diff --git a/SS_benchfore.tpl b/SS_benchfore.tpl
index 0044edd3..45f031c0 100644
--- a/SS_benchfore.tpl
+++ b/SS_benchfore.tpl
@@ -2836,7 +2836,13 @@ FUNCTION void Get_Forecast()
                       (1.0) * (1.0 - join2); // scale right side
                   break;
                 }
-            }
+              }
+              // protection level; contributed by AEP
+              if (H4010_prot > 0)
+              {
+                join1 = 1.0 / (1. + mfexp(20.0 * (SSB_current - H4010_prot * HCR_anchor)));
+                ABC_buffer(y) = 0.0001*join1 + (1.0 - 0.0001)*(1.0 - join1)*ABC_buffer(y);
+              }
           } // end calc of ABC buffer
           else
           { //  ABC buffer remains at previously calculated value
diff --git a/SS_readdata_330.tpl b/SS_readdata_330.tpl
index bb681676..c1ac6fd7 100644
--- a/SS_readdata_330.tpl
+++ b/SS_readdata_330.tpl
@@ -4029,7 +4029,9 @@
   int Rebuild_Yinit;
   int HarvestPolicy; // 0=none; 1=west coast adjust catch; 2=AK to adjust F
   number H4010_top_rd;
+  number H4010_bot_rd;
   number H4010_bot;
+  number H4010_prot;
   number H4010_scale;
   number H4010_scale_rd;
   int Do_Impl_Error;
@@ -4283,8 +4285,17 @@
     echoinput << HarvestPolicy << "  # echoed HarvestPolicy " << endl;
     *(ad_comm::global_datafile) >> H4010_top_rd; //  as fraction of HCR_anchor; use -1 as legacy approach to set H4010_top to Bmsy/SSB_unf
     echoinput << H4010_top_rd << "   # echoed control rule inflection" << endl;
-    *(ad_comm::global_datafile) >> H4010_bot;
-    echoinput << H4010_bot << "   # echoed control rule cutoff " << endl;
+    *(ad_comm::global_datafile) >> H4010_bot_rd;
+    echoinput << H4010_bot_rd << "   # echoed control rule cutoff " << endl;
+    H4010_bot = H4010_bot_rd;
+    H4010_prot = -1000;
+    if (H4010_bot < 0)
+     {
+      H4010_bot *= -1;
+      echoinput << H4010_bot << "   # echoed control rule cutoff " << endl;
+      *(ad_comm::global_datafile) >> H4010_prot;
+      echoinput << H4010_prot << "   # echoed protection level cutoff " << endl;
+     }
     *(ad_comm::global_datafile) >> H4010_scale_rd;
     H4010_scale = H4010_scale_rd;
     echoinput << H4010_scale << "   # echoed control rule scalar " << endl;
diff --git a/SS_write_ssnew.tpl b/SS_write_ssnew.tpl
index 07c852a7..5e395867 100644
--- a/SS_write_ssnew.tpl
+++ b/SS_write_ssnew.tpl
@@ -1645,7 +1645,11 @@ FUNCTION void write_nucontrol()
   NuFore << HarvestPolicy << " # Control rule method (0: none; 1: ramp does catch=f(SSB), buffer on F; 2: ramp does F=f(SSB), buffer on F; 3: ramp does catch=f(SSB), buffer on catch; 4: ramp does F=f(SSB), buffer on catch) " << endl;
   NuFore << "# values for top, bottom and buffer required, but not used when Policy=0" << endl;
   NuFore << H4010_top_rd << " # Control rule inflection for constant F (as frac of HCR_anchor, see below); must be > control rule cutoff" << endl;
-  NuFore << H4010_bot << " # Control rule cutoff for no F (as frac of HCR_anchor, e.g. 0.10) " << endl;
+  NuFore << H4010_bot_rd << " # Control rule cutoff for no F (as frac of HCR_anchor, e.g. 0.10); negative value to also invoke read of protection level " << endl;
+  if (H4010_bot_rd < 0)
+  { NuFore << H4010_prot << " # AK protection level:  control rule level below which F goes to 0.0001" << endl;}
+  else
+  { NuFore << " # placeholder for AK protection level:  control rule level below which F goes to 0.0001" << endl;}
   NuFore << H4010_scale_rd << " # Buffer:  enter Control rule target as fraction of Flimit (e.g. 0.75), negative value invokes list of [year, scalar]. -year fills from year to YrMax " << endl;
   NuFore << "# Also see HCR_anchor below to use virgin vs benchmark SSB or Bmsy as basis for inflection and cutoff" << endl;
   if (H4010_scale_rd < 0)