About Us
The Alaska Region of NOAA Fisheries oversees sustainable fisheries that produce about half the fish caught in US waters, with responsibilities covering 842,000 square nautical miles off Alaska. The Alaska Region also works to ensure the viability of protected species—principally marine mammals—and to protect and enhance Alaska's marine habitat.
Site Resources
In the News
Hot Topics
- Proposal to limit the number of halibut charter boats
- Cook Inlet belugas
- Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch
Public Comment Periods
- Notice of receipt of an application from the Port of Anchorage and the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration for issuance of regulations governing the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the Port’s Marine Terminal Redevelopment Project, Anchorage, Alaska. Construction activities which have the potential to harass marine mammals include in-water pile driving and demolition of the existing dock. Comments and information must be postmarked no later than May 26, 2009.
- Notice of a public comment period for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) application from the Best Use Cooperative (BUC). If granted, this permit would allow three BUC vessels to remove halibut from a codend on the deck, and release those fish back to the water after determining the physical condition of the halibut with the International Pacific Halibut Commission method for predicting halibut mortality. Comment period through May 8, 2009.
- Nominations are being sought for appointment by the Secretary of Commerce to serve on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee beginning in October 2009. Nominations must be postmarked on or before June 5, 2009.
- Proposed regulations to implement a limited access system for charter vessels in the guided sport fishery for Pacific halibut in waters of International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Comment period through June 5, 2009.
- Advance notice of proposed rulemaking to identify issues for consideration and evaluation when NMFS designates critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. Comments and information regarding the suggested designation process and areas being considered for designation may be sent to NMFS by May 14, 2009.
- Proposed regulations to increase the number of times per year that a stationary floating processor that is qualified under the American Fisheries Act may move within State of Alaska waters in the Bering Sea subarea to process pollock. Comment period through May 29, 2009.
- Proposed regulations to implement Amendment 85 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA to amend the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program to remove a restriction that prohibits certain catcher/processors from participation in directed groundfish fisheries in the BSAI in July. Comment period through May 21, 2009.
- Notice of availability of Amendment 62/62 to revise the BSAI FMP description of the Catcher Vessel Operational Area and remove the obsolete sunset date for inshore/offshore sector allocations of pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. Comment period through June 1, 2009.
- Proposed changes to the regulations that address the operations and administration of regional fishery management councils. Comment period through July 6, 2009.
- Notice of availability of Amendment 85 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA to remove a restriction that prohibits certain catcher/processors from participating in directed groundfish fisheries in the BSAI in July. Comment period through May 26, 2009.
