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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB117

Electronic Monitoring for Trawl Boats and New Set Net Area

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 12:25 AM

In one sentence

This law allows state officials to require electronic monitoring on trawl boats catching finfish only if the boats already have cameras from federal rules, bans charging fees for these programs, and creates a new management area for set net fishing permits.

What it does

  • Allows the commissioner of fish and game to require vessels using trawl gear in state commercial finfish fisheries to participate in an electronic monitoring program.
  • Requires officials to confirm that boats already have cameras from federal rules before adding this requirement, so owners do not need to buy new equipment.
  • Prohibits charging fees or assessments to fishermen to pay for the cost of running these electronic monitoring programs.
  • Creates a distinct administrative area on the east side of Cook Inlet separate from the main Cook Inlet area for managing commercial set net entry permits.

Who it affects

  • Vessel owners and operators using trawl gear in state finfish fisheries who may need to use electronic monitoring.
  • Commercial fishermen holding or seeking set net entry permits on the east side of Cook Inlet.
  • The Alaska Department of Fish and Game commissioner responsible for implementing these rules.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify the exact date when these rules will take effect, only that an effective date is provided elsewhere.
  • Officials must determine if electronic monitoring is practical and affordable before requiring it on state waters.
  • The text cuts off while explaining how existing permits apply to the new administrative area.

Plain language

Terms to know

Electronic Monitoring
A system using cameras or sensors to record fishing activities on a boat without an observer physically present.
Trawl Gear
Fishing nets that are dragged through the water by boats to catch fish.
Set Net Entry Permit
A license required for a person or boat to legally use stationary fishing nets in specific areas.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

ELEC MONITOR TRAWL FISHERY/SET NET PERMIT An Act relating to electronic monitoring of fishing vessels using trawl gear in a finfish fishery; relating to administrative areas for regulation of certain commercial set net entry permits; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER3124
  2. (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/18 CH 7 SLA 263124
  3. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)3042
  4. (H) 10:44 A.M. 6/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR3042
  5. (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 292746
  6. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2746
  7. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y402745
  8. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP2745
  9. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD2691
  10. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 117(RES)2697
  11. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED2697
  12. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2691
  13. (S) PASSED Y19 N- E12691
  14. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 117(RES)2690
  15. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/16 CAL2661
  16. (S) RES SCS ADOPTED UC2661
  17. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME2661
  18. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/15/20262661
  19. (S) FN7: ZERO(DPS)2640
  20. (S) FN6: ZERO(DFG)2640