The department shall establish an annual harvest strategy for each Tanner crab stock that is consistent with the board's Policy on King and Tanner Crab Resource Management (90-04-FB, March 23, 1990), adopted by this reference. If adequate data are available, the department shall establish a threshold level of abundance for each stock and may not allow fishing on any stock that is below its threshold level of abundance. Data used to determine guideline harvest levels and, if appropriate, exploitation rates, may include estimates of exploitable biomass, estimates of recruitment, estimates of threshold level of abundance, estimates of acceptable biological catch, historical fishery performance data, estimates of reproductive potential, and market or other economic considerations. Except for those closures authorized by 5 AAC 35.035, the department may not change established harvest strategies unless the board has reviewed the change.

(Eff. 6/24/93, Register 126)