Published: 2015
Key Benefits:
For fish and game, see 5 AAC.
For fish and game licensing and seafood marketing assessment, see 15 AAC 116.
For fish and game, see 5 AAC.
Sec. 16.05.010. Commissioner of fish and game.
The commissioner is the principal executive officer of the Department of Fish and Game. The commissioner shall be a qualified executive with knowledge of the requirements for the protection, management, conservation, and restoration of the fish and game resources of the state.
Sec. 16.05.020. Functions of commissioner.
The commissioner shall
(1) supervise and control the department, and may appoint and employ division heads, enforcement agents, and the technical, clerical, and other assistants necessary for the general administration of the department;
(2) manage, protect, maintain, improve, and extend the fish, game and aquatic plant resources of the state in the interest of the economy and general well-being of the state;
(3) have necessary power to accomplish the foregoing including, but not limited to, the power to delegate authority to subordinate officers and employees of the department.
Sec. 16.05.030. Status of commissioner. [Repealed, Sec. 40 ch 206 SLA 1975].
Repealed or Renumbered
Sec. 16.05.040. Compensation of commissioner.
The commissioner is entitled to the compensation fixed by law and, subject to appropriate state travel regulations, is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties.
Sec. 16.05.050. Powers and duties of commissioner.
(a) The commissioner has, but not by way of limitation, the following powers and duties:
(1) to assist the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the enforcement of federal laws and regulations pertaining to fish and game;
(2) through the appropriate state agency and under the provisions of AS 36.30 (State Procurement Code), to acquire by gift, purchase, or lease, or other lawful means, land, buildings, water, rights-of-way, or other necessary or proper real or personal property when the acquisition is in the interest of furthering an objective or purpose of the department and the state;
(3) under the provisions of AS 36.30, to design and construct hatcheries, pipelines, rearing ponds, fishways, and other projects beneficial for the fish and game resources of the state;
(4) to accept money from any person under conditions requiring the use of the money for specific purposes in the furtherance of the protection, rehabilitation, propagation, preservation, or investigation of the fish and game resources of the state or in settlement of claims for damages to fish or game resources;
(5) to collect, classify, and disseminate statistics, data and information that, in the commissioner's discretion, will tend to promote the purposes of this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52;
(6) to take, capture, propagate, transport, buy, sell, or exchange fish or game or eggs for propagating, scientific, public safety, or stocking purposes;
(7) under the provisions of AS 36.30, to provide public facilities where necessary or proper to facilitate the taking of fish or game, and to enter into cooperative agreements with any person to effect them;
(8) to exercise administrative, budgeting, and fiscal powers;
(9) under the provisions of AS 36.30, to construct, operate, supervise, and maintain vessels used by the department;
(10) to authorize the holder of an interim-use permit under AS 16.43 to engage on an experimental basis in commercial taking of a fishery resource with vessel, gear, and techniques not presently qualifying for licensing under this chapter in conformity with standards established by the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission;
(11) not later than January 31 of each year, to provide to the commissioner of revenue the names of those fish and shellfish species that the commissioner of fish and game designates as developing commercial fish species for that calendar year; a fish or shellfish species is a developing commercial fish species if, within a specified geographical region,
(A) the optimum yield from the harvest of the species has not been reached;
(B) a substantial portion of the allowable harvest of the species has been allocated to fishing vessels of a foreign nation; or
(C) a commercial harvest of the fish species has recently developed;
(12) to initiate or conduct research necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52;
(13) to enter into cooperative agreements with agencies of the federal government, educational institutions, or other agencies or organizations, when in the public interest, to carry out the purposes of this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52;
(14) to implement an on-board observer program authorized by the Board of Fisheries under AS 16.05.251 (a)(13); implementation
(A) must be as unintrusive to vessel operations as practicable; and
(B) must make scheduling and scope of observers' activities as predictable as practicable;
(15) to sell fish caught during commercial fisheries test fishing operations;
(16) to establish and charge fees equal to the cost of services provided by the department, including provision of public shooting ranges, broodstock and eggs for private nonprofit hatcheries, department publications, and other direct services, and reasonable fees for the use of state facilities managed by the department; fees established under this paragraph for tours of hatchery facilities, commercial use of sport fishing access sites, and for operation of state hatchery facilities by private aquaculture associations are not subject to the cost limit under AS 37.10.050 (a);
(17) to permit and regulate aquatic farming in the state in a manner that ensures the protection of the state's fish and game resources and improves the economy, health, and well-being of the citizens of the state;
(18) to operate state housing and facilities for employees, contractors, and others in support of the department's responsibilities and to charge rent that is consistent with applicable collective bargaining agreements, or, if no collective bargaining agreement is applicable, competitive with market conditions; rent received from tenants shall be deposited in the general fund;
(19) to petition the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, unless the Board of Fisheries disapproves the petition under AS 16.05.251(g), to establish a moratorium on new entrants into commercial fisheries
(A) that have experienced recent increases in fishing effort that are beyond a low, sporadic level of effort;
(B) that have achieved a level of harvest that may be approaching or exceeding the maximum sustainable level for the fishery; and
(C) for which there is insufficient biological and resource management information necessary to promote the conservation and sustained yield management of the fishery.
(b) The commissioner shall annually submit a report to the Board of Game regarding the department's implementation during the preceding three years of intensive management programs that have been established by the board under AS 16.05.255 for identified big game prey populations.
Sec. 16.05.053. Accounting and disposition of receipts. [Repealed, Sec. 92 ch 36 SLA 1990. For current law, see AS 37.05.142 - 37.05.144].
Repealed or Renumbered
Sec. 16.05.055. On-board observer program.
(a) The commissioner may enter into appropriate contracts and agreements with agencies, such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission, designed to ensure that on-board observer programs conducted in the fisheries of the state are coordinated and consistent with each other for vessels operating in state and federal water.
(b) The master of a vessel, as a condition of participating in a fishery for which an on-board observer program is authorized by the Board of Fisheries under AS 16.05.251 , shall consent in writing to the placement of an observer aboard the vessel.
Sec. 16.05.060. Emergency orders.
(a) This chapter does not limit the power of the commissioner or an authorized designee, when circumstances require, to summarily open or close seasons or areas or to change weekly closed periods on fish or game by means of emergency orders.
(b) The commissioner or an authorized designee may, under criteria adopted by the Board of Fisheries, summarily increase or decrease sport fish bag limits or modify methods of harvest for sport fish by means of emergency orders.
(c) An emergency order has the force and effect of law after field announcement by the commissioner or an authorized designee. An emergency order adopted under this section is not subject to AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
Sec. 16.05.065. Application extension.
(a) The commissioner shall extend the time and dates during which application may be made for fish or game registration if the commissioner finds that
(1) the conservation and management of the fish or game resource will not be affected adversely; and
(2) the failure to timely apply is the result of excusable neglect.
(b) The fee for an extension granted under this section is $45.
(c) As used in this section, "excusable neglect" does not include unfamiliarity with or ignorance of applicable laws and regulations. In order to show excusable neglect, a person must have demonstrated, before the registration deadline, an intent to harvest fish or game.
Sec. 16.05.070. Regulations as evidence.
Regulations of a board and of the commissioner, including emergency openings and closures, are admissible as evidence in the courts of the state in accordance with AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
Sec. 16.05.080. Limitation of power.
Nothing in this chapter authorizes the department or a board to change the amount of fees or licenses.
Sec. 16.05.090. Organization of the department.
(a) The commissioner may, with the approval of the governor, establish a departmental division of commercial fisheries, a departmental division of sport fisheries, a departmental division of game, and other departmental divisions as are necessary.
(b) [Repealed, Sec. 3 E.O. No. 86 (1993)].
(c) There is established in the department a section of subsistence hunting and fishing.
Sec. 16.05.092. Fisheries rehabilitation, enhancement, and development.
The department shall
(1) develop and continually maintain a comprehensive, coordinated state plan for the orderly present and long-range rehabilitation, enhancement, and development of all aspects of the state's fisheries for the perpetual use, benefit, and enjoyment of all citizens and revise and update this plan annually;
(2) encourage the investment by private enterprise in the technological development and economic utilization of the fisheries resources;
(3) through rehabilitation, enhancement, and development programs do all things necessary to ensure perpetual and increasing production and use of the food resources of state waters and continental shelf areas;
(4) prepare a comprehensive annual report, containing detailed information regarding its accomplishments under this section and proposals of plans and activities for the next fiscal year, and notify the legislature not later than 20 days after the convening of each regular session that the report is available.
Sec. 16.05.094. Duties of section of subsistence hunting and fishing.
The section of subsistence hunting and fishing shall
(1) compile existing data and conduct studies to gather information, including data from subsistence users, on all aspects of the role of subsistence hunting and fishing in the lives of the residents of the state;
(2) quantify the amount, nutritional value, and extent of dependence on food acquired through subsistence hunting and fishing;
(3) make information gathered available to the public, appropriate agencies, and other organized bodies;
(4) assist the department, the Board of Fisheries, and the Board of Game in determining what uses of fish and game, as well as which users and what methods, should be termed subsistence uses, users, and methods;
(5) evaluate the impact of state and federal laws and regulations on subsistence hunting and fishing and, when corrective action is indicated, make recommendations to the department;
(6) make recommendations to the Board of Game and the Board of Fisheries regarding adoption, amendment and repeal of regulations affecting subsistence hunting and fishing;
(7) participate with other divisions in the preparation of statewide and regional management plans so that those plans recognize and incorporate the needs of subsistence users of fish and game.
Sec. 16.05.100. Fish and game fund established.
There is created a revolving "fish and game fund," which shall be used exclusively for the following:
(1) to carry out the purposes and provisions of this title, except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52, or other duties that may be delegated by the legislature to the commissioner or the department; and
(2) to carry out such purposes and objectives within the scope of this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52 as may be directed by the donor of any such funds.
Sec. 16.05.110. Composition of fund.
(a) The fish and game fund shall be made up of the following money and other money the legislature appropriates, which shall be deposited and retained in the fund until expended:
(1) money received from the sale of state sport fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, tags, and special permits, waterfowl conservation tags purchased by hunters, and anadromous salmon tags purchased by fishermen;
(2) proceeds received from the sale of furs, skins, and specimens taken by predator hunters and other employees;
(3) money received in settlement of a claim or loss caused by damage to the fish and game resources of the state;
(4) money received from federal, state, or other governmental unit, or from a private donor for fish and game purposes;
(5) interest earned upon money in the fund;
(6) money from any other source.
(b) Except for money received as fisheries fines or forfeitures in settlement of a claim or loss caused by damage to the fish resources of the state that is appropriated to or through the division of commercial fisheries management and development, appropriations of money from the fish and game fund and of money received by the state under the federal aid acts described under AS 16.05.140 shall be made to the division of wildlife conservation or the division of sport fish. The division of wildlife conservation or the division of sport fish may use money appropriated under this subsection to acquire administrative and other services from other agencies if the division acquires the services through reimbursable services agreements. The division of wildlife conservation and the division of sport fish shall include as part of their budgets prepared under AS 37.07.050
(1) a listing of the reimbursable services agreements that are to be funded with money appropriated under this subsection;
(2) a description of the services to be provided under those agreements; and
(3) a listing of the entities that are parties to those agreements.
Sec. 16.05.120. Disbursement of funds.
Upon authorization of the commissioner, disbursements from the fish and game fund shall be paid by the proper state officer on presentation of vouchers signed by the commissioner or an authorized representative, and approved by the proper state officer.
Sec. 16.05.130. Diversion of funds prohibited.
(a) Except as provided in (c) of this section, money accruing to the state from sport fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, tags, or permit fees may not be diverted to a purpose other than the protection, propagation, investigation, and restoration of sport fish and game resources and the expenses of administering the sport fish and game divisions of the department.
(b) Money accruing to the state from waterfowl conservation tag fees from hunters may not be diverted to a purpose other than (1) the conservation and enhancement of waterfowl; (2) the acquisition, by lease or otherwise, of wetlands that are important for waterfowl and public use of waterfowl in the state; (3) waterfowl related projects approved by the commissioner; (4) the administration of the waterfowl conservation program; and (5) emergencies in the state as determined by the governor. The department shall maintain a state waterfowl tag fee account within the fish and game fund to permit separate accounting records for the receipt and expenditure of money derived from the sale of waterfowl tags. The department shall prepare a report before April 15 of each even-numbered year for the public and the legislature on the use of money derived from waterfowl conservation tags and limited edition prints. The department shall notify the legislature that the report is available.
(c) Money accruing to the state from the sale of resident trapping licenses may only be used for furbearer management. The department shall maintain a furbearer management account within the fish and game fund under AS 16.05.100 for separate accounting of receipt and expenditure of money from the sale of resident trapping licenses. Furbearer management shall be designed to enhance the furbearer population, increase the productivity of furbearer habitats, initiate useful furbearer research, and educate trappers consistent with the goal to provide for an optimum population of furbearers.
(d) Revenue from the sale of general hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses and tags together with the federal matching funds from Pittman - Robertson, Dingell - Johnson/Wallop - Breaux programs shall be allocated by the department to programs intended to directly benefit license purchasers of general hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses. The department shall prepare an annual report by project of expenditures from the fish and game fund and notify the legislature that the report is available.