Find Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits Online

When it comes to places to commercially fish, it is hard to beat Alaska. By far the most remote state in the Union, Alaska sits far above the continental U.S., and with thousands of miles of coastline, it is uniquely situated against many well-stocked commercial fisheries. Of course, living in Alaska is not for everyone. This state is also home to some of the most extreme weather on Earth. Considering that commercial fishing is already a particularly dangerous line of work, factoring in the brutal conditions inherent to the Frontier State can weed out those who simply are not up to the task. If you are the hearty sort, though, and commercial fishing is your way of life, you are going to want to make sure that you are carrying the proper Alaska commercial fishing permits before you head out to sea.

One of the great things about commercial fishing–and this is a primary draw for a lot of people–is its sense of simplicity. Dropping a line in the water and catching a fish, then selling it in the marketplace is one of the oldest professions in the history of human civilization. Of course, in this day and age, commercial fishing is a global, multi-billion dollar industry, as demand for quality, fresh seafood remains high. With that said, competing with the big boys in the commercial fishing space is not always easy. You are going to want to make sure that you have a boat that is up to the challenges brought on by rough seas, as well as a competent crew that knows the waters and what they are fishing for. There are also some paperwork matters that will warrant your attention as a business owner, and having the proper commercial fishing permits and licenses is chief among them.

Which Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits Do You Need?

Before you start applying for commercial fishing permits, you should first consider where you will be casting your lines, as this will be key to determining the permits you need. If you are fishing in the area between the shore and three nautical miles out, those are considered state-level permits. To get those, you will need to submit applications to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The area that exists between three and 200 nautical miles from land falls under federal jurisdiction. If you are fishing on these waters, you will need to obtain permits from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA separates out its permits by region, and because Alaska sits on so much water, it has its own NOAA territory, which features a number of species-specific licenses and permits.

Get State and NOAA Permits Online

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we have online applications for all the state and federal fishing permits that your business needs. To see for yourself, spend a few minutes exploring the navigation menu at the top of our website. You can also visit our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn additional information.