Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits Needed to Start a Business

If you are thinking about starting your own fishing business then you will need to set your papers right first. The purpose of this article is to help you with all of the commercial fishing permits you will need to set up your business in Alaska. Here is a list of the different types of permits you may get.

Different Types of Permits in Alaska

There are many types of commercial fishing permits, with some variations that will depend on the state you are living in. In Alaska, commercial fishing permits are plenty, and we will go through some of the most common types you may be required when you start your own business.

Keep in mind that the type of permit you get will depend whether you are on state water, which extends from zero up to three nautical miles from shore, or federal, from that point until the 200 federal miles. Furthermore, the federal permits are extended by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the state permits are issued by state, in our case, by the appropriate Alaskan government agency.

Some Commercial Fishing Permits in Alaska

Application for Federal Fishing Permit (FFP)

This form may be used to apply for Alaska Federal Fisheries Permits (FFP). A FFP permit is required for U.S. vessels which are used to fish for groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska or Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This permit is also required for vessels used to fish for any non-groundfish species and that are required to retain any bycatch of groundfish under. 

Application for Federal Processor Permit (FPP)

This form may be used to apply for Alaska Federal Processor Permits (FPP). A FPP permit is required for stationary floating processors (processing vessels that operate solely within Alaska State waters). The permit also is required for shoreside processors that receive and/or process groundfish harvested from Federal waters (or from any Federally-permitted vessels). FPPs are non-transferable, one year permits, issued to owners on request and without charge.

Application for a Community Quota Entity (CQE) to Receive a Non Trawl Groundfish LLP License

This form may be used to apply for a Community Quota Entity (CQE) to Receive a Non Trawl Groundfish LLP License. A Federal License Limitation Program (LLP) license is required for vessels participating in direct fishing for LLP groundfish species in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) or Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI), or fishing in any BSAI LLP crab fisheries.

Application for Transfer of Scallop LLP License

This application is to transfer a Scallop License Limitation Program (SLLP) license. A federal Scallop License Limitation Program (SLLP) license is required onboard any vessel deployed in scallop fisheries in Federal waters off Alaska (except for some diving operations). The SLLP is intended to limit the number of participants and reduce fishing capacity in the scallop fishery off Alaska.

All of Your Forms at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center

Those are some of the most common commercial fishing permit forms, but almost all of them can be found at the same place: The Commercial Fishing Permits Center. Just go back to our home page, decide if the documents you are looking for are of a state or federal level, choose the appropriate region and, once you have completed the form with your details, we will do the rest!