July (transition period), (A) the department shall evaluate the strength of the sockeye salmon late run; and (B) in order to allow the department to assess the Chignik Lake run strength, the department may keep closed or severely restrict commercial salmon fishing in the Western District, except the Inner Castle Cape Subsection, and in the Perryville District; (2) from the end of the transition period, described in (b)(2) of this section, until July 31, fishing periods shall be based on the department's evaluation of local pink and chum salmon runs, and its evaluation of the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run; from July 22 through July 31, (A) repealed 3/29/2008; (B) the commissioner may, by emergency order, open fishing in the following terminal harvest areas: (i) those portions of the Western and Perryville Districts north of a line from Cape Ikti at 56° 00.32' N. lat., 158° 32.02' W. long., to Coal Cape at 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long., to Cape Alexander at 55° 47.22' N. lat., 159° 24.57' W. long.; (ii) waters in the Ivanof Bay Section of the Perryville District that are north of the latitude from Alexander Point at 55° 47.37' W. long., to Kupreanof Peninsula; and (iii) those portions of the Chignik Bay and Central Districts known locally as Jack's Box, which consists of those waters east of 158° 15.36' W. long., south of 56° 20' N. lat., and west of 158° 10' W. long.; (3) from August 1 to August 31, the department shall manage the fishing periods in the Outer Castle Cape Subsection, Chankliut Island Subsection, Devil's Bay Subsection, Outer Kuiukta Bay area, Mitrofania Island area, Outer Perryville Subsection and the Outer Humpback Bay Subsection based on the department's evaluation of local pink and chum salmon runs or the strength of the Chignik Lake sockeye salmon run; (4) from August 1 to August 31, the department shall manage the fishing periods in the Inner Kuiukta/Portage Bay area, Windy Bay area, Dorner Bay area, Mitrofania Bay area, Fishrack Bay area, Ivan Bay area, Coal Cape area, Inner Perryville Subsection, Inner Humpback Bay Subsection, and the Ivanoff Bay Section based on the department's evaluation of local pink and chum salmon runs; (5) after August 31, the department shall manage fishing periods based on the department's evaluation of local pink, chum, and coho salmon runs. (e) Repealed 5/31/2019. (f) For the purposes of this section, the (1) Inner Kuiukta/Portage Bay area is all waters in Portage Bay north and east of a line from 56° 06.78' N. lat., 158° 38.42' W. long., to 56° 06.58' N. lat., 158° 35.82' W. long.; (2) Windy Bay area is all waters northwest of 56° 05.49' N. lat., 158° 39.12' to 56° 06.78' N. lat., 158° 38.42' W. long.; (3) Dorner Bay area is all waters south of the Inner Kuiukta/Portage Bay area and the Windy Bay area and north of 56° 01.11' N. lat., 158° 38.44' W. long., to 56° 02.22' N. lat., 158° 35.32' W. long.; (4) Outer Kuiukta Bay area is all waters of the Dorner Bay Section south of the Dorner Bay area; (5) Fishrack Bay area is all waters north of 55° 59.58' N. lat., 158° 46.70' and 55° 59.20' N. lat., 158° 43.92' W. long.; (6) Ivan Bay area is all waters north of 55° 59.40' N. lat., 158° 48.79' W. long., and 55° 58.41' N. lat., 158° 52.78' W. long.; (7) Mitrofania Bay area is all waters south of the Ivan Bay area and the Fishrack Bay area and north of 55° 57.01' N. lat., 158° 40.93' W. long., and 55° 54.71' N. lat., 158° 55.19' W. long.; (8) Coal Cape area is all waters north of 55° 54.71' N. lat., 158° 55.19' W. long., and 55° 53.42' N. lat., 159° 00.45' W. long.; (9) Mitrofania Island area is all waters of the Mitrofania Section south of the Mitrofania Bay area and the Coal Cape area.

5 AAC 15.358. Chignik Area Cooperative Purse Seine Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Expired.

5 AAC 15.359. Chignik Area Cooperative Purse Seine Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Repealed.

5 AAC 15.360. Eastern District Salmon Management Plan. Repealed.

5 AAC 15.362. Chignik Area Cooperative Fishery Management Plan. Repealed.

Repealed 7/30/89

5 AAC 15.410 was repealed as of Register 110.

Repealed 4/8/79

5 AAC 15.700. Fishing districts. Repealed 6/15/74.

5 AAC 15.705. Application of regulations to adjacent high seas areas. Repealed 6/15/74.

5 AAC 15.710. Fishing seasons. Repealed 10/12/74.

5 AAC 15.730. Gear. Repealed 6/15/74.

5 AAC 15.741. Vessel inspection. Repealed 6/15/74.

5 AAC 15.750. Shellfish pot specifications and operation. Repealed 6/15/74.

5 AAC 15.760. Quotas. Repealed 6/15/74.

5 AAC 15.792. Size limits. Repealed 10/12/74.

Repealed 6/30/79