2013-07198. Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska-2013-14 and 2014-15 Subsistence Taking of Fish Regulations

AGENCY:

Forest Service, Agriculture; Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This final rule establishes regulations for seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish for subsistence uses in Alaska during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) completes the biennial process of revising subsistence hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence fishing and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable biennial cycle. This rulemaking replaces the fish taking regulations that expire on March 31, 2013.

DATES:

This rule is effective April 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

The Board meeting transcripts are available for review at the Office of Subsistence Management, 1011 East Tudor Road, Mail Stop 121, Anchorage, AK 99503, or on the Office of Subsistence Management Web site (http://alaska.fws.gov/​asm/​index.cfml).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Kathleen M. O'Reilly-Doyle, Office of Subsistence Management; [phone] or [e-mail]. For questions specific to National Forest System lands, contact Steve Kessler, Subsistence Program Leader, USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Under Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3111-3126), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) jointly implement the Federal Subsistence Management Program. This program provides a preference for take of fish and wildlife resources for subsistence uses on Federal public lands and waters in Alaska. The Secretaries published temporary regulations to carry out this program in the Federal Register on June 29, 1990 (55 FR 27114), and published final regulations in the Federal Register on May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22940). The Program has subsequently amended these regulations a number of times. Because this program is a joint effort between Interior and Agriculture, these regulations are located in two titles of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Title 36, “Parks, Forests, and Public Property,” and Title 50, “Wildlife and Fisheries,” at 36 CFR 242.1-242.28 and 50 CFR 100.1-100.28, respectively. The regulations contain subparts as follows: Subpart A, General Provisions; Subpart B, Program Structure; Subpart C, Board Determinations; and Subpart D, Subsistence Taking of Fish and Wildlife.

Consistent with subpart B of these regulations, the Secretaries established a Federal Subsistence Board to administer the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The Board is currently made up of:

• A Chair appointed by the Secretary of the Interior with concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture;
• Two public members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior with concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture;
• The Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
• The Alaska Regional Director, U.S. National Park Service;
• The Alaska State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management;
• The Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
• The Alaska Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service.

Through the Board, these agencies participate in the development of regulations for subparts C and D, which, among other things, set forth program eligibility and specific harvest seasons and limits.

In administering the program, the Secretaries divided Alaska into 10 subsistence resource regions, each of which is represented by a Regional Advisory Council. The Regional Advisory Councils provide a forum for rural residents with personal knowledge of local conditions and resource requirements to have a meaningful role in the subsistence management of fish and wildlife on Federal public lands in Alaska. The Council members represent varied geographical, cultural, and user interests within each region.

The Board addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable biennial cycle. Section __.24 (customary and traditional use determinations) was originally published in the Federal Register on May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22940). The regulations at 36 CFR 242.4 and 50 CFR 100.4 define “customary and traditional use” as “a long-established, consistent pattern of use, incorporating beliefs and customs which have been transmitted from generation to generation * * * .” Since 1992, the Board has made a number of customary and traditional use determinations at the request of affected subsistence users. Those modifications, along with some administrative corrections, were published in the Federal Register as follows:

Modifications to § __.24

Federal Register citation	Date of publication	Rule made changes to the following provisions of __.24
59 FR 27462	May 27, 1994	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
59 FR 51855	October 13, 1994	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
60 FR 10317	February 24, 1995	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
61 FR 39698	July 30, 1996	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
62 FR 29016	May 29, 1997	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
63 FR 35332	June 29, 1998	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
63 FR 46148	August 28, 1998	Wildlife and Fish/Shellfish.
64 FR 1276	January 8, 1999	Fish/Shellfish.
64 FR 35776	July 1, 1999	Wildlife.
65 FR 40730	June 30, 2000	Wildlife.
66 FR 10142	February 13, 2001	Fish/Shellfish.
66 FR 33744	June 25, 2001	Wildlife.
67 FR 5890	February 7, 2002	Fish/Shellfish.
67 FR 43710	June 28, 2002	Wildlife.
68 FR 7276	February 12, 2003	Fish/Shellfish.
Note: The Board met May 20-22, 2003, but did not make any additional customary and traditional use determinations.
69 FR 5018	February 3, 2004	Fish/Shellfish.
69 FR 40174	July 1, 2004	Wildlife.
70 FR 13377	March 21, 2005	Fish/Shellfish.
70 FR 36268	June 22, 2005	Wildlife.
71 FR 15569	March 29, 2006	Fish/Shellfish.
71 FR 37642	June 30, 2006	Wildlife.
72 FR 12676	March 16, 2007	Fish/Shellfish.
Note: The Board met December 11-13, 2007, but did not make any additional customary and traditional use determinations.
72 FR 73426	December 27, 2007	Wildlife/Fish.
73 FR 35726	June 26, 2008	Wildlife.
74 FR 14049	March 30, 2009	Fish/Shellfish.
75 FR 37918	June 30, 2010	Wildlife.
76 FR 12564	March 8, 2011	Fish/Shellfish.
77 FR 35482	June 13, 2012	Wildlife.

Current Rule

The Departments published a proposed rule on February 2, 2012 (77 FR 5204), to amend the fish section of subparts C and D of 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100. The proposed rule opened a comment period, which closed on March 30, 2012. The Departments advertised the proposed rule by mail, radio, and newspaper. During that period, the Regional Councils met and, in addition to other Regional Council business, received suggestions for proposals from the public. The Board received a total of 25 proposals for changes to subparts C and D; this included 3 proposals that the Board had deferred from previous regulatory cycles. After the comment period closed, the Board prepared a booklet describing the proposals and distributed it to the public. The proposals were also available online. The public then had an additional 30 days in which to comment on the proposals for changes to the regulations.

The 10 Regional Advisory Councils met again, received public comments, and formulated their recommendations to the Board on proposals for their respective regions. The Regional Advisory Councils had a substantial role in reviewing the proposed rule and making recommendations for the final rule. Moreover, a Council Chair, or a designated representative, presented each Council's recommendations at the Board meeting of January 22-24, 2013. These final regulations reflect Board review and consideration of Regional Advisory Council recommendations and public comments. The public received extensive opportunity to review and comment on all changes.

Of the 25 proposals, 21 were on the Board's regular agenda and 4 were on the consensus agenda. The consensus agenda is made up of proposals for which there is agreement among the affected Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils, a majority of the Interagency Staff Committee members, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game concerning a proposed regulatory action. Any Board member may request that the Board remove a proposal from the consensus agenda and place it on the non-consensus (regular) agenda. The Board votes en masse on the consensus agenda after deliberation and action on all other proposals. Of the proposals on the consensus agenda, the Board adopted one and rejected three. Analysis and justification for each action are available for review at the Office of Subsistence Management, 1011 East Tudor Road, Mail Stop 121, Anchorage, AK 99503, or on the Office of Subsistence Management Web site (http://alaska.fws.gov/​asm/​index.cfml). Of the proposals on the regular agenda, the Board adopted two; adopted five with modification; rejected six; deferred two; and took no action on six.

Summary of Non-Consensus Proposals Not Adopted by the Board

The Board rejected, deferred, or took no action on 14 non-consensus proposals. The rejected proposals were recommended for rejection by one or more of the Regional Advisory Councils unless noted below.

Yukon-Northern Area

The Board rejected a proposal to establish harvest and possession limits for northern pike in a section of the Yukon River. This action would have been unnecessarily restrictive to subsistence users and there are no conservation concerns to warrant harvest/possession limits. This action was supported by two Councils and contrary to the recommendations of two Councils.

The Board took no action on six proposals dealing with customary trade in the Yukon-Northern Area. This decision was based on its earlier action on a customary trade proposal and to allow time to review the results of this action. The Board encouraged the Regional Advisory Councils and the public to continue to participate and work toward a solution on this important issue and is open to future proposals on this matter.

Kodiak

The Board deferred a proposal to revise the definitions of king and Tanner crab pots, marking requirements, and crab pot limits per vessel in the Kodiak area. This action allows additional time for the Council and State to address new data and work to clarify and define affected areas.

Southeastern Alaska Area

The Board rejected a proposal to reduce household limits for steelhead on the Klawock River in the Southeast Alaska Area based on its action on a similar proposal.

The Board rejected a proposal to restrict designated fishers on the Klawock River in Southeast Alaska. This proposal was unnecessarily restrictive to subsistence users.

The Board deferred a proposal, until January 2014, to eliminate the subsistence sockeye salmon annual guideline harvest level on the Stikine River in Southeast Alaska pending consideration by the Transboundary River Panel and the Pacific Salmon Commission.

The Board rejected a proposal limiting gear types for eulachon in Southeast Alaska. This proposal was unnecessarily restrictive to subsistence users.

The Board rejected a proposal establishing an annual harvest limit for eulachon in Southeast Alaska. This proposal was unnecessarily restrictive to subsistence users.

The Board rejected a proposal to close Federal public waters to non-Federally qualified users in the Makhnati Island area to the harvest of herring and herring spawn. This closure was unnecessary for conservation concerns or to protect Federally qualified users.

Summary of Non-Consensus Proposals Adopted by the Board

The Board adopted or adopted with modification seven non-consensus proposals. Modifications were suggested by the affected Regional Council(s), developed during the analysis process, or developed during the Board's public deliberations. All of the adopted proposals were recommended for adoption by at least one of the Regional Councils unless noted below.

Yukon Northern Area

The Board adopted a proposal to rescind the permit requirement for Chinook salmon in the drift gillnet fishery within the Yukon River subdistricts 4B and 4C. This action was less restrictive to subsistence users and would align with other remote (non-road accessible) subsistence fisheries along the Yukon River.

The Board adopted a proposal with modification to limit customary trade for Yukon River Chinook salmon. This action will restrict customary trade so that transactions may only occur between Federally qualified rural residents who have customary and traditional use of that resource as defined in Federal regulations (see 36 CFR 242.4 and 50 CFR 100.4). This action only affects customary trade within this region. These modifications responded to recommendations made by a subcommittee composed of members of each of the three Councils that submitted proposals. Four Councils made recommendations on this proposal; two supported; one opposed; and one took no action.

Chignik Area

The Board adopted with modification a proposal to revise the gear types, open areas, and require a Federal permit on the Chignik River. This action differed in approach, yet met the intent of the Council's recommendation.

Cook Inlet Area

The Board adopted a proposal to rescind the expiration date for the Ninilchik community fish wheel fishery on the Kasilof River. This action provided additional opportunity for subsistence users.

Yakutat and Southeastern Alaska Area

The Board adopted a proposal with modification to rescind the requirement to remove the tail fins of subsistence caught salmon in the Southeastern Alaska Area, but retained the requirement to clip fins in the Yakutat Area. This action was taken to reduce the burden on subsistence users.

Southeastern Alaska Area

The Board adopted with modification a proposal limiting harvest on individual streams for steelhead within the Prince of Wales/Kosciusko Islands. This action was based on conservation concerns.

The Board adopted a proposal with modification to expand the permit requirements for the harvest of eulachon to all of District 1. This action was taken to better track the harvest of eulachon.

These final regulations reflect Board review and consideration of Regional Council recommendations and public and Tribal comments. Because this rule concerns public lands managed by an agency or agencies in both the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, identical text will be incorporated into 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100.

Conformance With Statutory and Regulatory Authorities

Administrative Procedure Act Compliance

The Board has provided extensive opportunity for public input and involvement in compliance with Administrative Procedure Act requirements, including publishing a proposed rule in the Federal Register, participation in multiple Regional Council meetings, additional public review and comment on all proposals for regulatory change, and opportunity for additional public comment during the Board meeting prior to deliberation. Additionally, an administrative mechanism exists (and has been used by the public) to request reconsideration of the Board's decision on any particular proposal for regulatory change (36 CFR 242.20 and 50 CFR 100.20). Therefore, the Board believes that sufficient public notice and opportunity for involvement have been given to affected persons regarding Board decisions.

In the more than 20 years the Program has been operating, no benefit to the public has been demonstrated by delaying the effective date of the subsistence regulations. A lapse in regulatory control could affect the continued viability of fish or wildlife populations and future subsistence opportunities for rural Alaskans, and would generally fail to serve the overall public interest. Therefore, the Board finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective upon the date set forth in DATES to ensure continued operation of the subsistence program.

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for developing a Federal Subsistence Management Program was distributed for public comment on October 7, 1991. That document described the major issues associated with Federal subsistence management as identified through public meetings, written comments, and staff analyses and examined the environmental consequences of four alternatives. Proposed regulations (subparts A, B, and C) that would implement the preferred alternative were included in the DEIS as an appendix. The DEIS and the proposed administrative regulations presented a framework for a regulatory cycle regarding subsistence hunting and fishing regulations (subpart D). The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published on February 28, 1992.

Based on the public comments received, the analysis contained in the FEIS, and the recommendations of the Federal Subsistence Board and the Department of the Interior's Subsistence Policy Group, the Secretary of the Interior, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service, implemented Alternative IV as identified in the DEIS and FEIS (Record of Decision on Subsistence Management for Federal Public Lands in Alaska (ROD), signed April 6, 1992). The DEIS and the selected alternative in the FEIS defined the administrative framework of a regulatory cycle for subsistence hunting and fishing regulations. The final rule for subsistence management regulations for public lands in Alaska, subparts A, B, and C, implemented the Federal Subsistence Management Program and included a framework for a regulatory cycle for the subsistence taking of wildlife and fish. The following Federal Register documents pertain to this rulemaking:

Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, Subparts A, B, and C: Federal Register Documents Pertaining to the Final Rule

Federal Register citation	Date of publication	Category	Details
57 FR 22940	May 29, 1992	Final Rule	“Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska; Final Rule” was published in the Federal Register.
64 FR 1276	January 8, 1999	Final Rule	Amended the regulations to include subsistence activities occurring on inland navigable waters in which the United States has a reserved water right and to identify specific Federal land units where reserved water rights exist. Extended the Federal Subsistence Board's management to all Federal lands selected under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the Alaska Statehood Act and situated within the boundaries of a Conservation System Unit, National Recreation Area, National Conservation Area, or any new national forest or forest addition, until conveyed to the State of Alaska or to an Alaska Native Corporation. Specified and clarified the Secretaries' authority to determine when hunting, fishing, or trapping activities taking place in Alaska off the public lands interfere with the subsistence priority.
66 FR 31533	June 12, 2001	Interim Rule	Expanded the authority that the Board may delegate to agency field officials and clarified the procedures for enacting emergency or temporary restrictions, closures, or openings.
67 FR 30559	May 7, 2002	Final Rule	Amended the operating regulations in response to comments on the June 12, 2001, interim rule. Also corrected some inadvertent errors and oversights of previous rules.
68 FR 7703	February 18, 2003	Direct Final Rule	Clarified how old a person must be to receive certain subsistence use permits and removed the requirement that Regional Councils must have an odd number of members.
68 FR 23035	April 30, 2003	Affirmation of Direct Final Rule	Because no adverse comments were received on the direct final rule (67 FR 30559), the direct final rule was adopted.
69 FR 60957	October 14, 2004	Final Rule	Clarified the membership qualifications for Regional Advisory Council membership and relocated the definition of “regulatory year” from subpart A to subpart D of the regulations.
70 FR 76400	December 27, 2005	Final Rule	Revised jurisdiction in marine waters and clarified jurisdiction relative to military lands.
71 FR 49997	August 24, 2006	Final Rule	Revised the jurisdiction of the subsistence program by adding submerged lands and waters in the area of Makhnati Island, near Sitka, AK. This allowed subsistence users to harvest marine resources in this area under seasons, harvest limits, and methods specified in the regulations.
72 FR 25688	May 7, 2007	Final Rule	Revised nonrural determinations.
75 FR 63088	October 14, 2010	Final Rule	Amended the regulations for accepting and addressing special action requests and the role of the Regional Advisory Councils in the process.
76 FR 56109	September 12, 2011	Final Rule	Revised the composition of the Federal Subsistence Board by expanding the Board by two public members who possess personal knowledge of and direct experience with subsistence uses in rural Alaska.
77 FR 12477	March 1, 2012	Final Rule	Extended the compliance date for the final rule (72 FR 25688) that revised nonrural determinations until the Secretarial program review is complete or in 5 years, whichever comes first.

An environmental assessment was prepared in 1997 on the expansion of Federal jurisdiction over fisheries and is available from the office listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The Secretary of the Interior with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture determined that the expansion of Federal jurisdiction did not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the human environment and, therefore, signed a Finding of No Significant Impact.

Section 810 of ANILCA

An ANILCA section 810 analysis was completed as part of the FEIS process on the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The intent of all Federal subsistence regulations is to accord subsistence uses of fish and wildlife on public lands a priority over the taking of fish and wildlife on such lands for other purposes, unless restriction is necessary to conserve healthy fish and wildlife populations. The final section 810 analysis determination appeared in the April 6, 1992, ROD and concluded that the Program, under Alternative IV with an annual process for setting subsistence regulations, may have some local impacts on subsistence uses, but will not likely restrict subsistence uses significantly.

During the subsequent environmental assessment process for extending fisheries jurisdiction, an evaluation of the effects of this rule was conducted in accordance with section 810. That evaluation also supported the Secretaries' determination that the rule will not reach the “may significantly restrict” threshold that would require notice and hearings under ANILCA section 810(a).

Paperwork Reduction Act

An agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This rule does not contain any new collections of information that require OMB approval. OMB has reviewed and approved the following collections of information associated with the subsistence regulations at 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100: Subsistence hunting and fishing applications, permits, and reports, Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Membership Application/Nomination and Interview Forms (OMB Control No. 1018-0075).

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)

Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this rule is not significant.

Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these requirements.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation of flexibility analyses for rules that will have a significant effect on a substantial number of small entities, which include small businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions. In general, the resources to be harvested under this rule are already being harvested and consumed by the local harvester and do not result in an additional dollar benefit to the economy. However, we estimate that two million pounds of meat are harvested by subsistence users annually and, if given an estimated dollar value of $3.00 per pound, this amount would equate to about $6 million in food value Statewide. Based upon the amounts and values cited above, the Departments certify that this rulemaking will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), this rule is not a major rule. It does not have an effect on the economy of $100 million or more, will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, and does not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Executive Order 12630

Title VIII of ANILCA requires the Secretaries to administer a subsistence priority on public lands. The scope of this Program is limited by definition to certain public lands. Likewise, these regulations have no potential takings of private property implications as defined by Executive Order 12630.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Secretaries have determined and certify pursuant to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given year on local or State governments or private entities. The implementation of this rule is by Federal agencies and there is no cost imposed on any State or local entities or tribal governments.

Executive Order 12988

The Secretaries have determined that these regulations meet the applicable standards provided in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, regarding civil justice reform.

Executive Order 13132

In accordance with Executive Order 13132, the rule does not have sufficient Federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement. Title VIII of ANILCA precludes the State from exercising subsistence management authority over fish and wildlife resources on Federal lands unless it meets certain requirements.

Executive Order 13175

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Title VIII, does not provide specific rights to tribes for the subsistence taking of wildlife, fish, and shellfish. However, the Board will provide Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations an opportunity to consult on this rule. Consultation with Alaska Native corporations are based on Public Law 108-199, div. H, Sec. 161, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 452, as amended by Public Law 108-447, div. H, title V, Sec. 518, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3267, which provides that: “The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and all Federal agencies shall hereafter consult with Alaska Native corporations on the same basis as Indian tribes under Executive Order No. 13175.”

The Secretaries, through the Board, will provide a variety of opportunities for consultation: Commenting on proposed changes to the existing rule; engaging in dialogue at the Regional Council meetings; engaging in dialogue at the Board's meetings; and providing input in person, by mail, email, or phone at any time during the rulemaking process.

On January 22, 2013, the Board provided Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations a specific opportunity to consult on this rule prior to the start of its public regulatory meeting. Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations were notified by mail and telephone and were given the opportunity to attend in person or via teleconference.

Executive Order 13211

This Executive Order requires agencies to prepare Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. However, this rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 13211, affecting energy supply, distribution, or use, and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.

Drafting Information

Theo Matuskowitz drafted these regulations under the guidance of Kathleen M. O'Reilly-Doyle of the Office of Subsistence Management, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska. Additional assistance was provided by

• Daniel Sharp, Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management;
• Sandy Rabinowitch and Nancy Swanton, Alaska Regional Office, National Park Service;
• Dr. Glenn Chen, Alaska Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs;
• Jerry Berg and Jack Lorrigan, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
• Steve Kessler, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Forest Service.

List of Subjects

36 CFR Part 242

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Alaska
• Fish
• National forests
• Public lands
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Wildlife

50 CFR Part 100

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Alaska
• Fish
• National forests
• Public lands
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Wildlife

Regulation Promulgation

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Subsistence Board amends title 36, part 242, and title 50, part 100, of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below.

PART__—SUBSISTENCE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS IN ALASKA

1. The authority citation for both 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3, 472, 551, 668dd, 3101-3126; 18 U.S.C. 3551-3586; 43 U.S.C. 1733.

Subpart D—Subsistence Taking of Fish and Wildlife

4. In subpart D of 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100, § __.27 is revised to read as follows:

§ _.27

Subsistence taking of fish.

(a) Applicability. (1) Regulations in this section apply to the taking of fish or their parts for subsistence uses.

(2) You may take fish for subsistence uses at any time by any method unless you are restricted by the subsistence fishing regulations found in this section. The harvest limit specified in this section for a subsistence season for a species and the State harvest limit set for a State season for the same species are not cumulative, except as modified by regulations in paragraph (e) of this section. This means that if you have taken the harvest limit for a particular species under a subsistence season specified in this section, you may not, after that, take any additional fish of that species under any other harvest limit specified for a State season.

(3) You may not possess, transport, give, receive, or barter subsistence-taken fish or their parts that have been taken contrary to Federal law or regulation or State law or regulation (unless superseded by regulations in this part).

(b) Methods, means, and general restrictions. (1) Unless otherwise specified in this section or under terms of a required subsistence fishing permit (as may be modified by regulations in this section), you may use the following legal types of gear for subsistence fishing:

(i) A set gillnet;

(ii) A drift gillnet;

(iii) A purse seine;

(iv) A hand purse seine;

(v) A beach seine;

(vi) Troll gear;

(vii) A fish wheel;

(viii) A trawl;

(ix) A pot;

(x) A longline;

(xi) A fyke net;

(xii) A lead;

(xiii) A herring pound;

(xiv) A dip net;

(xv) Jigging gear;

(xvi) A mechanical jigging machine;

(xvii) A handline;

(xviii) A cast net;

(xix) A rod and reel; and

(xx) A spear.

(2) You must include an escape mechanism on all pots used to take fish or shellfish. The escape mechanisms are as follows:

(i) A sidewall, which may include the tunnel, of all shellfish and bottomfish pots must contain an opening equal to or exceeding 18 inches in length, except that in shrimp pots the opening must be a minimum of 6 inches in length. The opening must be laced, sewn, or secured together by a single length of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine, no larger than 30 thread. The cotton twine may be knotted at each end only. The opening must be within 6 inches of the bottom of the pot and must be parallel with it. The cotton twine may not be tied or looped around the web bars. Dungeness crab pots may have the pot lid tie-down straps secured to the pot at one end by a single loop of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine no larger than 60 thread, or the pot lid must be secured so that, when the twine degrades, the lid will no longer be securely closed.

(ii) All king crab, Tanner crab, shrimp, miscellaneous shellfish and bottomfish pots may, instead of complying with paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, satisfy the following: a sidewall, which may include the tunnel, must contain an opening at least 18 inches in length, except that shrimp pots must contain an opening at least 6 inches in length. The opening must be laced, sewn, or secured together by a single length of treated or untreated twine, no larger than 36 thread. A galvanic timed-release device, designed to release in no more than 30 days in saltwater, must be integral to the length of twine so that, when the device releases, the twine will no longer secure or obstruct the opening of the pot. The twine may be knotted only at each end and at the attachment points on the galvanic timed-release device. The opening must be within 6 inches of the bottom of the pot and must be parallel with it. The twine may not be tied or looped around the web bars.

(3) For subsistence fishing for salmon, you may not use a gillnet exceeding 50 fathoms in length, unless otherwise specified in this section. The gillnet web must contain at least 30 filaments of equal diameter or at least 6 filaments, each of which must be at least 0.20 millimeter in diameter.

(4) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, you may not obstruct more than one-half the width of any stream with any gear used to take fish for subsistence uses.

(5) You may not use live nonindigenous fish as bait.

(6) You must have your first initial, last name, and address plainly and legibly inscribed on the side of your fish wheel facing midstream of the river.

(7) You may use kegs or buoys of any color but red on any permitted gear, except in the following areas where kegs or buoys of any color, including red, may be used:

(i) Yukon-Northern Area; and

(ii) Kuskokwim Area.

(8) You must have your first initial, last name, and address plainly and legibly inscribed on each keg, buoy, stakes attached to gillnets, stakes identifying gear fished under the ice, and any other unattended fishing gear which you use to take fish for subsistence uses.

(9) You may not use explosives or chemicals to take fish for subsistence uses.

(10) You may not take fish for subsistence uses within 300 feet of any dam, fish ladder, weir, culvert or other artificial obstruction, unless otherwise indicated.

(11) Transactions between rural residents. Rural residents may exchange in customary trade subsistence-harvested fish, their parts, or their eggs, legally taken under the regulations in this part, for cash from other rural residents. The Board may recognize regional differences and regulates customary trade differently for separate regions of the State.

(i) Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area—The total cash value per household of salmon taken within Federal jurisdiction in the Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area and exchanged in customary trade to rural residents may not exceed $500.00 annually.

(ii) Upper Copper River District—The total number of salmon per household taken within the Upper Copper River District and exchanged in customary trade to rural residents may not exceed 50 percent of the annual harvest of salmon by the household. No more than 50 percent of the annual household limit may be sold under paragraphs (b)(11) and (12) of this section when taken together. These customary trade sales must be immediately recorded on a customary trade recordkeeping form. The recording requirement and the responsibility to ensure the household limit is not exceeded rests with the seller.

(iii) Customary trade of Yukon River Chinook salmon may only occur between Federally qualified rural residents with a current customary and traditional use determination for Yukon River Chinook salmon.

(12) Transactions between a rural resident and others. In customary trade, a rural resident may exchange fish, their parts, or their eggs, legally taken under the regulations in this part, for cash from individuals other than rural residents if the individual who purchases the fish, their parts, or their eggs uses them for personal or family consumption. If you are not a rural resident, you may not sell fish, their parts, or their eggs taken under the regulations in this part. The Board may recognize regional differences and regulates customary trade differently for separate regions of the State.

(i) Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area—The total cash value per household of salmon taken within Federal jurisdiction in the Bristol Bay Fishery Management Area and exchanged in customary trade between rural residents and individuals other than rural residents may not exceed $400.00 annually. These customary trade sales must be immediately recorded on a customary trade recordkeeping form. The recording requirement and the responsibility to ensure the household limit is not exceeded rest with the seller.

(ii) Upper Copper River District—The total cash value of salmon per household taken within the Upper Copper River District and exchanged in customary trade between rural residents and individuals other than rural residents may not exceed $500.00 annually. No more than 50 percent of the annual household limit may be sold under paragraphs (b)(11) and (12) of this section when taken together. These customary trade sales must be immediately recorded on a customary trade recordkeeping form. The recording requirement and the responsibility to ensure the household limit is not exceeded rest with the seller.

(iii) Customary trade of Yukon River Chinook salmon may only occur between Federally qualified rural residents with a current customary and traditional use determination for Yukon River Chinook salmon.

(13) No sale to, nor purchase by, fisheries businesses. (i) You may not sell fish, their parts, or their eggs taken under the regulations in this part to any individual, business, or organization required to be licensed as a fisheries business under Alaska Statute AS 43.75.011 (commercial limited-entry permit or crew license holders excluded) or to any other business as defined under Alaska Statute 43.70.110(1) as part of its business transactions.

(ii) If you are required to be licensed as a fisheries business under Alaska Statute AS 43.75.011 (commercial limited-entry permit or crew license holders excluded) or are a business as defined under Alaska Statute 43.70.110(1), you may not purchase, receive, or sell fish, their parts, or their eggs taken under the regulations in this part as part of your business transactions.

(14) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, you may not take rainbow/steelhead trout.

(15) You may not use fish taken for subsistence use or under subsistence regulations in this part as bait for commercial or sport fishing purposes.

(16) Unless specified otherwise in this section, you may use a rod and reel to take fish without a subsistence fishing permit. Harvest limits applicable to the use of a rod and reel to take fish for subsistence uses shall be as follows:

(i) If you are required to obtain a subsistence fishing permit for an area, that permit is required to take fish for subsistence uses with rod and reel in that area. The harvest and possession limits for taking fish with a rod and reel in those areas are the same as indicated on the permit issued for subsistence fishing with other gear types.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, if you are not required to obtain a subsistence fishing permit for an area, the harvest and possession limits for taking fish for subsistence uses with a rod and reel are the same as for taking fish under State of Alaska subsistence fishing regulations in those same areas. If the State does not have a specific subsistence season and/or harvest limit for that particular species, the limit shall be the same as for taking fish under State of Alaska sport fishing regulations.

(17) Unless restricted in this section, or unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish for subsistence uses at any time.

(18) Provisions on ADF&G subsistence fishing permits that are more restrictive or in conflict with the provisions contained in this section do not apply to Federal subsistence users.

(19) You may not intentionally waste or destroy any subsistence-caught fish or shellfish; however, you may use for bait or other purposes, whitefish, herring, and species for which harvest limits, seasons, or other regulatory methods and means are not provided in this section, as well as the head, tail, fins, and viscera of legally taken subsistence fish.

(20) The taking of fish from waters within Federal jurisdiction is authorized outside of published open seasons or harvest limits if the harvested fish will be used for food in traditional or religious ceremonies that are part of funerary or mortuary cycles, including memorial potlatches, provided that:

(i) Prior to attempting to take fish, the person (or designee) or Tribal Government organizing the ceremony contacts the appropriate Federal fisheries manager to provide the nature of the ceremony, the parties and/or clans involved, the species and the number of fish to be taken, and the Federal waters from which the harvest will occur;

(ii) The taking does not violate recognized principles of fisheries conservation, and uses the methods and means allowable for the particular species published in the applicable Federal regulations (the Federal fisheries manager will establish the number, species, or place of taking if necessary for conservation purposes);

(iii) Each person who takes fish under this section must, as soon as practical, and not more than 15 days after the harvest, submit a written report to the appropriate Federal fisheries manager, specifying the harvester's name and address, the number and species of fish taken, and the date and locations of the taking; and

(iv) No permit is required for taking under this section; however, the harvester must be eligible to harvest the resource under Federal regulations.

(c) Fishing permits and reports. (1) You may take salmon only under the authority of a subsistence fishing permit, unless a permit is specifically not required in a particular area by the subsistence regulations in this part, or unless you are retaining salmon from your commercial catch consistent with paragraph (d) of this section.

(2) If a subsistence fishing permit is required by this section, the following permit conditions apply unless otherwise specified in this section:

(i) You may not take more fish for subsistence use than the limits set out in the permit;

(ii) You must obtain the permit prior to fishing;

(iii) You must have the permit in your possession and readily available for inspection while fishing or transporting subsistence-taken fish;

(iv) If specified on the permit, you must record, prior to leaving the fishing site, daily records of the catch, showing the number of fish taken by species, location and date of catch, and other such information as may be required for management or conservation purposes; and

(v) If the return of catch information necessary for management and conservation purposes is required by a fishing permit and you fail to comply with such reporting requirements, you are ineligible to receive a subsistence permit for that activity during the following calendar year, unless you demonstrate that failure to report was due to loss in the mail, accident, sickness, or other unavoidable circumstances. You must also return any tags or transmitters that have been attached to fish for management and conservation purposes.

(d) Relation to commercial fishing activities. (1) If you are a Federally qualified subsistence user who also commercial fishes, you may retain fish for subsistence purposes from your lawfully-taken commercial catch.

(2) When participating in a commercial and subsistence fishery at the same time, you may not use an amount of combined fishing gear in excess of that allowed under the appropriate commercial fishing regulations.

(e) Fishery management area restrictions. (1) Kotzebue Area. The Kotzebue Area includes all waters of Alaska between the latitude of the westernmost tip of Point Hope and the latitude of the westernmost tip of Cape Prince of Wales, including those waters draining into the Chukchi Sea.

(i) You may take fish for subsistence purposes without a permit.

(ii) You may take salmon only by gillnets, beach seines, or a rod and reel.

(iii) In the Kotzebue District, you may take sheefish with gillnets that are not more than 50 fathoms in length, nor more than 12 meshes in depth, nor have a stretched-mesh size larger than 7 inches.

(iv) You may not obstruct more than one-half the width of a stream, creek, or slough with any gear used to take fish for subsistence uses, except from May 15 to July 15 and August 15 to October 31 when taking whitefish or pike in streams, creeks, or sloughs within the Kobuk River drainage and from May 15 to October 31 in the Selawik River drainage. Only one gillnet 100 feet or less in length with a stretched-mesh size from 21/2 to 41/2 inches may be used per site. You must check your net at least once in every 24-hour period.

(2) Norton Sound-Port Clarence Area. The Norton Sound-Port Clarence Area includes all waters of Alaska between the latitude of the westernmost tip of Cape Prince of Wales and the latitude of Point Romanof, including those waters of Alaska surrounding St. Lawrence Island and those waters draining into the Bering Sea.

(i) Unless otherwise restricted in this section, you may take fish at any time in the Port Clarence District.

(ii) In the Norton Sound District, you may take fish at any time except as follows:

(A) In Subdistricts 2 through 6, if you are a commercial fishermen, you may not fish for subsistence purposes during the weekly closures of the State commercial salmon fishing season, except that from July 15 through August 1, you may take salmon for subsistence purposes 7 days per week in the Unalakleet and Shaktoolik River drainages with gillnets which have a stretched-mesh size that does not exceed 41/2 inches, and with beach seines;

(B) In the Unalakleet River from June 1 through July 15, you may take salmon only from 8:00 a.m. Monday until 8:00 p.m. Saturday.

(C) Federal public waters of the Unalakleet River, upstream from the mouth of the Chirosky River, are closed to the taking of Chinook salmon from July 1 to July 31, by all users. The BLM field manager is authorized to open the closed area to Federally qualified subsistence users or to all users when run strength warrants.

(iii) You may take salmon only by gillnets, beach seines, fish wheel, or a rod and reel.

(iv) You may take fish other than salmon by set gillnet, drift gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, pot, long line, fyke net, jigging gear, spear, lead, or a rod and reel.

(v) In the Unalakleet River from June 1 through July 15, you may not operate more than 25 fathoms of gillnet in the aggregate nor may you operate an unanchored gillnet.

(3) Yukon-Northern Area. The Yukon-Northern Area includes all waters of Alaska between the latitude of Point Romanof and the latitude of the westernmost point of the Naskonat Peninsula, including those waters draining into the Bering Sea, and all waters of Alaska north of the latitude of the westernmost tip of Point Hope and west of 141° West longitude, including those waters draining into the Arctic Ocean and the Chukchi Sea.

(i) Unless otherwise restricted in this section, you may take fish in the Yukon-Northern Area at any time. In those locations where subsistence fishing permits are required, only one subsistence fishing permit will be issued to each household per year. You may subsistence fish for salmon with rod and reel in the Yukon River drainage 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, unless rod and reel are specifically otherwise restricted in paragraph (e)(3) of this section.

(ii) For the Yukon River drainage, Federal subsistence fishing schedules, openings, closings, and fishing methods are the same as those issued for the subsistence taking of fish under Alaska Statutes (AS 16.05.060), unless superseded by a Federal Special Action.

(iii) In the following locations, you may take salmon during the open weekly fishing periods of the State commercial salmon fishing season and may not take them for 24 hours before the opening of the State commercial salmon fishing season:

(A) In District 4, excluding the Koyukuk River drainage;

(B) In Subdistricts 4B and 4C from June 15 through September 30, salmon may be taken from 6:00 p.m. Sunday until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday until 6:00 p.m. Friday;

(C) In District 6, excluding the Kantishna River drainage, salmon may be taken from 6:00 p.m. Friday until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.

(iv) During any State commercial salmon fishing season closure of greater than 5 days in duration, you may not take salmon during the following periods in the following districts:

(A) In District 4, excluding the Koyukuk River drainage, salmon may not be taken from 6:00 p.m. Friday until 6:00 p.m. Sunday;

(B) In District 5, excluding the Tozitna River drainage and Subdistrict 5D, salmon may not be taken from 6:00 p.m. Sunday until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.

(v) Except as provided in this section, and except as may be provided by the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish other than salmon at any time.

(vi) In Districts 1, 2, 3, and Subdistrict 4A, excluding the Koyukuk and Innoko River drainages, you may not take salmon for subsistence purposes during the 24 hours immediately before the opening of the State commercial salmon fishing season.

(vii) In Districts 1, 2, and 3:

(A) After the opening of the State commercial salmon fishing season through July 15, you may not take salmon for subsistence for 18 hours immediately before, during, and for 12 hours after each State commercial salmon fishing period;

(B) After July 15, you may not take salmon for subsistence for 12 hours immediately before, during, and for 12 hours after each State commercial salmon fishing period.

(viii) In Subdistrict 4A after the opening of the State commercial salmon fishing season, you may not take salmon for subsistence for 12 hours immediately before, during, and for 12 hours after each State commercial salmon fishing period; however, you may take Chinook salmon during the State commercial fishing season, with drift gillnet gear only, from 6:00 p.m. Sunday until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday until 6:00 p.m. Friday.

(ix) You may not subsistence fish in the following drainages located north of the main Yukon River:

(A) Kanuti River upstream from a point 5 miles downstream of the State highway crossing;

(B) Bonanza Creek;

(C) Jim River including Prospect and Douglas Creeks.

(x) You may not subsistence fish in the Delta River.

(xi) In Beaver Creek downstream from the confluence of Moose Creek, a gillnet with mesh size not to exceed 3-inches stretch-measure may be used from June 15 through September 15. You may subsistence fish for all non-salmon species but may not target salmon during this time period (retention of salmon taken incidentally to non-salmon directed fisheries is allowed). From the mouth of Nome Creek downstream to the confluence of Moose Creek, only rod and reel may be used. From the mouth of Nome Creek downstream to the confluence of O'Brien Creek, the daily harvest and possession limit is 5 grayling; from the mouth of O'Brien Creek downstream to the confluence of Moose Creek, the daily harvest and possession limit is 10 grayling. The Nome Creek drainage of Beaver Creek is closed to subsistence fishing for grayling.

(xii) You may not subsistence fish in the Toklat River drainage from August 15 through May 15.

(xiii) You may take salmon only by gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, or rod and reel, subject to the restrictions set forth in this section.

(A) In the Yukon River drainage, you may not take salmon for subsistence fishing using gillnets with stretched mesh larger than 7.5 inches.

(B) [Reserved]

(xiv) In District 4, if you are a commercial fisherman, you may not take salmon for subsistence purposes during the State commercial salmon fishing season using gillnets with stretched-mesh larger than 6 inches after a date specified by ADF&G emergency order issued between July 10 and July 31.

(xv) In Districts 4, 5, and 6, you may not take salmon for subsistence purposes by drift gillnets, except as follows:

(A) In Subdistrict 4A upstream from the mouth of Stink Creek, you may take Chinook salmon by drift gillnets less than 150 feet in length from June 10 through July 14, and chum salmon by drift gillnets after August 2;

(B) In Subdistrict 4A downstream from the mouth of Stink Creek, you may take Chinook salmon by drift gillnets less than 150 feet in length from June 10 through July 14;

(C) In the Yukon River mainstem, Subdistricts 4B and 4C you may take Chinook salmon during the weekly subsistence fishing opening(s) by drift gillnets no more than 150 feet long and no more than 35 meshes deep, from June 10 through July 14.

(xvi) Unless otherwise specified in this section, you may take fish other than salmon by set gillnet, drift gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, long line, fyke net, dip net, jigging gear, spear, lead, or rod and reel, subject to the following restrictions, which also apply to subsistence salmon fishing:

(A) During the open weekly fishing periods of the State commercial salmon fishing season, if you are a commercial fisherman, you may not operate more than one type of gear at a time, for commercial, personal use, and subsistence purposes.

(B) You may not use an aggregate length of set gillnet in excess of 150 fathoms and each drift gillnet may not exceed 50 fathoms in length.

(C) In Districts 4, 5, and 6, you may not set subsistence fishing gear within 200 feet of other operating commercial use, personal use, or subsistence fishing gear except that, at the site approximately 1 mile upstream from Ruby on the south bank of the Yukon River between ADF&G regulatory markers containing the area known locally as the “Slide,” you may set subsistence fishing gear within 200 feet of other operating commercial or subsistence fishing gear, and in District 4, from Old Paradise Village upstream to a point 4 miles upstream from Anvik, there is no minimum distance requirement between fish wheels.

(D) During the State commercial salmon fishing season, within the Yukon River and the Tanana River below the confluence of the Wood River, you may use drift gillnets and fish wheels only during open subsistence salmon fishing periods.

(E) In Birch Creek, gillnet mesh size may not exceed 3-inches stretch-measure from June 15 through September 15.

(xvii) In District 4, from September 21 through May 15, you may use jigging gear from shore ice.

(xviii) You must possess a subsistence fishing permit for the following locations:

(A) For the Yukon River drainage from the mouth of Hess Creek to the mouth of the Dall River;

(B) For the Yukon River drainage from the upstream mouth of 22 Mile Slough to the U.S.-Canada border;

(C) Only for salmon in the Tanana River drainage above the mouth of the Wood River.

(xix) Only one subsistence fishing permit will be issued to each household per year.

(xx) In Districts 1, 2, and 3, from June 1 through July 15, you may not possess Chinook salmon taken for subsistence purposes unless both tips (lobes) of the tail fin have been removed before the person conceals the salmon from plain view or transfers the salmon from the fishing site.

(xxi) In the Yukon River drainage, Chinook salmon must be used primarily for human consumption and may not be targeted for dog food. Dried Chinook salmon may not be used for dog food anywhere in the Yukon River drainage. Whole fish unfit for human consumption (due to disease, deterioration, deformities), scraps, and small fish (16 inches or less) may be fed to dogs. Also, whole Chinook salmon caught incidentally during a subsistence chum salmon fishery in the following time periods and locations may be fed to dogs:

(A) After July 10 in the Koyukuk River drainage;

(B) After August 10, in Subdistrict 5D, upstream of Circle City.

(4) Kuskokwim Area. The Kuskokwim Area consists of all waters of Alaska between the latitude of the westernmost point of Naskonat Peninsula and the latitude of the southernmost tip of Cape Newenham, including the waters of Alaska surrounding Nunivak and St. Matthew Islands and those waters draining into the Bering Sea.

(i) Unless otherwise restricted in this section, you may take fish in the Kuskokwim Area at any time without a subsistence fishing permit.

(ii) For the Kuskokwim area, Federal subsistence fishing schedules, openings, closings, and fishing methods are the same as those issued for the subsistence taking of fish under Alaska Statutes (AS 16.05.060), unless superseded by a Federal Special Action.

(iii) In District 1, Kuskokuak Slough, from June 1 through July 31 only, you may not take salmon for 16 hours before and during each State open commercial salmon fishing period in the district.

(iv) In Districts 4 and 5, from June 1 through September 8, you may not take salmon for 16 hours before or during, and for 6 hours after each State open commercial salmon fishing period in each district.

(v) In District 2, and anywhere in tributaries that flow into the Kuskokwim River within that district, from June 1 through September 8 you may not take salmon by net gear or fish wheel for 16 hours before or during, and for 6 hours after each open commercial salmon fishing period in the district. You may subsistence fish for salmon with rod and reel 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, unless rod and reel are specifically restricted by paragraph (e)(4) of this section.

(vi) You may not take subsistence fish by nets in the Goodnews River east of a line between ADF&G regulatory markers placed near the mouth of the Ufigag River and an ADF&G regulatory marker placed near the mouth of the Tunulik River 16 hours before or during, and for 6 hours after each State open commercial salmon fishing period.

(vii) You may not take subsistence fish by nets in the Kanektok River upstream of ADF&G regulatory markers placed near the mouth 16 hours before or during, and for 6 hours after each State open commercial salmon fishing period.

(viii) You may not take subsistence fish by nets in the Arolik River upstream of ADF&G regulatory markers placed near the mouth 16 hours before or during, and for 6 hours after each State open commercial salmon fishing period.

(ix) You may only take salmon by gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, or rod and reel subject to the restrictions set out in this section, except that you may also take salmon by spear in the Kanektok, and Arolik River drainages, and in the drainage of Goodnews Bay.

(x) You may not use an aggregate length of set gillnets or drift gillnets in excess of 50 fathoms for taking salmon.

(xi) You may take fish other than salmon by set gillnet, drift gillnet, beach seine, fish wheel, pot, long line, fyke net, dip net, jigging gear, spear, lead, handline, or rod and reel.

(xii) You must attach to the bank each subsistence gillnet operated in tributaries of the Kuskokwim River and fish it substantially perpendicular to the bank and in a substantially straight line.

(xiii) Within a tributary to the Kuskokwim River in that portion of the Kuskokwim River drainage from the north end of Eek Island upstream to the mouth of the Kolmakoff River, you may not set or operate any part of a set gillnet within 150 feet of any part of another set gillnet.

(xiv) The maximum depth of gillnets is as follows:

(A) Gillnets with 6-inch or smaller stretched-mesh may not be more than 45 meshes in depth;

(B) Gillnets with greater than 6-inch stretched-mesh may not be more than 35 meshes in depth.

(xv) You may not use subsistence set and drift gillnets exceeding 15 fathoms in length in Whitefish Lake in the Ophir Creek drainage. You may not operate more than one subsistence set or drift gillnet at a time in Whitefish Lake in the Ophir Creek drainage. You must check the net at least once every 24 hours.

(xvi) You may take rainbow trout only in accordance with the following restrictions:

(A) You may take rainbow trout only by the use of gillnets, dip nets, fyke nets, handline, spear, rod and reel, or jigging through the ice;

(B) You may not use gillnets, dip nets, or fyke nets for targeting rainbow trout from March 15 through June 15;

(C) If you take rainbow trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries and through the ice, you may retain them for subsistence purposes;

(D) There are no harvest limits with handline, spear, rod and reel, or jigging.

(5) Bristol Bay Area. The Bristol Bay Area includes all waters of Bristol Bay, including drainages enclosed by a line from Cape Newenham to Cape Menshikof.

(i) Unless restricted in this section, or unless under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish at any time in the Bristol Bay area.

(ii) In all State commercial salmon districts, from May 1 through May 31 and October 1 through October 31, you may subsistence fish for salmon only from 9:00 a.m. Monday until 9:00 a.m. Friday. From June 1 through September 30, within the waters of a commercial salmon district, you may take salmon only during State open commercial salmon fishing periods.

(iii) In the Egegik River from 9:00 a.m. June 23 through 9:00 a.m. July 17, you may take salmon only during the following times: from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday to 9:00 a.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. Saturday to 9:00 a.m. Sunday.

(iv) You may not take fish from waters within 300 feet of a stream mouth used by salmon.

(v) You may not subsistence fish with nets in the Tazimina River and within one-fourth mile of the terminus of those waters during the period from September 1 through June 14.

(vi) Within any district, you may take salmon, herring, and capelin by set gillnets only.

(vii) Outside the boundaries of any district, unless otherwise specified, you may take salmon by set gillnet only.

(A) You may also take salmon by spear in the Togiak River, excluding its tributaries.

(B) You may also use drift gillnets not greater than 10 fathoms in length to take salmon in the Togiak River in the first two river miles upstream from the mouth of the Togiak River to the ADF&G regulatory markers.

(C) You may also take salmon without a permit in Lake Clark and its tributaries by snagging (by handline or rod and reel), using a spear, bow and arrow, or capturing by bare hand.

(D) You may also take salmon by beach seines not exceeding 25 fathoms in length in Lake Clark, excluding its tributaries.

(E) You may also take fish (except rainbow trout) with a fyke net and lead in tributaries of Lake Clark and the tributaries of Sixmile Lake within and adjacent to the exterior boundaries of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve unless otherwise prohibited.

(1) You may use a fyke net and lead only with a permit issued by the Federal in-season manager.

(2) All fyke nets and leads must be attended at all times while in use.

(3) All materials used to construct the fyke net and lead must be made of wood and be removed from the water when the fyke net and lead is no longer in use.

(viii) The maximum lengths for set gillnets used to take salmon are as follows:

(A) You may not use set gillnets exceeding 10 fathoms in length in the Egegik River;

(B) In the remaining waters of the area, you may not use set gillnets exceeding 25 fathoms in length.

(ix) You may not operate any part of a set gillnet within 300 feet of any part of another set gillnet.

(x) You must stake and buoy each set gillnet. Instead of having the identifying information on a keg or buoy attached to the gillnet, you may plainly and legibly inscribe your first initial, last name, and subsistence permit number on a sign at or near the set gillnet.

(xi) You may not operate or assist in operating subsistence salmon net gear while simultaneously operating or assisting in operating commercial salmon net gear.

(xii) During State closed commercial herring fishing periods, you may not use gillnets exceeding 25 fathoms in length for the subsistence taking of herring or capelin.

(xiii) You may take fish other than salmon, herring and capelin by gear listed in this part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.

(xiv) You may take salmon only under authority of a State subsistence salmon permit (permits are issued by ADF&G) except when using a Federal permit for fyke net and lead.

(xv) Only one State subsistence fishing permit for salmon and one Federal permit for use of a fyke net and lead for all fish (except rainbow trout) may be issued to each household per year.

(xvi) In the Togiak River section and the Togiak River drainage:

(A) You may not possess coho salmon taken under the authority of a subsistence fishing permit unless both lobes of the caudal fin (tail) or the dorsal fin have been removed.

(B) You may not possess salmon taken with a drift gillnet under the authority of a subsistence fishing permit unless both lobes of the caudal fin (tail) or the dorsal fin have been removed.

(xvii) You may take rainbow trout only by rod and reel or jigging gear. Rainbow trout daily harvest and possession limits are two per day/two in possession with no size limit from April 10 through October 31 and five per day/five in possession with no size limit from November 1 through April 9.

(xviii) If you take rainbow trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, or through the ice, you may retain them for subsistence purposes.

(6) Aleutian Islands Area. The Aleutian Islands Area includes all waters of Alaska west of the longitude of the tip of Cape Sarichef, east of 172° East longitude, and south of 54°36′ North latitude.

(i) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout, or char at any time unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence purposes.

(ii) In the Unalaska District, you may take salmon for subsistence purposes from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. from January 1 through December 31, except as may be specified on a subsistence fishing permit.

(iii) In the Adak, Akutan, Atka-Amlia, and Umnak Districts, you may take salmon at any time.

(iv) You may not subsistence fish for salmon in the following waters:

(A) The waters of Unalaska Lake, its tributaries and outlet stream;

(B) The waters of Summers and Morris Lakes and their tributaries and outlet streams;

(C) All streams supporting anadromous fish runs that flow into Unalaska Bay south of a line from the northern tip of Cape Cheerful to the northern tip of Kalekta Point;

(D) Waters of McLees Lake and its tributaries and outlet stream;

(E) All fresh water on Adak Island and Kagalaska Island in the Adak District.

(v) You may take salmon by seine and gillnet, or with gear specified on a subsistence fishing permit.

(vi) In the Unalaska District, if you fish with a net, you must be physically present at the net at all times when the net is being used.

(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.

(viii) You may take salmon, trout, and char only under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, except that you do not need a permit in the Akutan, Umnak, and Atka-Amlia Islands Districts.

(ix) You may take no more than 250 salmon for subsistence purposes unless otherwise specified on the subsistence fishing permit, except that in the Unalaska and Adak Districts, you may take no more than 25 salmon plus an additional 25 salmon for each member of your household listed on the permit. You may obtain an additional permit.

(x) You must keep a record on the reverse side of the permit of subsistence-caught fish. You must complete the record immediately upon taking subsistence-caught fish and must return it no later than October 31.

(7) Alaska Peninsula Area. The Alaska Peninsula Area includes all waters of Alaska on the north side of the Alaska peninsula southwest of a line from Cape Menshikof (57°28.34′ North latitude, 157°55.84′ West longitude) to Cape Newenham (58°39.00' North latitude, 162° West longitude) and east of the longitude of Cape Sarichef Light (164°55.70′ West longitude) and on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula from a line extending from Scotch Cape through the easternmost tip of Ugamak Island to a line extending 135° southeast from Kupreanof Point (55°33.98′ North latitude, 159°35.88′ West longitude).

(i) You may take fish, other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout, or char, at any time unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries or through the ice, you may retain them for subsistence purposes.

(ii) You may take salmon, trout, and char only under the authority of a subsistence fishing permit.

(iii) You must keep a record on the reverse side of the permit of subsistence-caught fish. You must complete the record immediately upon taking subsistence-caught fish and must return it no later than October 31.

(iv) You may take salmon at any time, except in those districts and sections open to commercial salmon fishing where salmon may not be taken during the 24 hours before and 12 hours following each State open weekly commercial salmon fishing period, or as may be specified on a subsistence fishing permit.

(v) You may not subsistence fish for salmon in the following waters:

(A) Russell Creek and Nurse Lagoon and within 500 yards outside the mouth of Nurse Lagoon;

(B) Trout Creek and within 500 yards outside its mouth.

(vi) You may take salmon by seine, gillnet, rod and reel, or with gear specified on a subsistence fishing permit. You may also take salmon without a permit by snagging (by handline or rod and reel), using a spear, bow and arrow, or capturing by bare hand.

(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.

(viii) You may not use a set gillnet exceeding 100 fathoms in length.

(ix) You may take no more than 250 salmon for subsistence purposes unless otherwise specified on your subsistence fishing permit.

(8) Chignik Area. The Chignik Area includes all waters of Alaska on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula bounded by a line extending 135° southeast for 3 miles from a point near Kilokak Rocks at 57°10.34′ North latitude, 156°20.22′ West longitude (the longitude of the southern entrance to Imuya Bay) then due south, and a line extending 135° southeast from Kupreanof Point at 55°33.98′ North latitude, 159°35.88′ West longitude.

(i) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout, or char at any time, except as may be specified by a subsistence fishing permit. For salmon, Federal subsistence fishing openings, closings and fishing methods are the same as those issued for the subsistence taking of fish under Alaska Statutes (AS 16.05.060), unless superseded by a Federal Special Action. Within the Chignik Area, depending upon the area that you may fish, in addition to a State subsistence fishing permit, you may be required to also have a Federal subsistence permit.

If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence purposes.

(ii) You may take salmon in the Chignik River, with rod and reel, from a point 300 feet upstream of the ADF&G weir to Chignik Lake from January 1 through August 9, with no daily harvest or possession limit under the authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit. You may take salmon by gillnet in Black Lake or any tributary to Black or Chignik Lakes with a Federal subsistence fishing permit. You may take salmon in the waters of Clark River and Home Creek from their confluence with Chignik Lake upstream 1 mile. In the open waters of Clark River and Home Creek you may take salmon by snagging (handline or rod and reel), spear, bow and arrow, or capture by hand without a permit. The daily harvest and possession limits using these methods are five per day and five in possession.

(iii) You may take salmon, trout, and char only under the authority of a subsistence fishing permit unless otherwise indicated in this section or as noted in the permit conditions.

(iv) You must keep a record on your permit of subsistence-caught fish. You must complete the record immediately upon taking subsistence-caught fish and must return it no later than the due date listed on the permit.

(v) If you hold a commercial fishing license, you may only subsistence fish for salmon as specified on a subsistence fishing permit.

(vi) You may take salmon by seines, gillnets, rod and reel, or with gear specified on a subsistence fishing permit, except that in Chignik Lake, you may not use purse seines. You may also take salmon without a permit by snagging (by handline or rod and reel), using a spear, bow and arrow, or capturing by bare hand.

(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.

(viii) You may take no more than 250 salmon for subsistence purposes unless otherwise specified on the subsistence fishing permit.

(9) Kodiak Area. The Kodiak Area includes all waters of Alaska south of a line extending east from Cape Douglas (58°51.10′ North latitude), west of 150° West longitude, north of 55°30.00′ North latitude, and north and east of a line extending 135° southeast for three miles from a point near Kilokak Rocks at 57°10.34′ North latitude, 156°20.22′ West longitude (the longitude of the southern entrance of Imuya Bay), then due south.

(i) You may take fish other than salmon, rainbow/steelhead trout, char, bottomfish, or herring at any time unless restricted by the terms of a subsistence fishing permit. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence purposes.

(ii) You may take salmon for subsistence purposes 24 hours a day from January 1 through December 31, with the following exceptions:

(A) From June 1 through September 15, you may not use salmon seine vessels to take subsistence salmon for 24 hours before or during, and for 24 hours after any State open commercial salmon fishing period. The use of skiffs from any type of vessel is allowed.

(B) From June 1 through September 15, you may use purse seine vessels to take salmon only with gillnets, and you may have no other type of salmon gear on board the vessel.

(iii) You may not subsistence fish for salmon in the following locations:

(A) Womens Bay closed waters—All waters inside a line from the tip of the Nyman Peninsula (57°43.23′ North latitude, 152°31.51′ West longitude), to the northeastern tip of Mary's Island (57°42.40′ North latitude, 152°32.00′ West longitude), to the southeastern shore of Womens Bay at 57°41.95′ North latitude, 152°31.50′ West longitude.

(B) Buskin River closed waters—All waters inside of a line running from a marker on the bluff north of the mouth of the Buskin River at approximately 57°45.80′ North latitude, 152°28.38′ West longitude, to a point offshore at 57°45.35′ North latitude, 152°28.15′ West longitude, to a marker located onshore south of the river mouth at approximately 57°45.15′ North latitude, 152°28.65′ West longitude.

(C) All waters closed to commercial salmon fishing within 100 yards of the terminus of Selief Bay Creek.

(D) In Afognak Bay north and west of a line from the tip of Last Point to the tip of River Mouth Point.

(E) From August 15 through September 30, all waters 500 yards seaward of the terminus of Little Kitoi Creek.

(F) All fresh water systems of Afognak Island.

(iv) You must have a subsistence fishing permit for taking salmon, trout, and char for subsistence purposes. You must have a subsistence fishing permit for taking herring and bottomfish for subsistence purposes during the State commercial herring sac roe season from April 15 through June 30.

(v) The annual limit for a subsistence salmon fishing permit holder is as follows:

(A) In the Federal public waters of Kodiak Island, east of the line from Crag Point south to the westernmost point of Saltery Cove, including the waters of Woody and Long Islands, and the salt waters bordering this area within 1 mile of Kodiak Island, excluding the waters bordering Spruce Island, 25 salmon for the permit holder plus an additional 25 salmon for each member of the same household whose names are listed on the permit: an additional permit may be obtained upon request.

(B) In the remainder of the Kodiak Area not described in paragraph (e)(9)(v)(A) of this section, there is no annual harvest limit for a subsistence salmon fishing permit holder.

(vi) You must record on your subsistence permit the number of subsistence fish taken. You must record all harvested fish prior to leaving the fishing site, and must return the permit by the due date marked on permit.

(vii) You may take fish other than salmon by gear listed in this part unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.

(viii) You may take salmon only by gillnet, rod and reel, or seine.

(ix) You must be physically present at the net when the net is being fished.

(10) Cook Inlet Area. The Cook Inlet Area includes all waters of Alaska enclosed by a line extending east from Cape Douglas (58°51.10′ N. Lat.) and a line extending south from Cape Fairfield (148°50.25′ W. Long.).

(i) Unless restricted in this section, or unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish at any time in the Cook Inlet Area. If you take rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence purposes, unless otherwise prohibited or provided for in this section. With jigging gear through the ice or rod and reel gear in open waters there is an annual limit of two rainbow/steelhead trout 20 inches or longer, taken from Kenai Peninsula fresh waters.

(ii) You may take fish by gear listed in this part unless restricted in this section or under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit (as may be modified by this section). For all fish that must be marked and recorded on a permit in this section, they must be marked and recorded prior to leaving the fishing site. The fishing site includes the particular Federal public waters and/or adjacent shoreline from which the fish were harvested.

(iii) You may not take grayling or burbot for subsistence purposes.

(iv) You may take only salmon, trout, Dolly Varden, and other char under authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit. Seasons, harvest and possession limits, and methods and means for take are the same as for the taking of those species under Alaska sport fishing regulations (5 AAC 56 and 5 AAC 57) unless modified herein. Additionally for Federally managed waters of the Kasilof and Kenai River drainages:

(A) Residents of Ninilchik may take sockeye, Chinook, coho, and pink salmon through a dip net and a rod and reel fishery on the upper mainstem of the Kasilof River from a Federal regulatory marker on the river below the outlet of Tustumena Lake downstream to a marker on the river approximately 2.8 miles below the Tustumena Lake boat ramp. Residents using rod and reel gear may fish with up to two baited single or treble hooks. Other species incidentally caught during the dip net and rod and reel fishery may be retained for subsistence uses, including up to 200 rainbow/steelhead trout taken through August 15. After 200 rainbow/steelhead trout have been taken in this fishery or after August 15, all rainbow/steelhead trout must be released unless otherwise provided for in this section. Before leaving the fishing site, all retained fish must be recorded on the permit and marked by removing the dorsal fin. Harvests must be reported within 72 hours to the Federal fisheries manager upon leaving the fishing site.

(1) Fishing for sockeye and Chinook salmon will be allowed June 16-August 15.

(2) Fishing for coho and pink salmon will be allowed June 16-October 31.

(3) Fishing for sockeye, Chinook, coho, or pink salmon will end prior to regulatory end dates if the annual total harvest limit for that species is reached or superseded by Federal special action.

(4) Each household may harvest their annual sockeye, Chinook, coho, or pink salmon limits in one or more days, and each household member may fish with a dip net or a rod and reel during this time. Salmon taken in the Kenai River system dip net and rod and reel fishery will be included as part of each household's annual limit for the Kasilof River.

(i) For sockeye salmon—annual total harvest limit of 4,000; annual household limits of 25 for each permit holder and 5 additional for each household member;

(ii) For Chinook salmon—annual harvest limit of 500; annual household limit of 10 for each permit holder and 2 additional for each household member;

(iii) For coho salmon—annual total harvest limit of 500; annual household limits of 10 for each permit holder and 2 additional for each household member; and

(iv) For pink salmon—annual total harvest limit of 500; annual household limits of 10 for each permit holder and 2 additional for each household member.

(B) In addition to the dip net and rod and reel fishery on the upper mainstem of the Kasilof River described under paragraph (e)(10)(iv)(A) of this section, residents of Ninilchik may also take coho and pink salmon through a rod and reel fishery in Tustumena Lake. Before leaving the fishing site, all retained salmon must be recorded on the permit and marked by removing the dorsal fin. Seasons, areas, harvest and possession limits, and methods and means for take are the same as for the taking of these species under Alaska sport fishing regulations (5 AAC 56), except for the following methods and means, and harvest and possession limits:

(1) Fishing will be allowed with up to two baited single or treble hooks.

(2) For coho salmon 16 inches and longer, the daily harvest and possession limits are four per day and four in possession.

(3) For pink salmon 16 inches and longer, daily harvest and possession limits are six per day and six in possession.

(C) Resident fish species including lake trout, rainbow/steelhead trout, and Dolly Varden/Arctic char may be harvested in Federally managed waters of the Kasilof River drainage. Resident fish species harvested in the Kasilof River drainage under the conditions of a Federal subsistence permit must be marked by removing the dorsal fin immediately after harvest and recorded on the permit prior to leaving the fishing site.

(1) Lake trout may be harvested with rod and reel gear the entire year. For fish 20 inches or longer, daily harvest and possession limits are four per day and four in possession. For fish less than 20 inches, daily harvest and possession limits are 15 per day and 15 in possession.

(2) Dolly Varden/Arctic char may be harvested with rod and reel gear the entire year. In flowing waters, daily harvest and possession limits are four per day and four in possession. In lakes and ponds, daily harvest and possession limits are 10 fish per day and 10 in possession.

(3) Rainbow trout may be harvested with rod and reel gear the entire year for fish less than 20 inches in length. In flowing waters, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession. In lakes and ponds, daily harvest and possession limits are five per day and five in possession.

(4) You may fish in Tustumena Lake with a gillnet, no longer than 10 fathoms, fished under the ice or jigging gear used through the ice under authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit. The total annual harvest quota for this fishery is 200 lake trout, 200 rainbow trout, and 500 Dolly Varden/Arctic char. The use of a gillnet will be prohibited by special action after the harvest quota of any species has been met. For the jig fishery, annual household limits are 30 fish in any combination of lake trout, rainbow trout or Dolly Varden/Arctic char.

(i) You may harvest fish under the ice only in Tustumena Lake. Gillnets are not allowed within a 1/4 mile radius of the mouth of any tributary to Tustumena Lake, or the outlet of Tustumena Lake.

(ii) Permits will be issued by the Federal fisheries manager or designated representative, and will be valid for the winter season, unless the season is closed by special action.

(iii) All harvests must be reported within 72 hours to the Federal fisheries manager upon leaving the fishing site. Reported information must include number of each species caught; number of each species retained; length, depth (number of meshes deep) and mesh size of gillnet fished; fishing site; and total hours fished. Harvest data on the permit must be filled out before transporting fish from the fishing site.

(iv) The gillnet must be checked at least once in every 48-hour period.

(v) For unattended gear, the permittee's name and address must be plainly and legibly inscribed on a stake at one end of the gillnet.

(vi) Incidentally caught fish may be retained and must be recorded on the permit before transporting fish from the fishing site.

(vii) Failure to return the completed harvest permit by May 31 may result in issuance of a violation notice and/or denial of a future subsistence permit.

(D) Residents of Hope, Cooper Landing, and Ninilchik may take only sockeye salmon through a dip net and a rod and reel fishery at one specified site on the Russian River, and sockeye, late-run Chinook, coho, and pink salmon through a dip net/rod and reel fishery at two specified sites on the Kenai River below Skilak Lake and as provided in this section. For Ninilchik residents, salmon taken in the Kasilof River Federal subsistence fish wheel, and dip net/rod and reel fishery will be included as part of each household's annual limit for the Kenai and Russian Rivers' dip net and rod and reel fishery. For both Kenai River fishing sites below Skilak Lake, incidentally caught fish may be retained for subsistence uses, except for early-run Chinook salmon (unless otherwise provided for), rainbow trout 18 inches or longer, and Dolly Varden 18 inches or longer, which must be released. For the Russian River fishing site, incidentally caught fish may be retained for subsistence uses, except for early- and late-run Chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden, which must be released. Before leaving the fishing site, all retained fish must be recorded on the permit and marked by removing the dorsal fin. Harvests must be reported within 72 hours to the Federal fisheries manager upon leaving the fishing site, and permits must be returned to the manager by the due date listed on the permit. Chum salmon that are retained are to be included within the annual limit for sockeye salmon. Only residents of Cooper Landing, Hope, and Ninilchik may retain incidentally caught resident species.

(1) The household dip net and rod and reel gear fishery is limited to three sites:

(i) At the Kenai River Moose Range Meadows site, dip netting is allowed only from a boat from a Federal regulatory marker on the Kenai River at about river mile 29 downstream approximately 2.5 miles to another marker on the Kenai River at about river mile 26.5. Residents using rod and reel gear at this fishery site may fish from boats or from shore with up to two baited single or treble hooks June 15-August 31. Seasonal riverbank closures and motor boat restrictions are the same as those listed in State of Alaska fishing regulations (5 AAC 56 and 5 AAC 57 and 5 AAC 77.540).

(ii) At the Kenai River Mile 48 site, dip netting is allowed while either standing in the river or from a boat, from Federal regulatory markers on both sides of the Kenai River at about river mile 48 (approximately 2 miles below the outlet of Skilak Lake) downstream approximately 2.5 miles to a marker on the Kenai River at about river mile 45.5. Residents using rod and reel gear at this fishery site may fish from boats or from shore with up to two baited single or treble hooks June 15-August 31. Seasonal riverbank closures and motor boat restrictions are the same as those listed in State of Alaska fishing regulations (5 AAC 56, 5 AAC 57, and 5 AAC 77.540).

(iii) At the Russian River Falls site, dip netting is allowed from a Federal regulatory marker near the upstream end of the fish ladder at Russian River Falls downstream to a Federal regulatory marker approximately 600 yards below Russian River Falls. Residents using rod and reel gear at this fishery site may not fish with bait at any time.

(2) Fishing seasons are as follows:

(i) For sockeye salmon at all fishery sites: June 15-August 15;

(ii) For late-run Chinook, pink, and coho salmon at both Kenai River fishery sites only: July 16-September 30; and

(iii) Fishing for sockeye, late-run Chinook, coho, or pink salmon will close by special action prior to regulatory end dates if the annual total harvest limit for that species is reached or superseded by Federal special action.

(3) Each household may harvest their annual sockeye, late-run Chinook, coho, or pink salmon limits in one or more days, and each household member may fish with a dip net or rod and reel during this time. Salmon taken in the Kenai River system dip net and rod and reel fishery by Ninilchik households will be included as part of those household's annual limits for the Kasilof River.

(i) For sockeye salmon—annual total harvest limit of 4,000 (including any retained chum salmon); annual household limits of 25 for each permit holder and 5 additional for each household member;

(ii) For late-run Chinook salmon—annual total harvest limit of 1,000; annual household limits of 10 for each permit holder and 2 additional for each household member;

(iii) For coho salmon—annual total harvest limit of 3,000; annual household limits of 20 for each permit holder and 5 additional for each household member; and

(iv) For pink salmon—annual total harvest limit of 2,000; annual household limits of 15 for each permit holder and 5 additional for each household member.

(E) For Federally managed waters of the Kenai River and its tributaries, in addition to the dip net and rod and reel fisheries on the Kenai and Russian rivers described under paragraph (e)(10)(iv)(D) of this section, residents of Hope, Cooper Landing, and Ninilchik may take sockeye, Chinook, coho, pink, and chum salmon through a separate rod and reel fishery in the Kenai River drainage. Before leaving the fishing site, all retained fish must be recorded on the permit and marked by removing the dorsal fin. Permits must be returned to the Federal fisheries manager by the due date listed on the permit. Incidentally caught fish, other than salmon, are subject to regulations found in paragraphs (e)(10)(iv)(F) and (G) of this section. Seasons, areas (including seasonal riverbank closures), harvest and possession limits, and methods and means (including motor boat restrictions) for take are the same as for the taking of these salmon species under State of Alaska fishing regulations (5 AAC 56, 5 AAC 57 and 5 AAC 77.54), except for the following harvest and possession limits:

(1) In the Kenai River below Skilak Lake, fishing is allowed with up to two baited single or treble hooks June 15-August 31.

(2) For early-run Chinook salmon less than 46 inches or 55 inches or longer, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession.

(3) For late-run Chinook salmon 20 inches and longer, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession.

(4) Annual harvest limits for any combination of early- and late-run Chinook salmon are four for each permit holder.

(5) For other salmon 16 inches and longer, the combined daily harvest and possession limits are six per day and six in possession, of which no more than four per day and four in possession may be coho salmon, except for the Sanctuary Area and Russian River, for which no more than two per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.

(F) For Federally managed waters of the Kenai River and its tributaries below Skilak Lake outlet at river mile 50, residents of Cooper Landing, Hope, and Ninilchik may take resident fish species including lake trout, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden/Arctic char with jigging gear through the ice or rod and reel gear in open waters. Resident fish species harvested in the Kenai River drainage under the conditions of a Federal subsistence permit must be marked by removal of the dorsal fin immediately after harvest and recorded on the permit prior to leaving the fishing site. Seasons, areas (including seasonal riverbank closures), harvest and possession limits, and methods and means (including motor boat restrictions) for take are the same as for the taking of these resident species under State of Alaska fishing regulations (5 AAC 56, 5 AAC 57, and 5 AAC 77.54), except for the following harvest and possession limits:

(1) For lake trout 20 inches or longer, daily harvest and possession limits are four per day and four in possession. For fish less than 20 inches, daily harvest and possession limits are 15 per day and 15 in possession.

(2) In flowing waters, daily harvest and possession limits for Dolly Varden/Arctic char less than 18 inches in length are one per day and one in possession. In lakes and ponds, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession. Only one of these fish can be 20 inches or longer.

(3) In flowing waters, daily harvest and possession limits for rainbow/steelhead trout are one per day and one in possession and must be less than 18 inches in length. In lakes and ponds, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession of which only one fish 20 inches or longer may be harvested daily.

(G) For Federally managed waters of the upper Kenai River and its tributaries above Skilak Lake outlet at river mile 50, residents of Cooper Landing, Hope, and Ninilchik may take resident fish species including lake trout, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden/Arctic char with jigging gear through the ice or rod and reel gear in open waters. Resident fish species harvested in the Kenai River drainage under the conditions of a Federal subsistence permit must be marked by removal of the dorsal fin immediately after harvest and recorded on the permit prior to leaving the fishing site. Seasons, areas (including seasonal riverbank closures), harvest and possession limits, and methods and means (including motor boat restrictions) for take are the same as for the taking of these resident species under Alaska fishing regulations (5 AAC 56, 5 AAC 57, 5 AAC 77.54), except for the following harvest and possession limits:

(1) For lake trout 20 inches or longer, daily harvest and possession limits are four per day and four in possession. For fish less than 20 inches, daily harvest and possession limits are 15 fish per day and 15 in possession. For Hidden Lake, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession regardless of size.

(2) In flowing waters, daily harvest and possession limits for Dolly Varden/Arctic char less than 16 inches are one per day and one in possession. In lakes and ponds, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession of which only one fish 20 inches or longer may be harvested daily.

(3) In flowing waters, daily harvest and possession limits for rainbow/steelhead trout are one per day and one in possession and it must be less than 16 inches in length. In lakes and ponds, daily harvest and possession limits are two per day and two in possession of which only one fish 20 inches or longer may be harvested daily.

(H) Residents of Ninilchik may harvest sockeye, Chinook, coho, and pink salmon through a fish wheel fishery in the Federal public waters of the upper mainstem of the Kasilof River. Residents of Ninilchik may retain other species incidentally caught in the Kasilof River except for rainbow/steelhead trout, which must be released and returned unharmed to the water.

(1) Only one fish wheel can be operated on the Kasilof River. The fish wheel must have a live box, must be monitored when fishing, must be stopped from fishing when it is not being monitored or used, and must be installed and operated in compliance with any regulations and restrictions for its use within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

(2) One registration permit will be available and will be awarded by the Federal in-season fishery manager, in consultation with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge manager, based on the merits of the operation plan. The registration permit will be issued to an organization that, as the fish wheel owner, will be responsible for its construction, installation, operation, use, and removal in consultation with the Federal fishery manager. The owner may not rent or lease the fish wheel for personal gain. As part of the permit, the organization must:

(i) Prior to the season, provide a written operation plan to the Federal fishery manager including a description of how fishing time and fish will be offered and distributed among households and residents of Ninilchik;

(ii) During the season, mark the fish wheel with a wood, metal, or plastic plate at least 12 inches high by 12 inches wide that is permanently affixed and plainly visible, and that contains the following information in letters and numerals at least 1 inch high: registration permit number; organization's name and address; and primary contact person name and telephone number;

(iii) After the season, provide written documentation of required evaluation information to the Federal fishery manager including, but not limited to, person or households operating the gear, hours of operation, and number of each species caught and retained or released.

(3) People operating the fish wheel must:

(i) Have a valid Federal subsistence fishing permit in their possession;

(ii) If they are not the fish wheel owner, attach an additional wood, metal, or plastic plate at least 12 inches high by 12 inches wide to the fish wheel that is plainly visible, and that contains their fishing permit number, name, and address in letters and numerals at least 1 inch high;

(iii) Remain on site to monitor the fish wheel and remove all fish at least every hour;

(iv) Before leaving the site, mark all retained fish by removing their dorsal fin and record all retained fish on their fishing permit; and

(v) Within 72 hours of leaving the site, report their harvest to the Federal fisheries manager.

(4) The fish wheel owner (organization) may operate the fish wheel for subsistence purposes on behalf of residents of Ninilchik by requesting a subsistence fishing permit that:

(i) Identifies a person who will be responsible for operating the fish wheel;

(ii) Includes provisions for recording daily catches, the household to whom the catch was given, and other information determined to be necessary for effective resource management by the Federal fishery manager.

(5) Fishing will be allowed from June 16 through October 31 on the Kasilof River unless closed or otherwise restricted by Federal special action.

(6) Salmon taken in the fish wheel fishery will be included as part of dip net/rod and reel fishery annual total harvest limits for the Kasilof River and as part of dip net/rod and reel household annual limits of participating households.

(7) Fishing for each salmon species will end and the fishery will be closed by Federal special action prior to regulatory end dates if the annual total harvest limit for that species is reached or superseded by Federal special action.

(8) You may take smelt with dip nets in fresh water only from April 1-June 15. There are no harvest or possession limits for smelt.

(9) Gillnets may not be used in fresh water, except for the taking of whitefish in the Tyone River drainage and as otherwise provided for in this Cook Inlet section.

(11) Prince William Sound Area. The Prince William Sound Area includes all waters and drainages of Alaska between the longitude of Cape Fairfield and the longitude of Cape Suckling.

(i) You may take fish, other than rainbow/steelhead trout, in the Prince William Sound Area only under authority of a subsistence fishing permit, except that a permit is not required to take eulachon. You make not take rainbow/steelhead trout, except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (e)(11) of this section.

(A) In the Prince William Sound Area within Chugach National Forest and in the Copper River drainage downstream of Haley Creek you may accumulate Federal subsistence fishing harvest limits with harvest limits under State of Alaska sport fishing regulations provided that accumulation of fishing harvest limits does not occur during the same day.

(B) You may accumulate harvest limits of salmon authorized for the Copper River drainage upstream from Haley Creek with harvest limits for salmon authorized under State of Alaska sport fishing regulations.

(ii) You may take fish by gear listed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section unless restricted in this section or under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit.

(iii) If you catch rainbow/steelhead trout incidentally in other subsistence net fisheries, you may retain them for subsistence purposes, unless restricted in this section.

(iv) In the Copper River drainage, you may take salmon only in the waters of the Upper Copper River District, or in the vicinity of the Native Village of Batzulnetas.

(v) In the Upper Copper River District, you may take salmon only by fish wheels, rod and reel, or dip nets.

(vi) Rainbow/steelhead trout and other freshwater fish caught incidentally to salmon by fish wheel in the Upper Copper River District may be retained.

(vii) Freshwater fish other than rainbow/steelhead trout caught incidentally to salmon by dip net in the Upper Copper River District may be retained. Rainbow/steelhead trout caught incidentally to salmon by dip net in the Upper Copper River District must be released unharmed to the water.

(viii) You may not possess salmon taken under the authority of an Upper Copper River District subsistence fishing permit, or rainbow/steelhead trout caught incidentally to salmon by fish wheel, unless the anal fin has been immediately removed from the fish. You must immediately record all retained fish on the subsistence permit. Immediately means prior to concealing the fish from plain view or transporting the fish more than 50 feet from where the fish was removed from the water.

(ix) You may take salmon in the Upper Copper River District from May 15 through September 30 only.

(x) The total annual harvest limit for subsistence salmon fishing permits in combination for the Glennallen Subdistrict and the Chitina Subdistrict is as follows:

(A) For a household with 1 person, 30 salmon, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook salmon taken by dip net and no more than 5 Chinook taken by rod and reel;

(B) For a household with 2 persons, 60 salmon, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook salmon taken by dip net and no more than 5 Chinook taken by rod and reel, plus 10 salmon for each additional person in a household over 2 persons, except that the household's limit for Chinook salmon taken by dip net or rod and reel does not increase;

(C) Upon request, permits for additional salmon will be issued for no more than a total of 200 salmon for a permit issued to a household with 1 person, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook salmon taken by dip net and no more than 5 Chinook taken by rod and reel, or no more than a total of 500 salmon for a permit issued to a household with 2 or more persons, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook salmon taken by dip net and no more than 5 Chinook taken by rod and reel.

(xi) The following apply to Upper Copper River District subsistence salmon fishing permits:

(A) Only one subsistence fishing permit per subdistrict will be issued to each household per year. If a household has been issued permits for both subdistricts in the same year, both permits must be in your possession and readily available for inspection while fishing or transporting subsistence-taken fish in either subdistrict. A qualified household may also be issued a Batzulnetas salmon fishery permit in the same year;

(B) Multiple types of gear may be specified on a permit, although only one unit of gear may be operated at any one time;

(C) You must return your permit no later than October 31 of the year in which the permit is issued, or you may be denied a permit for the following year;

(D) A fish wheel may be operated only by one permit holder at one time; that permit holder must have the fish wheel marked as required by paragraph (e)(11) of this section and during fishing operations;

(E) Only the permit holder and the authorized member(s) of the household listed on the subsistence permit may take salmon;

(F) You must personally operate your fish wheel or dip net;

(G) You may not loan or transfer a subsistence fish wheel or dip net permit except as permitted.

(xii) If you are a fish wheel owner:

(A) You must register your fish wheel with ADF&G or the Federal Subsistence Board;

(B) Your registration number and a wood, metal, or plastic plate at least 12 inches high by 12 inches wide bearing either your name and address, or your Alaska driver's license number, or your Alaska State identification card number in letters and numerals at least 1 inch high, must be permanently affixed and plainly visible on the fish wheel when the fish wheel is in the water;

(C) Only the current year's registration number may be affixed to the fish wheel; you must remove any other registration number from the fish wheel;

(D) You must check your fish wheel at least once every 10 hours and remove all fish;

(E) You are responsible for the fish wheel; you must remove the fish wheel from the water at the end of the permit period;

(F) You may not rent, lease, or otherwise use your fish wheel used for subsistence fishing for personal gain.

(xiii) If you are operating a fish wheel:

(A) You may operate only one fish wheel at any one time;

(B) You may not set or operate a fish wheel within 75 feet of another fish wheel;

(C) No fish wheel may have more than two baskets;

(D) If you are a permittee other than the owner, you must attach an additional wood, metal, or plastic plate at least 12 inches high by 12 inches wide, bearing your name and address in letters and numerals at least 1 inch high, to the fish wheel so that the name and address are plainly visible.

(xiv) A subsistence fishing permit may be issued to a village council, or other similarly qualified organization whose members operate fish wheels for subsistence purposes in the Upper Copper River District, to operate fish wheels on behalf of members of its village or organization. The following additional provisions apply to subsistence fishing permits issued under this paragraph (e)(11)(xiv) of this section:

(A) The permit will list all households and household members for whom the fish wheel is being operated. The permit will identify a person who will be responsible for each fish wheel in a similar manner to a fish wheel owner as described in paragraph (e)(11)(xii) of this section;

(B) The allowable harvest may not exceed the combined seasonal limits for the households listed on the permit; the permittee will notify the ADF&G or Federal Subsistence Board when households are added to the list, and the seasonal limit may be adjusted accordingly;

(C) Members of households listed on a permit issued to a village council or other similarly qualified organization are not eligible for a separate household subsistence fishing permit for the Upper Copper River District;

(D) The permit will include provisions for recording daily catches for each fish wheel; location and number of fish wheels; full legal name of the individual responsible for the lawful operation of each fish wheel as described in paragraph (e)(11)(xii) of this section; and other information determined to be necessary for effective resource management.

(xv) You may take salmon in the vicinity of the former Native village of Batzulnetas only under the authority of a Batzulnetas subsistence salmon fishing permit available from the National Park Service under the following conditions:

(A) You may take salmon only in those waters of the Copper River between National Park Service regulatory markers located near the mouth of Tanada Creek and approximately one-half mile downstream from that mouth and in Tanada Creek between National Park Service regulatory markers identifying the open waters of the creek;

(B) You may use only fish wheels, dip nets, and rod and reel on the Copper River and only dip nets, spears, fyke nets, and rod and reel in Tanada Creek. One fyke net and associated lead may be used in Tanada Creek upstream of the National Park Service weir;

(C) You may take salmon only from May 15 through September 30 or until the season is closed by special action;

(D) You may retain Chinook salmon taken in a fish wheel in the Copper River. You must return to the water unharmed any Chinook salmon caught in Tanada Creek;

(E) You must return the permit to the National Park Service no later than October 15 of the year the permit was issued;

(F) You may only use a fyke net after consultation with the in-season manager. You must be present when the fyke net is actively fishing. You may take no more than 1,000 sockeye salmon in Tanada Creek with a fyke net;

(xvi) You may take pink salmon for subsistence purposes from fresh water with a dip net from May 15 through September 30, 7 days per week, with no harvest or possession limits in the following areas:

(A) Green Island, Knight Island, Chenega Island, Bainbridge Island, Evans Island, Elrington Island, Latouche Island, and adjacent islands, and the mainland waters from the outer point of Granite Bay located in Knight Island Passage to Cape Fairfield;

(B) Waters north of a line from Porcupine Point to Granite Point, and south of a line from Point Lowe to Tongue Point.

(12) Yakutat Area. The Yakutat Area includes all waters and drainages of Alaska between the longitude of Cape Suckling and the longitude of Cape Fairweather.

(i) Unless restricted in this section or unless restricted under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish at any time in the Yakutat Area.

(ii) You may take salmon, trout (other than steelhead), and char only under authority of a subsistence fishing permit. You may take steelhead trout only in the Situk and Ahrnklin Rivers and only under authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit.

(iii) If you take salmon, trout, or char incidentally by gear operated under the terms of a subsistence permit for salmon, you may retain them for subsistence purposes. You must report any salmon, trout, or char taken in this manner on your permit calendar.

(iv) You may take fish by gear listed in this part unless restricted in this section or under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit. In areas where use of rod and reel is allowed, you may use artificial fly, lure, or bait when fishing with rod and reel, unless restricted by Federal permit. If you use bait, you must retain all Federally regulated fish species caught, and they apply to your applicable daily and annual harvest limits for that species. For streams with steelhead, once your daily or annual limit of steelhead is harvested, you may no longer fish with bait for any species.

(v) In the Situk River, each subsistence salmon fishing permit holder shall attend his or her gillnet at all times when it is being used to take salmon.

(vi) You may block up to two-thirds of a stream with a gillnet or seine used for subsistence fishing.

(vii) You must immediately remove both lobes of the caudal (tail) fin from subsistence-caught salmon when taken.

(viii) You may not possess subsistence-taken and sport-taken salmon on the same day.

(ix) You must possess a subsistence fishing permit to take Dolly Varden. The daily harvest and possession limit is 10 Dolly Varden of any size.

(13) Southeastern Alaska Area. The Southeastern Alaska Area includes all waters between a line projecting southwest from the westernmost tip of Cape Fairweather and Dixon Entrance.

(i) Unless restricted in this section or under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit, you may take fish other than salmon, trout, grayling, and char in the Southeastern Alaska Area at any time.

(ii) You must possess a subsistence fishing permit to take salmon, trout, grayling, or char. You must possess a subsistence fishing permit to take eulachon from any freshwater stream flowing into fishing District 1.

(iii) In the Southeastern Alaska Area, a rainbow trout is defined as a fish of the species Oncorhyncus mykiss less than 22 inches in overall length. A steelhead is defined as a rainbow trout with an overall length of 22 inches or larger.

(iv) In areas where use of rod and reel is allowed, you may use artificial fly, lure, or bait when fishing with rod and reel, unless restricted by Federal permit. If you use bait, you must retain all Federally regulated fish species caught, and they apply to your applicable daily, seasonal, and annual harvest limits for that species.

(A) For streams with steelhead, once your daily, seasonal, or annual limit of steelhead is harvested, you may no longer fish with bait for any species.

(B) Unless otherwise specified in this paragraph (e)(13) of this section, allowable gear for salmon or steelhead is restricted to gaffs, spears, gillnets, seines, dip nets, cast nets, handlines, or rod and reel.

(v) Unless otherwise specified in this paragraph (e)(13) of this section, you may use a handline for snagging salmon or steelhead.

(vi) You may fish with a rod and reel within 300 feet of a fish ladder unless the site is otherwise posted by the USDA Forest Service. You may not fish from, on, or in a fish ladder.

(vii) You may not accumulate Federal subsistence harvest limits authorized for the Southeastern Alaska Area with any harvest limits authorized under any State of Alaska fishery with the following exception: Annual or seasonal Federal subsistence harvest limits may be accumulated with State sport fishing harvest limits provided that accumulation of harvest limits does not occur during the same day.

(viii) If you take salmon, trout, or char incidentally with gear operated under terms of a subsistence permit for other salmon, they may be kept for subsistence purposes. You must report any salmon, trout, or char taken in this manner on your subsistence fishing permit.

(ix) No permits for the use of nets will be issued for the salmon streams flowing across or adjacent to the road systems within the city limits of Petersburg, Wrangell, and Sitka.

(x) You may not possess subsistence-taken and sport-taken fish of a given species on the same day.

(xi) If a harvest limit is not otherwise listed for sockeye in paragraph (e)(13) of this section, the harvest limit for sockeye salmon is the same as provided for in adjacent State subsistence or personal use fisheries. If a harvest limit is not established for the State subsistence or personal use fisheries, the possession limit is 10 sockeye and the annual harvest limit is 20 sockeye per household for that stream.

(xii) The Sarkar River system above the bridge is closed to the use of all nets by both Federally qualified and non-Federally qualified users.

(xiii) You may take Chinook, sockeye, and coho salmon in the mainstem of the Stikine River only under the authority of a Federal subsistence fishing permit. Each Stikine River permit will be issued to a household. Only dip nets, spears, gaffs, rod and reel, beach seine, or gillnets not exceeding 15 fathoms in length may be used. The maximum gillnet mesh size is 51/2 inches, except during the Chinook season when the maximum gillnet mesh size is 8 inches.

(A) You may take Chinook salmon from May 15 through June 20. The annual limit is 5 Chinook salmon per household.

(B) You may take sockeye salmon from June 21 through July 31. The annual limit is 40 sockeye salmon per household.

(C) You may take coho salmon from August 1 through October 1. The annual limit is 20 coho salmon per household.

(D) You may retain other salmon taken incidentally by gear operated under terms of this permit. The incidentally taken salmon must be reported on your permit calendar.

(E) The total annual guideline harvest level for the Stikine River fishery is 125 Chinook, 600 sockeye, and 400 coho salmon. All salmon harvested, including incidentally taken salmon, will count against the guideline for that species.

(xiv) You may take coho salmon with a Federal salmon fishing permit. There is no closed season. The daily harvest limit is 20 coho salmon per household. Only dip nets, spears, gaffs, handlines, and rod and reel may be used. There are specific rules to harvest any salmon on the Stikine River, and you must have a separate Stikine River subsistence salmon fishing permit to take salmon on the Stikine River.

(xv) Unless noted on a Federal subsistence harvest permit, there are no harvest limits for pink or chum salmon.

(xvi) Unless otherwise specified in paragraph (e)(13) of this section, you may take steelhead under the terms of a subsistence fishing permit. The open season is January 1 through May 31. The daily household harvest and possession limit is one with an annual household limit of two. You may only use a dip net, gaff, handline, spear, or rod and reel. The permit conditions and systems to receive special protection will be determined by the local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with ADF&G.

(xvii) You may take steelhead trout on Prince of Wales and Kosciusko Islands under the terms of Federal subsistence fishing permits. You must obtain a separate permit for the winter and spring seasons.

(A) The winter season is December 1 through the last day of February, with a harvest limit of two fish per household, however, only 1 steelhead may be harvested by a household from a particular drainage. You may use only a dip net, handline, spear, or rod and reel. You must return your winter season permit within 15 days of the close of the season and before receiving another permit for a Prince of Wales/Kosciusko steelhead subsistence fishery. The permit conditions and systems to receive special protection will be determined by the local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with ADF&G.

(B) The spring season is March 1 through May 31, with a harvest limit of five fish per household, however, only 2 steelhead may be harvested by a household from a particular drainage. You may use only a dip net, handline, spear, or rod and reel. You must return your spring season permit within 15 days of the close of the season and before receiving another permit for a Prince of Wales/Kosciusko steelhead subsistence fishery. The permit conditions and systems to receive special protection will be determined by the local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with ADF&G.

(xviii) In addition to the requirement for a Federal subsistence fishing permit, the following restrictions for the harvest of Dolly Varden, brook trout, grayling, cutthroat, and rainbow trout apply:

(A) The daily household harvest and possession limit is 20 Dolly Varden; there is no closed season or size limit;

(B) The daily household harvest and possession limit is 20 brook trout; there is no closed season or size limit;

(C) The daily household harvest and possession limit is 20 grayling; there is no closed season or size limit;

(D) The daily household harvest limit is 6 and the household possession limit is 12 cutthroat or rainbow trout in combination; there is no closed season or size limit;

(E) You may only use a rod and reel;

(F) The permit conditions and systems to receive special protection will be determined by the local Federal fisheries manager in consultation with ADF&G.

(xix) There is no subsistence fishery for any salmon on the Taku River.

Dated: March 13. 2013.

Kathleen M. O'Reilly-Doyle,

Acting, Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board.

Dated: March 15. 2013.

Steve Kessler,

Subsistence Program Leader, USDA—Forest Service.