NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES OF YUKON AREA EDUCATIONAL PERMITS FOR CUSTOMARY AND TRADITIONAL HARVEST OF SALMON IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is proposing to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code regarding educational permits issued by the commissioner in the Yukon area for the harvest of salmon for customary and traditional practices, including for ceremonial purposes.  

The commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game, proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) to allow Alaska residents and qualified organizations to harvest salmon in the Yukon area under an educational permit specifically for the purposes of teaching and preservation of long-established customary and traditional practices, including for ceremonial purposes, when the harvest of salmon cannot be reasonably accommodated under existing regulations, specifically:

5 AAC Chapter 93 is proposed to be changed by adding a new section 5 AAC 93.212, to establish an educational fishing permit for the harvest of salmon within the Yukon Management Area by Alaska residents for the purposes of teaching and preserving long-established customary and traditional practices, including for ceremonial purposes.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Shellene L. Hutter, Regulations Program Coordinator, Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526.  Additionally, the Department of Fish and Game will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2604 and by electronic mail at dfg.fish.regulations@alaska.gov

Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment function.

The comments must be received no later than 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Shellene L. Hutter, Regulations Program Coordinator, Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526.  Additionally, the Department of Fish and Game will accept questions by facsimile at (907) 465-2604 and by electronic mail at dfg.fish.regulations@alaska.gov

The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Fish and Game will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Shellene L. Hutter at (907) 465-6124 no later than April 3, 2025 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of this notice of proposed regulation changes and the regulations proposed to be changed are available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. For a copy of the proposed regulation changes contact Shellene L. Hutter, Regulations Program Coordinator at the mailing address, telephone number, or email address above or online on the department’s website at:

https://adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.main

After the public comment period ends, the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action.  The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public.

Statutory Authority: AS 16.05.020; AS 16.05.340

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific:  AS 16.05.020; AS 16.05.340

Fiscal Information:  The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Fish and Game keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the department’s notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Fish and Game Boards Support Section at P O Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811, by phone at (907) 465-4110, or via our website at:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.main

giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

DATE: March 23, 2025                                                  Shellene L. Hutter

                                                                                    Regulations Program Coordinator

                                                                                    Department of Fish and Game