Up to 13 Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits Available Here! If you are interested in starting a commercial fishing business, you could do much worse than the bountiful coastline and inland waters of Alaska. The state affectionately called “The Last Frontier”, Alaska is an outdoorsman’s paradise, and for commercial fishing operations in the U.S., it is home to numerous well-stocked fisheries. If you are looking to set up a business on these waters, you will want to understand the different types of Alaska commercial fishing permits. Having the correct and current federal and state fishing permits is a must for any commercial or industrial fishing business. Federal permits, which cover the waters typically between three and 200 nautical miles from shore, are obtained through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). State permits can be acquired through local Alaskan government agencies. Read on to learn more about the different types of fishing permits in Alaska as well as how you can obtain them. Getting Your State Commercial Fishing Permits Are you ready to launch your business? Before you head out on the water, you may want to double-check a couple of things. First, is your boat in good working order? Make sure your maintenance is up-to-date and you have all of the necessary fishing and safety equipment. Next, are you dressed for the part? Alaska can be frigid during many months of the fishing season, so you will want to have proper outerwear and warm, reliable boots. Lastly, are your fishing permits with the state of Alaska current? Anyone operating or working onboard a commercial or industrial fishing vessel must have a valid fishing license. This can be obtained from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game via a paper application. Once issued, an Alaska fishing license is valid for one year. Knowing Your Federal Alaska Commercial Fishing Permits The NOAA is tasked with a tall order. The U.S. is home to a staggering surface area of federal waters, and governing those regions calls for a large and knowledgeable staff. For their part, this agency breaks down its available fishing permits by region, one of which is Alaska. Being such a large state with so much coastline, it is not too surprising that Alaska has its own federal jurisdiction. Some of the species-specific permits available to Alaskan commercial fishermen include: Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Halibut and Sablefish Scallops