1. (a) The commissioner shall monitor the condition of herring stocks in all registration areas by using the data and information that are practically available.
2. (b) When the commissioner finds that continued herring fishing would jeopardize the health of herring stock within a registration area, the commissioner, by emergency order, shall close the registration area.

3. (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

   1. (1) the effect of overall fishing effort within the registration area;
   2. (2) catch per unit of effort and rate of harvest;
   3. (3) relative abundance of herring within the area in comparison with preseason expectations of the department;
   4. (4) guideline harvest levels which may be adopted by regulation;
   5. (5) the proportion of immature or spawned-out herring being handled or landed;
   6. (6) general information on the condition of herring within the area;
   7. (7) information pertaining to the maximum sustainable yield level of herring within the registration area;
   8. (8) timeliness and accuracy of catch reporting by buyers within the registration area to the extent that such timeliness or accuracy may reasonably be expected to affect proper management; and
   9. (9) adequacy of subsistence harvests within the registration area.
4. (d) The provisions of this section also apply to closures to fishing for herring of any portion of a registration area.
5. (e) When more than 24 hours has elapsed after the closure of a registration area, a person may not possess herring on board a commercial fishing vessel unless the person is in compliance with 5 AAC 27.030.

(In effect before 1982; am 4/14/82, Register 82; am 5/31/98, Register 146)

Authority: AS 16.05.060, AS 16.05.251