00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 409                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the maximum length of salmon seine vessels; and providing for an                                    
02 effective date."                                                                                                        
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 16.05.835(a) is amended to read:                                                                  
05            (a)  Unless the Board of Fisheries has provided by regulation for the use of                             
06       a longer vessel in a salmon seine fishery, a [A] salmon seine vessel may not be                               
07       longer than 58 feet overall length except vessels that have fished for salmon with                                
08       seines in waters of the state before January 1, 1962, as 50-foot, official Coast Guard                            
09       register length vessels.  A regulation adopted by the board to authorize the use of a                         
10       vessel longer than 58 feet overall length in a salmon seine fishery or to amend or                            
11       repeal an authorization to use a vessel longer than 58 feet overall length in a                               
12       salmon seine fishery may not take affect unless at least 66 percent of the entry                              
13       permit holders for that fishery favor the adoption of the regulation at a                                     
14       referendum conducted by the department.  If a salmon seine vessel longer than                                 
01       58 feet overall length is used in a fishery under regulations adopted under this                              
02       subsection, the vessel may continue to be used in the fishery notwithstanding a                               
03       subsequent reduction in the maximum length of vessels that may be used in the                                 
04       fishery by the board.                                                                                         
05    * Sec. 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2005.