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Frequently Asked Questions
State fisheries (generally within 3 miles of shore) are managed by Alaska under state law. The Alaska Board of Fisheries sets fishing regulations such as seasons, areas, gear types, and harvest limits. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game provides scientific information, data, and management support to inform the Board’s decisions.
Federal fisheries (from 3 miles out to 200 miles offshore) are managed under federal law, primarily the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council develops fishery management plans and recommends rules, such as catch limits and bycatch measures. NOAA Fisheries then reviews those recommendations and is responsible for final approval, implementation, and enforcement.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) is the primary law guiding fisheries management in U.S. waters. Passed in 1976, it extended U.S. control over fishing areas to 200 miles offshore, effectively ending foreign activities in this area. Named after Senators Warren Magnuson of Washington and Ted Stevens of Alaska, the MSA created conservation measures designed to prevent overfishing, protect marine ecosystems and support the long-term sustainability of fisheries through stakeholder participation and representation.
In Alaska, fisheries management is divided between federal and state waters. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) develops policies and recommendations for federal waters beyond three miles offshore, while the Alaska Department of Fish and Game oversees fishing within three miles of the coast. Supporting this layered approach, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coordinates federal fishery policies and collaborates with regional councils and state agencies to integrate scientific data and local insights into management decisions.
The MSA is reauthorized periodically, giving Congress the opportunity to review and update the law to address emerging challenges.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC or Council) manages federal fisheries off Alaska's coast, spanning from three to 200 miles in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. The Council meets five times a year to make decisions that impact Alaska’s commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries, marine ecosystems, and fishery-dependent communities.
The key responsibilities of the Council include:
Developing and amending Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) that promote sustainable fishing practices, habitat protection, and bycatch reduction.
Setting harvest specifications, including annual quotas for various fish stocks.
Implementing Ecosystem-Based Management strategies that consider the broader impacts of fishing on marine ecosystems.
It is crucial for harvesters to understand the NPFMC’s role and process, as it sets policy direction and makes key decisions on managing federal fisheries in the North Pacific. Council meetings are public, and people can attend, listen, and provide comments before decisions are finalized.
The Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) is the public body that sets rules for state-managed fisheries in Alaska. The Board is responsible for the conservation and development of Alaska’s fishery resources, including commercial, personal use, sport, and subsistence fisheries.
The BOF has the authority to adopt regulations such as:
Establishing open and closed seasons for harvesting fish
Establishing open and closed areas for harvesting fish
Setting quotas, bag limits, harvest levels and limitations for taking fish
Establishing the methods and means for the taking of fish (gear type, etc.)
Public input usually happens during scheduled proposal cycles and meetings, and testimony is taken at specific times during those meetings. It's important for harvesters to be familiar with the BOF’s role and process, as it sets policy direction and makes critical decisions on the allocation of fishing resources for Alaska’s state-managed fisheries.
Ecosystem-based management is an approach to fisheries management that looks at the whole ecosystem, not just one species at a time.
Instead of focusing only on how many fish can be caught, it considers how species interact with each other, how fishing affects habitat, and how environmental changes influence the system overall. The goal is to manage fisheries in a way that supports healthy ecosystems, productive fisheries, and fishing communities over the long term.