AK HB356

Commercial fishers harvesting under 10,000 pounds annually from vessels under 50 feet, with direct marketing licenses, would pay no more than $100 in annual fees to the Department of Environmental Conservation

Vessels meeting federal safety standards (21 C.F.R. Part 123) and harvesting low-risk species would be exempt from additional health and sanitary requirements and permitted to package/freeze up to 5,000 pounds per voyage

Department of Environmental Conservation must approve or deny permits for qualifying small-vessel fishers within 30 days of application

Regulations must be simplified for commercial fishers from rural coastal communities, addressing challenges including high costs and market access difficulties

Effective date: July 1, 2026