NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

OF THE ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES

On March 21, 2014, the Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted, as emergency regulations, changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with subsistence salmon fishing on the Kuskokwim River in the Kuskokwim Area, including the following:

5 AAC 07.365(d)(2) is changed to give the commissioner of fish and game authority to close the subsistence salmon fishing season on the Kuskokwim River and immediately reopen by emergency order a subsistence salmon fishing season during which a gillnet mesh size and length of a gillnet may be reduced under certain conditions and a person may use a dip net to subsistence fish for salmon.  In addition, any king salmon taken by a dip net must be immediately returned to the water alive.

The emergency regulations took April 18, 2014 and will expire August 15, 2014. The Alaska Board of Fisheries intends to make the emergency regulations permanent.

You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Glenn Haight, Executive Director, Alaska Board of Fisheries at Boards Support Section, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526. Additionally, the Board of Fisheries will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-6094. The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2014.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Glenn Haight at (907) 465-4110 no later than May 21, 2014 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

For a copy of the emergency regulations, contact Glenn Haight, Executive Director, Alaska Board of Fisheries at the address or telephone number included in this notice or go to http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.main.

The language of the permanent regulations may be different from that of the original emergency regulations, and may include other provisions dealing with the same subject. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.  The commissioner of fish and game, under a delegation of authority from the Board of Fisheries, may adopt changes as necessary and will perform the functions to make the emergency regulations permanent.

Statutory Authority:  AS 16.05.251; AS 16.05.258

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.251; AS 16.05.258

Fiscal Information: The regulations are not expected to require an increased appropriation

DATE:   April 21, 2014                                     ___________________________________

                                                                        Glenn Haight, Executive Director

                                                                        Alaska Board of Fisheries

ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION

(AS 44.62.190(d))

1.   Adopting agency: Alaska Board of Fisheries

2.   General subject of regulation:  Subsistence salmon fishery on Kuskokwim River

3.   Citation of regulation (may be grouped):  5 AAC 07.365(d)(2)

4.   Department of Law file number: JU2014200316

5.   Reason for the proposed action: create modifications for subsistence harvest gear that will allow harvest of sockeye and chum salmon resource that otherwise would go unharvested during times of king salmon conservation.

6.   Appropriation/Allocation: Natural Resources

7.   Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):

Initial Year       Subsequent

FY 14               Years

Operating Cost                         $_0______        $__0_____

Capital Cost                              $_0______        $__0_____

1002 Federal receipts                 $________        $________

1003 General fund match          $________        $________

1004 General fund                    $________        $________

1005 General fund/

   program                                $________        $________

1037 General fund/

mental health                           $________        $________

Other                                       $________        $________

8.   The name of the contact person for the regulations:

Glenn Haight, Executive Director

Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Boards Support Section

PO Box 115526

Juneau, Alaska 99811

(907) 465-4110

Glenn.haight@alaska.gov

9.   The origin of the proposed action:

_____      staff of state agency

_____      federal government

_____      general public

___x_      petition for regulation change

_____      other (please list)                                                                                                

10. Date: April 21, 2014                       Prepared by:                   _____________________________

[signature]

Name (printed): Glenn Haight                                           

Title (printed): Executive Director                                     

Telephone: (907) 465-4110