1. (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 bycatch shall be surrendered to the state. Based on harvest data, the commissioner may, by emergency order, close a fishing season or a bycatch season and immediately reopen a fishing season or a bycatch season during which a different rockfish or thornyhead rockfish bycatch level is allowed.
2. (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.
3. (c) The department may establish additional bycatch allowances by emergency order.
4. (d) In the Southeast District east of 137° 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.
5. (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 as 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.
6. (f) Repealed 9/25/2022.
7. (g) Repealed 9/25/2022.
8. (h) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, shortspine thornyhead, longspine thornyhead, shortraker, rougheye, and redbanded rockfish may be taken only as bycatch.
9. (i) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, a CFEC salmon troll permit holder operating hand or power troll gear during an open commercial salmon fishing period is not required to retain rockfish incidentally caught while fishing for salmon. Retained rockfish must be weighed and reported on an ADF&G fish ticket. Retained rockfish in excess of allowable bycatch limits established by emergency order, based on the round weight of salmon on board the vessel, must be reported as bycatch overage on an ADF&G fish ticket and sold. Proceeds from the sale of excess rockfish bycatch shall be surrendered to the state. Based on harvest, the commissioner may, by emergency order, close a fishing season or a bycatch season and immediately reopen a fishing season or a bycatch season during which a different rockfish bycatch level is allowed.

(Eff. 4/15/94, Register 130; am 6/15/97, Register 142; am 7/5/2000, Register 155; am 7/14/2000, Register 155; am 7/18/2003, Register 167; am 7/26/2003, Register 167; am 5/31/2009, Register 190; am 6/17/2018, Register 226; am 9/25/2022, Register 243; am 6/27/2025, Register 254)