Section 5 AAC 57.160 - Kenai River and Kasilof River Early-run King Salmon Management Plan(a) The purpose of this management plan is to ensure an adequate escapement of early-run king salmon into the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, to conserve the unique large size early-run king salmon in the Kenai River, and to provide the department with management guidelines.(b) The department shall manage the Kenai River early-run king salmon sport and guided sport fisheries to achieve the optimal escapement goal of 3,900 - 6,600 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork length and longer, to provide reasonable harvestopportunities over the entire run, and to ensure the age and size composition of the harvest closely approximates the age and size composition of the run.(c) The department shall manage the Kasilof River early-run king salmon sport and guided sport fisheries to achieve the sustainable escapement goal, to provide reasonable harvest opportunities over the entire run while ensuring adequate escapement of naturally-produced king salmon, and to minimize the effects of conservation actions for the Kenai River on the Kasilof River.(d) In the Kenai River, (1) the seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and other special provisions for king salmon are set out in 5 AAC 57.120 - 5 AAC 57.123;(2) from January 1 - June 30, from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, (A) if the preseason forecast projects the inriver run to be less than the lower end of the sustainable escapement goal of 2,800 - 5,600 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork length and longer, the commisioner shall close by emergency order, the sport fishery to the taking of king salmon;(C) if the preseason forecast projects the inriver run to be above the lower end of the sustainable escapement goal, but below the lower end of the optimal escapement goal, the commissioner shall, by emergency order, (i) close the sport fishery to the taking of king salmon; or(ii) prohibit the retention of king salmon;(D) if the preseason forecast projects the imiver run to be within or above the optimal escapement goal range, the fishery may start as described in 5 AAC 57.120 ( a)(2)(A)(i); (E) if the inseason inriver run projection is below the lower end of the optimal escapement goal, the commissioner shall close, by emergency order, the sport fishery to the taking of king salmon; (F) if the inseason inriver run projection is within the optimal escapement goal range, the commissioner shall, by emergency order, (i) prohibit the retention of king salmon; or(ii) open the sport fishery as described in 5 AAC 57.120(a)(2)(A)(i);(G) if the inseason inriver run projection exceeds the optimal escapement goal range, the commissioner may, by emergency order liberalize the sport fishery using one or more of the following methods: (i) allow the use of bait; (ii) modify the maximum size limit allowed for retention;(5) from January 1 - July 31, from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of the Slikok Creek upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake, (A) if the preseason forecast projects the inriver run to be less than the lower end of the sustainable escapement goal, the commissioner shall close, by emergency order the sport fishery to the taking of king salmon; (B) if the preseason forecast projects the inriver run to be above the lower end of the sustainable escapement goal, but below the lower end of the optimal escapement goal, the commissioner shall, by emergency order, (i) close the sport fishery to the taking of king salmon; or(ii) prohibit the retention of king salmon; (C) if the preseason forecast projects the inriver run to be within or above the optimal escapement goal range, the fishery may start as described in 5 AAC 57.120(a)(2)(A)(i);(D) if the inseason inriver run projection is below the lower end of the optimal escapement goal, the commissioner shall close by emergency order the sport fishery to the taking of king salmon;(E) if the inseason inriver run projection is within the optimal escapement goal, the commissioner shall, by emergency order, (i) prohibit the retention of king salmon; or(ii) open the sport fishery as described in 5 AAC 57.120(a)(2)(A)(i);(F) if the inseason inriver run projection exceeds the optimal escapement goal range, the fishery may occur as described in 57.120(a)(2)(A)(i).(e) In the Kasilof River, the seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and other special provisions for king salmon are set out in 5 AAC 56.120(1) and 5 AAC 56.122(a)(8).Eff. 10/1/2006, Register 179; am 6/4/2008, Register 186; am 5/18/2014, Register 210, July 2014; am 6/8/2017,Register 222, July 2017Authority:AS 16.05.060
AS 16.05.251