Up to 13 Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits Available Here!

If you are interested in starting a commercial fishing business, you could do much worse than the bountiful coastline and inland waters of Alaska. The state affectionately called “The Last Frontier”, Alaska is an outdoorsman’s paradise, and for commercial fishing operations in the U.S., it is home to numerous well-stocked fisheries. If you are looking to set up a business on these waters, you will want to understand the different types of Alaska commercial fishing permits.

Having the correct and current federal and state fishing permits is a must for any commercial or industrial fishing business. Federal permits, which cover the waters typically between three and 200 nautical miles from shore, are obtained through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). State permits can be acquired through local Alaskan government agencies. Read on to learn more about the different types of fishing permits in Alaska as well as how you can obtain them.

Getting Your State Commercial Fishing Permits

Are you ready to launch your business? Before you head out on the water, you may want to double-check a couple of things. First, is your boat in good working order? Make sure your maintenance is up-to-date and you have all of the necessary fishing and safety equipment. Next, are you dressed for the part? Alaska can be frigid during many months of the fishing season, so you will want to have proper outerwear and warm, reliable boots. Lastly, are your fishing permits with the state of Alaska current?

Anyone operating or working onboard a commercial or industrial fishing vessel must have a valid fishing license. This can be obtained from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game via a paper application. Once issued, an Alaska fishing license is valid for one year.

Knowing Your Federal Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits

The NOAA is tasked with a tall order. The U.S. is home to a staggering surface area of federal waters, and governing those regions calls for a large and knowledgeable staff. For their part, this agency breaks down its available fishing permits by region, one of which is Alaska. Being such a large state with so much coastline, it is not too surprising that Alaska has its own federal jurisdiction. Some of the species-specific permits available to Alaskan commercial fishermen include:

• Gulf of Alaska Rockfish 
• Halibut and Sablefish
• Scallops
• Chinook Salmon
• Crabs
• Pollocks

In total, there are 13 available permits for commercial fishing in Alaska, each one serving a unique purpose. Determining which permit your business will require depends on the catch you are seeking as well as the fisheries you aim to access. Alaska also places quotas on certain species, so it is prudent to be aware of the regulations that pertain to your business.

How Can You Get the Permits You Need?

There are a couple of different ways that you can acquire your Alaska federal or state fishing permits. The first option calls for visiting the website of either the NOAA or the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, depending on which license you need. You can then scout their web pages for the right application, download it as a PDF file, and print it at your home or office. Next, you will need to fill out your application by hand and then write a check for the requisite fee. Once you have completed those steps, you can then package your application in an envelope and mail it to the correct government agency office location.

Of course, there is also an easier way. At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we understand the rigors of commercial fishing better than most. It is a dangerous, physically-demanding, and time-consuming line of work. With that said, not many fishermen have time to be printing forms and stand in line at the post office. That is where our private service comes into play.

We offer one-stop shopping for all of your commercial fishing permit needs, both at the state and federal levels. Beyond Alaska, we also supply online applications for the Atlantic, South, West Coast, and Pacific Island regions. By browsing our website, you can see that we have created an easy-to-navigate interface that allows users such as yourself to quickly locate the permit application that you need.

Once you have located the correct Alaska fishing permit application, you can then enter your personal details in a matter of minutes. Our online forms are streamlined down to only the most pertinent information, saving you time and money. Once completed, your application will then be processed via an SSL-encrypted web portal. As a business owner, protecting your private data is crucial, so we take steps to securely transmit our customers’ personal information. To learn more about our forms and the services that we can provide, contact one of our helpful customer service agents today.