Take Action
Your voice matters in fishery management. Here's how you can participate in the decision-making process.
Upcoming Meetings
2028 Board of Fisheries
PWS Finfish & Shellfish meeting. This is the next opportunity to propose regulatory changes for shrimp management.
Expected: January-March 2028
Proposal deadline: Spring 2027
BOF WebsiteCFEC Public Meetings
The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission posts meeting notices and proposed regulations on their website. Limited entry petitions and permit issues are discussed at public meetings.
Check for: Public notices & meeting agendas
CFEC Regulations & NoticesAdvisory Committee Meetings
Local advisory committees provide recommendations to the Board of Fisheries. The Whittier AC covers PWS shellfish.
Find Your ACHow to Participate
Submit BOF Proposals
Anyone can submit regulatory proposals to the Board of Fisheries. Proposals are due several months before each meeting cycle.
Tips for effective proposals:
- Be specific about the regulation you want changed
- Cite specific sections (e.g., 5 AAC 31.210)
- Explain the problem and your proposed solution
- Include supporting data when available
- Consider impacts on all user groups
Provide Public Testimony
Public testimony is accepted at BOF meetings both in person and via written comment.
Written comments:
- Email to: dfg.bof.comments@alaska.gov
- Reference specific proposal numbers
- Submit before the comment deadline
Oral testimony:
- Sign up at the meeting
- Typically 3 minutes per person
- Prepare concise, factual points
Contact Information
ADFG - Sport Fish
Noncommercial shrimp regulations
Brittany Blain-Roth
Area Management Biologist
Southcentral Region (PWS)
(907) 267-2186
brittany.blain@alaska.gov
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518
ADFG - Commercial Fisheries
Commercial shrimp regulations
Martin Schuster
Area Management Biologist
PWS Shrimp Pot Fisheries
(907) 235-8191
martin.schuster@alaska.gov
Homer Area Office
3298 Douglas Place
Homer, AK 99603
CFEC
Commercial permits & proposed regulations
Juneau Office
PO Box 110302
Juneau, AK 99811
(907) 789-6150
View proposed regulations including limited entry petitions and public comment periods.
CFEC Proposed RegulationsLimited Entry Petition
In July 2024, CFEC denied a petition for limited entry in the PWS shrimp pot fishery. However, the Commission encouraged petitioners to re-petition if circumstances change.
- 54% GHL collapse: TAH dropped from 175,000 lb (2021) to 49,637 lb (2026)
- First closure since 2010: Commercial fishery closed for 2026
- Per permit average earnings collapse: From $11,495 (2021) to $0 (2026)
- Fleet consensus: 70.6% of active fishers support limited entry
Article VIII, Section 15 (1972 amendment, 78.73% voter approval) explicitly authorizes the State to "limit entry into any fishery for purposes of resource conservation, to prevent economic distress among fishermen and those dependent upon them for a livelihood."
AS 16.43.010 (Limited Entry Act) establishes two co-equal mandates: conservation AND "the economic health and stability of commercial fishing in Alaska."
Governor Egan (1973) specifically identified shrimp as likely needing limited entry and warned against "sport-commercial" crossover fishers who "can afford to participate even when it is not profitable"—exactly the current situation.
How to Support Limited Entry
- Attend CFEC public meetings and provide testimony
- Submit written comments to CFEC supporting the petition
- Contact your legislators about fishery economic distress
- Join industry associations working on this issue
Industry Organizations
ShrimpPros Association
Association of PWS shrimp pot fishermen working on conservation, limited entry, and fleet coordination.
ShrimpPros proposed and achieved the May 1 season start at the 2025 Board of Fisheries, protecting spawning females during spring egg release—a science-based reform to help rebuild the stock.
Join our mailing list to stay informed about fishery management updates and opportunities to participate.
Join Mailing ListCDFU
Cordova District Fishermen United represents commercial fishermen in the Cordova area including shrimp pot fishers.
CDFU WebsiteSolutions That Work for Everyone
Management Reforms to Keep the Fishery Open for All Users
These aren't restrictions—they're the tools that let the fishery stay open
What: Report harvest via phone/app before shrimp leave the boat
Why it works: ADFG gets real-time data to close fisheries at 95% of GHL—before overharvest occurs
Precedent: Commercial fishermen already do this successfully via fish tickets
What: Cap total harvest per person per season
Why it works: Allows recreational opportunity while preventing any individual from taking excessive amounts
Precedent: Common in other Alaska fisheries (e.g., halibut, king salmon)
What: Close specific areas to ALL users when CPUE drops below threshold
Why it works: Protects depleted areas regardless of which sector fished them
Precedent: Commercial rotation system proves area closures work—extend the concept equitably
What: When TAH is reduced, all sectors share the reduction equally
Why it works: Fair, transparent, and consistent with constitutional sustained yield mandate
2026 example: Commercial: -100%. Non-Comm: -38%. This disparity is not proportional.
Environmental stress (marine heatwaves) hit a stock that lacked the management tools to respond. Commercial has real-time reporting and automatic GHL closure. Noncommercial has neither—and exceeded GHL in 8 of 16 years. The solution isn't to pit sectors against each other. It's to give ADFG the tools to manage all harvest within sustainable limits.
2028 BOF Priority Issues
The following issues are expected to be addressed at the 2028 Board of Fisheries PWS meeting:
| Issue | Current Status | Potential Reform |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation burden | Commercial closed; Non-Comm (incl. non-residents) continues | Proportional reductions across sectors |
| Noncommercial harvest accountability | Post-season reporting only | In-season electronic reporting |
| Bag/possession limits | No limits exist for sport | 20-25 lb season possession limit |
| Area rotation | 3-year commercial rotation | Extend to 5-6 years or apply to Non-Comm |
| Season timing | May 1 start (ShrimpPros 2025 achievement) | Defend against rollback |
The commercial fishery—operated by 97% Alaska residents who supply local markets, farmers markets, and direct sales—is closed. Meanwhile:
- Non-resident sport anglers retain full access with no bag or possession limits
- Alaska resident subsistence users need only a free permit (no license required)
Constitutional conflict: Article VIII requires management for "the economy and well-being of the people of the state." AS 16.05.258 establishes subsistence priority for Alaska residents when resources are limited—yet non-residents retain unlimited sport access.
Funding reality: Sport fishing licenses generate federal Dingell-Johnson matching funds (~$3 federal for every $1 state). Subsistence use generates no federal matching funds. This creates structural pressure to prioritize sport fisheries—even when served by non-residents—over Alaska resident subsistence use.
Start attending Advisory Committee meetings now to help shape proposals before the 2028 cycle. Well-prepared proposals with data support have the best chance of adoption.