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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SB161 • 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
SENATORS CRONK, Yundt
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
(S) RES
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact impact on fishermen and the fishing industry remains unclear as no specifics are provided in the bill.

Ban on Bottom Trawling

This act bans the use of trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial contact with the seafloor in Alaska's waters and requires a study by the Department of Fish and Game.

What This Bill Does

  • Bans people from using, employing, or operating any trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial bottom contact with the seafloor while being used in Alaska's water.
  • Requires the Department of Fish and Game to conduct a comprehensive study on the health of seafloor ecosystems and fish habitat affected by bottom-contacting fishing gear.
  • The department must submit a report on their findings, including recommendations for future regulations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Fishermen who use trawl or dredge fishing gear that touches the sea floor in Alaska's waters will be affected by this ban.
  • The Department of Fish and Game is required to conduct a study and submit a report on the effects of bottom trawling.

Terms To Know

Trawl or Dredge Fishing Gear
Fishing equipment that touches the seafloor while being used, such as nets dragged along the ocean floor to catch fish.
Substantial Bottom Contact
When fishing gear physically interacts with and touches the bottom of the sea during use in a significant way.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The ban on trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substantial contact with the seafloor will not take effect until January 1, 2028.
  • It is unclear how fishermen and the fishing industry will be impacted by this new law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  2. 2026-03-04 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  3. 2025-05-07 Min

    (S) Minutes (SRES)

  4. 2025-05-07 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  5. 2025-05-07 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  6. 2025-04-09 750

    (S) COSPONSOR(S): YUNDT

  7. 2025-04-09 745

    (S) REFERRED TO RESOURCES

  8. 2025-04-09 745

    (S) RES, FIN

  9. 2025-04-09 745

    (S) 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 
SB0161A -1- SB 161
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0777\N

SENATE BILL NO. 161

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATORS CRONK, Yundt

Introduced: 4/9/25
Referred: Resources, Finance

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 fi sh habitat in state water. The 13
department shall submit a report on the results of the departme nt's study under this section to 14
34-LS0777\N
SB 161 -2- SB0161A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of repres entatives 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 st ate's fishery resource and sea floor marine 3
ecosystems have been, and may continue to be, affected by the u se 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 resourc es taken as bycatch 6
by fishers using trawl or dredge fishing gear that makes substa ntial bottom contact with the 7
seafloor while in use, including the number of fish of each spe cies, taken over the last 10 8
years; and 9
(3) recommendations as to whether the use of trawl or dredge f ishing 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