KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB203 • 2026

PROHIBIT BOTTOM TRAWLING

An Act relating to the use of certain trawl or dredge fishing gear in state water; and providing for an effective date.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES MCCABE, Foster, Tomaszewski, Schwanke, St. Clair, G.Nelson
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
(H) FSH
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The definition of 'substantial bottom contact' is not provided in the bill text; it states this will be determined by the department.

Alaska Bill to Ban Bottom Trawling and Study Seafloor Health

This bill bans fishing gear that makes substantial contact with the ocean floor in Alaska state waters starting January 1, 2028, and requires a study on how this practice affects marine life.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits people from using trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial bottom contact with the seafloor while being used in state water.
  • Requires the Department of Fish and Game to conduct a comprehensive study on the health of seafloor ecosystems and fish habitat in state waters.
  • Mandates a report by January 1, 2027, detailing how bottom-contact fishing gear has affected fish resources over the last ten years.
  • Requires the report to include data on unintended catch (bycatch) taken by this type of gear if available.
  • Sets an effective date of January 1, 2028, for the ban on using this specific fishing equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Fishers who use trawl or dredge gear in Alaska state waters
  • The Department of Fish and Game
  • The Senate Secretary and Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives

Terms To Know

Trawl or dredge fishing gear
Equipment used to catch fish that drags along or scrapes against the bottom of the ocean.
Bycatch
Fishery resources taken unintentionally while targeting a different species.
State water
The waters within Alaska's jurisdiction where state laws apply to fishing activities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not define the exact measurements for what counts as 'substantial bottom contact' with the seafloor, leaving that determination to the department.
  • It is unclear if the recommendations in the study report will become new laws or rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 1962

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): G.NELSON

  2. 2026-03-05 1789

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): ST. CLAIR

  3. 2026-03-04 1779

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): SCHWANKE

  4. 2025-05-05 1023

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): TOMASZEWSKI

  5. 2025-04-23 866

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER

  6. 2025-04-22 845

    (H) REFERRED TO FISHERIES

  7. 2025-04-22 845

    (H) FSH, RES

  8. 2025-04-22 845

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

PROHIBIT BOTTOM TRAWLING
An Act relating to the use of certain trawl or dredge fishing gear in state water; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB0203a -1- HB 203
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0907\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 203

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES MCCABE, Foster, Tomaszewski, Schwanke, St. Clair, G.Nelson

Introduced: 4/22/25
Referred: House Special Committee on Fisheries, Resources

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the use of certain trawl or dredge fishing gear in state water; and 1
providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 16.10 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Sec. 16.10.135. Use of trawl or dredge fishing gear. A person may not use, 5
employ, or operate any trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial bottom 6
contact with the seafloor while in use, as determined by the department, in the water of 7
the state. 8
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 9
read: 10
STUDY AND REPORT ON THE EFFECTS OF BOTTOM TRAWLING AND ON 11
THE CONDITION OF THE SEAFLOOR. The Department of Fish and Game shall conduct a 12
comprehensive study of the health of seafloor ecosystems and fish habitat in state water. The 13
department shall submit a report on the results of the department's study under this section to 14
34-LS0907\A
HB 203 -2- HB0203a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives on or before January 1, 1
2027, and notify the legislature that the report is available. The report must include 2
(1) information as to how the state's fishery resource and seafloor marine 3
ecosystems have been, and may continue to be, affected by the use of trawl or dredge fishing 4
gear that makes substantial bottom contact with the seafloor while in use; 5
(2) to the extent available, the quantities of fishery resources taken as bycatch 6
by fishers using trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial bottom contact with the 7
seafloor while in use, including the number of fish of each species, taken over the last 10 8
years; and 9
(3) recommendations as to whether the use of trawl or dredge fishing gear that 10
makes substantial bottom contact with the seafloor while in use should be prohibited or 11
otherwise limited for 12
(A) the maximum benefit of the state's people; and 13
(B) the sustained yield of the state's fishery resource. 14
* Sec. 3. Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2028. 15
* Sec. 4. Except as provided in sec. 3 of this Act, this Act takes effect immediately under 16
AS 01.10.070(c). 17