Alaska Pollock Permit Paperwork Gets Another Routine Federal Renewal
Published Date: 6/16/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is asking for public feedback on renewing the paperwork needed for Alaska American Fisheries Act (AFA) permits, which help manage the Bering Sea pollock fishery. This affects fishermen and companies involved in this fishery, ensuring rules stay clear and fair. Comments are open until August 15, 2025, with no new fees or big changes planned—just keeping things running smoothly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Must carry valid AFA permit while fishing
Any vessel that fishes non-CDQ pollock in the Bering Sea and any shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or mothership that receives that pollock must have a valid Alaska American Fisheries Act (AFA) permit on board the vessel or at the facility while non-CDQ pollock is being harvested or processed. This requirement is tied to the AFA regulations at 50 CFR part 679, subpart F and is mandatory to obtain or retain benefits under the program.
Most AFA permits already issued indefinitely
Permanent AFA permits (catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, and inshore processor) had a one-time application deadline of December 1, 2000, and were issued with an indefinite expiration date. Except for participants who need annual or replacement permits, entities required to have an AFA permit are already permitted.
Specific permit and transfer forms you may need
NMFS collects specific applications related to AFA permits and Ch inook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) transfers: (1) Rebuilt/Replacement/Removed Vessel Application; (2) AFA Inshore Catcher Vessel Cooperative Permit (submitted annually); (3) AFA Inshore Vessel Contract Fishing Notification; (4) Application for Approval as an Entity to Receive Transferable Chinook Salmon PSC Allocation (once approved, no reapplication required); and (5) Application for Transfer of Bering Sea Chinook Salmon PSC Allocations. Each application is used to document permit status, membership, or PSC transfers.
Estimated paperwork time and small public cost
NOAA estimates 27 respondents, with total annual burden of 246 hours and an estimated total annual public cost of $395. Estimated time per response is: 1 hour for rebuilt/replacement/removed vessel application; 1 hour for PSC allocation transfer; 2 hours for the annual inshore cooperative permit; 4 hours for contract fishing notification; and 8 hours for approval as an entity to receive transferable Chinook PSC allocation.
Online submission available for some AFA forms
The Application for Transfer of Bering Sea Chinook Salmon PSC Allocations and the Application for Approval as an Entity to Receive Transferable Chinook Salmon PSC Allocation may be submitted online through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website. Other information is collected by mail, fax, or delivery, and fillable PDFs are available on the NMFS site.
No new fees or major changes planned in renewal
NOAA states this is a renewal of an approved information collection and that there are no new fees or big changes planned; the renewal is intended to keep the existing permit and transfer paperwork in place and running smoothly.
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