Looking for a License Application Form Templates? Download it for free!

License Information for Commercial Fishing Vessels, Tenders, Processors & Transporters

Vessels used for commercial ﬁ shing or related activities must be licensed by the Entry Commission. This includes ﬁ shing vessels, tenders or packers,

processing and transporter vessels. Guided Sport vessels must be licensed with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The only exception is set out

in AS 16.05.495, which exempts vessels used solely for harvesting salmon at set net sites or in state waters between the latitudes of Point Romanof

and Cape Newenham and surrounding Nunivak Island.

The vessel license fee is based upon the United States Coast Guard deﬁ nition of overall length of the vessel. There are 13 fee categories, ranging

from $24 to $900. Overall length is deﬁ ned as, "the horizontal distance between the outboard side of the foremost part of the stern and the

outboard side of the aftermost part of the stern, excluding rutters, outboard motor brackets, and other similar ﬁ ttings and attachments."

The vessel license consists of a triangular metal ADF&G number plate issued when the vessel is ﬁ rst licensed with the Entry Commission, as well as a

printed vessel license receipt and sticker, issued annually. A $30 fee is due the ﬁ rst time a vessel is issued an ADF&G number. If the vessel is registered

for salmon net ﬁ shing, the license may also include a salmon net area tab. Once registered for a salmon net area, in subsequent years a new area tab

will be issued only if the area is changed or if the original tab is lost or damaged.

The application on the other side contains four sections. Part A requests the name and address of the vessel owner. There is also space to provide a

temporary mailing address if the license is to be mailed somewhere else. Part B requests descriptive information about the vessel and the ﬁ shing

activities in which it is used. Please provide as much of this information as possible, although some of it may not be applicable to smaller vessels.

Part C contains a certiﬁ cation section which must be signed by the vessel owner or the owner's authorized agent or there will be delays in processing.

Part D below requests information the Entry Commission may need to determine whether the vessel has ever been assigned an ADF&G number.

USCG Documentation or State Registration is required for all motorized vessels used in commercial ﬁ shing activities. The United States Coast

Guard assigns Ofﬁ cial Documentation numbers to vessels measuring at least 5 net tons, generally 32' or longer. Vessels under 5 net tons are assigned

registration numbers ('AK' numbers in Alaska, from DMV). For applications or information on registering boats under 5 net tons in Alaska call 1-907-269-

3750. For assistance with documentation of vessels 5 tons or over call 1-800-799-8362.

Salmon ﬁ shing vessels (seiners, drift gillnetters and trollers) must be registered by completing the net area and/or troll registration sections 22 and 23

in Part B. Once the vessel is licensed, changes to salmon net area or troll registration must be requested on a Vessel License Change of Information

form or next year’s renewal form.

Groundﬁ sh and shellﬁ sh vessels must be registered with local ofﬁ ces of the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game in many cases. Consult ADF&G

regulations for speciﬁ c requirements.

Changes of ownership may be reported to the Entry Commission in two ways. If the vessel is not licensed for the year, the new owner may complete

the Vessel License application to provide the necessary information. If it is already licensed, complete a Vessel License Change of Information form and

submit it with the current Vessel License Receipt.

Replacements for lost or damaged vessel licenses Metal ADF&G number plates, receipt cards and/or stickers may be requested by submitting

the appropriate fee with a Request for Duplicate License form. This form is available from the Entry Commission, ADF&G ofﬁ ces or from the Entry

Commission’s website at

Part D: Vessel History

Complete this section ONLY if you do not know the vessel’s permanent ADF&G number.

Yes, ADF&G number: __________________

Is there a triangular metal ADF&G number plate on vessel?

When did you purchase this vessel? ____________________ From whom? _______________________________________________________________________________

List any vessel registration plate numbers issued to the vessel in other states and indicate which years the vessel ﬁ shed in each state:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes, in years: ______________________________________________________

Did the previous owner use the vessel for commercial ﬁ shing in Alaska?

Yes, previous name(s): _________________________________________________________________________________

Has the vessel ever had another name?

Yes, modiﬁ cations: ________________________________________________________________________________

Has the vessel ever been rebuilt or modiﬁ ed?

Under AS 16.05.815 and AS 16.05.480, social security numbers and other information required on this form may be used for ﬁ sheries research, management and licensing

purposes and may be disclosed to: the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the National Marine Fisheries Service, staff of the Paciﬁ c States Marine Fisheries Commission

who are employed by the Alaska Fisheries Information Network project, the North Paciﬁ c Fisheries Management Council, Department of Public Safety, Department of Revenue,

child support enforcement agencies for child support purposes, and to other agencies or individuals as required by law or court order. Name, address, and licenses held are

public information that may be released.

Form # 05-11a - Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission 2010 Commercial Vessel License Application Page 2

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories