NOAA Fisheries announces the implementation of Federal management of commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
After being filed through the Federal Register, the final rule is in response to federal court rulings requiring Federal management of salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area is in accordance with the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the publication of a final rule for the management of the Cook Inlet EEZ Area by May 1, 2024.
This rule establishes federal management over the Cook Inlet EEZ Area. The State will continue to manage all salmon fisheries within the State waters of Cook Inlet.
Federal management will mean new requirements for commercial drift gillnet vessels fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area. Among other requirements, commercial fishing vessels must obtain a federal permit, maintain a fishing logbook, have a vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed on their vessels, and comply with all other Federal regulations laid out in the final rule.
Processors and buyers receiving deliveries of salmon commercially caught in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area must obtain a federal permit, report deliveries using the eLandings system, and comply with all other Federal regulations laid out in the final rule.
Recreational anglers and charter operators fishing for salmon in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area must check regulations established for Federal waters to ensure they are in compliance with bag and possession limits.
This decision was adopted after NOAA Fisheries received input from Cook Inlet driftnet fishers, tribes, commercial and recreational fishery associations, Southcentral Alaska communities, and other members of the public.
To help stakeholders comply with the new regulations, NOAA Fisheries will hold an in-person meeting on May 15th at the Quality Inn conference room in Kenai from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and a second meeting in Homer at the Best Western Bidarka Inn in the upstairs conference room. It will also take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Please see the Small Entity Compliance Guide for more details onments for commercial and recreational fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area, which the new requirement will be effective May 30, 2024.
