🐟Temporary Fishing Closure for Pacific Ocean Perch in Alaska Waters
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
Learn More🎣2025-2026 Subsistence Management Regulations for Alaska
This final rule revises regulations for fish and shellfish seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish and shellfish for subsistence uses during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (hereafter referred to as "the Board") is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of fish and shellfish regulations in odd- numbered years and subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even- numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking amends the existing subsistence fish and shellfish taking regulations. This final rule also revises the nonrural determinations, updates the regulations on subsistence taking of wildlife resulting from final Board action on a wildlife proposal to conduct an ANILCA section 804 user prioritization for hunting the Nelchina caribou herd, change Nelchina caribou herd subsistence hunts to "may be announced," and delegate authority to manage these hunts. Lastly, this rule corrects an error from a recent final rule.
Learn More🐋Proposed Authorization for Polar Bears and Walruses in Alaska
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, from Narwhal LLC, propose to authorize nonlethal, incidental take by harassment of small numbers of Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) and Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) polar bears (Ursus maritimus) between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. The applicant requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with shallow hazard surveys, preliminary field surveys, exploratory drilling operations, and summer cleanup activities in West Harrison Bay, Alaska. This proposed authorization, if finalized, will be for up to 15 takes of walruses and 13 takes of polar bears by Level B harassment only. No take by injury or mortality is requested, expected, or proposed to be authorized. We invite comments on the proposed incidental harassment authorization and the accompanying draft environmental assessment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
Learn More🎣Temporary Closure of Dusky Rockfish Fishing in Alaska's Gulf
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 total allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
Learn More🐋LOAs for Nonlethal Take of Marine Mammals in Alaska Oil and Gas Sector
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issues letters of authorization (LOA) for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The FWS also issues LOAs for the nonlethal take of northern sea otters incidental to pile driving and marine construction activities in the Gulf of Alaska. This notice announces the LOAs issued in calendar year 2024. The LOAs stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters from these activities.
Learn More🌲New Federal Subsistence Management Program Regulations Overview
This rule transfers the Federal Subsistence Management Program regulations for the Department of the Interior from 50 CFR part 100 to 43 CFR part 51 to align with the transfer of the Office of Subsistence Management from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget. This rule also revises the program's regulations for both the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to reflect the recent organizational changes and make administrative corrections.
Learn More🐟Business Implications of Pacific Cod Retention Prohibition in Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by catcher/ processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been or will be reached.
Learn More✈️Regulatory Changes to Alaskan VOR Federal Airways V-444 and V-504
This action amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-444 and V-504. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Evansville, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB).
Learn More🐟NOAA Requests Comments on Alaska Community Quota Entity Program
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Learn More⛴️Alaska Cargo Exemption Permit
Commander, Coast Guard Arctic District, has issued a permit exempting a vessel from requirements in 46 CFR when transporting cargo, including bulk fuel, within Alaska. Permits temporarily waive vessel inspection requirements to facilitate the movement of cargo, including bulk fuel, to remote Alaskan sites not serviced by fuel barge throughout Southeast Alaska. Remote Made Easy, LLC, the operator of M/V REMOTE SUPPLIER (O.N. 1200932) received a single permit allowing the vessel to conduct on-going bulk fuel deliveries of up to a total of 3,000 gallons, consisting of heating oil and diesel, carried in integral cargo tanks, and gasoline, that may be carried in approved portable tanks on deck. The permit expires on 27 March 2026. This notification of issuance of a permit promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission and the flow of essential cargo to remote sites.
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