There is no open season for directed fishing for octopus, but retention as bycatch is allowed as follows:
- (1) octopus may be retained as bycatch only, in an amount not to exceed 20 percent, by weight, of the directed catch on board a vessel;
- (2) the annual guideline harvest level of octopus as bycatch may not exceed 35,000 pounds in round weight;
- (3) when the guideline harvest level has been reached, the commissioner shall close, by emergency order, the Cook Inlet Area to the retention of octopus.
(Eff. 7/5/2000, Register 155)
Authority: AS 16.05.060, AS 16.05.251