NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES
Summary of Proposed Changes: The Alaska Board of Fisheries proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code, for proposals considered and approved or modified by the Board during their March 17–21, 2026 meeting to consider statewide provisions for finfish and supplemental issues, specifically:
(1) Amend 5 AAC 21.310(b)(3) to align commercial fishing seasons in the Central District with changes to the Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan found in 5 AAC 21.353.
(2) Amend 5 AAC 21.353 to modify the Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan.
(3) Amend 5 AAC 39.105(d)(11) to add a statewide definition for commercial slinky pot gear type.
(4) Amend 5 AAC 39.105(d)(25) to clarify the statewide definition of a mechanical jigging machine by specifying structural components and dimensions.
(5) Amend 5 AAC 39.291 to allow the department to define fishing boundaries by emergency order when regulatory markers are lost or destroyed.
(6) Adopt new section 5 AAC 75.019 relating to retention of sport fish caught rockfish, ling cod, and king salmon to allow for species identification and determination of carcass length before the fish is offloaded from a vessel or departing a shoreline location.
(7) Amend 5 AAC 75.020(a) to clarify the statewide sport fishing gear regulation.
(8) Amend 5 AAC 75.995(a) to align the statewide definition of rockfish in sport fisheries regulations with the commercial fisheries definition for rockfish.
Written comments: 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 the Alaska Board of Fisheries at https://arcg.is/1aySn54. Written comments may also be submitted to the ADF&G Boards Support Section at P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526. Additionally, comments can be submitted by fax to (907) 465-6094.
Written comment deadline: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
Public nature of comments: Public comments, 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 any information that you do not want made public.
Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Art Nelson, Executive Director for the Board of Fisheries, at (907) 267-2292 not later than Thursday, December 17, 2026 to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.
Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, go to https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/regprocess/fisheriesboard/pdfs/2026-2027/2026-regulations.pdf or contact the ADF&G Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4110.
Final version of regulations: After the public comment period ends, the Board of Fisheries will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subjects, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation.
Statutory Authority: AS 16.05.060; 16.05.251
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.060; AS 16.05.251
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
How to receive further notices: The ADF&G Boards Support Section 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 boards’ notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to Art Nelson at art.nelson@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices. Alternatively, visit the website at https://boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov or contact ADF&G Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4110.
Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.
Date: November 13, 2026
/S/
Art Nelson
Executive Director
Alaska Board of Fisheries
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(g))
- Adopting Agency: Alaska Board of Fisheries.
- General subject of regulations: REGULATION CHANGES FROM PROPOSALS CONSIDERED AND APPROVED OR MODIFIED BY THE BOARD OF FISHERIES DURING THEIR MARCH 17–21, 2026 MEETING TO CONSIDER STATEWIDE PROVISIONS FOR FINFISH AND SUPPLEMENTAL ISSUES.
- Citation of regulations: 5 AAC 21.310, 5 AAC 21.353, 5 AAC 39.105, 5 AAC 39.291, 5 AAC 75.019, 5 AAC 75.020, 5 AAC 75.995.
- Department of Law file number: 2026200166
- Reason for proposed actions: Implement, interpret, or make specific the provisions of AS 16.05.060 and AS 16.05.251 as applied to statewide provisions for finfish and supplemental issues including commercial fisheries and stock of concern action plans.
- Appropriation/Allocation: Natural Resources and all RDUs; OMB Component Number 2048.
- Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
- The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Art Nelson, Executive Director
Alaska Board of Fisheries
PO Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
(907) 267-2292
Email: art.nelson@alaska.gov
9. The origin of the proposed action:
[X] staff or state agency
[X] general public
10. Date: 11/13/2026 Prepared by: 
Art Nelson, Executive Director
Alaska Board of Fisheries
(907) 267-2292