Alaska Fish and Game releases regulatory reform plan under AO360

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has published its regulatory reform plan under Administrative Order 360, outlining how the agency will reduce discretionary requirements affecting hunters, fishers, subsistence users, and commercial operators statewide.

Governor Dunleavy issued AO360 in August 2025, directing state agencies to cut regulatory requirements by 15 percent by the end of 2026 and 25 percent by 2027. Multiple agencies including the departments of Environmental Conservation, Education and Early Development, and Transportation have already published their reform plans this year.

The department released two documents on May 11: a regulatory reform plan memo dated May 7, 2026, and a public comment summary from April 1, 2026. The memo was originally dated April 1 before being amended on May 7. The comment summary indicates the agency held an open public scoping period from December 12, 2025, to January 12, 2026, and solicited stakeholder input before finalizing its plan.

Fish and Game identified approximately 338 discretionary requirements under Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code. The agency aims to reduce that number to about 288 by December 31, 2026.

Proposed changes include repealing annual seafood processing capacity surveys, removing regulations allowing foreign-flagged vessels to process fish in Alaska waters, and eliminating a sunset hatchery surcharge provision. The department also plans to streamline fee structures for Division of Sport Fish access site cabins and other public facilities.

Public comments came from a range of stakeholders. Kachemak and Norton Bay Watershed Councils suggested adding Cook Inlet beluga whales and other species to the state's endangered list and expanding hatchery permit evaluations. The Alaska Chamber of Commerce recommended a spill reporting system for fish habitat similar to fuel systems. Circle Seafoods requested eliminating paper fish ticket requirements for Metlakatla deliveries. Salmon State and Wild Salmon Center urged the department to carefully consider its public trust duty when evaluating changes to protective regulations. Mike Kramer suggested incorporating Alaska Hatchery Research Program reports into hatchery regulations, and Tom Paragi recommended updating wildlife stocking regulations to reflect the 2010 policy.

The full reform plan and public comment summary are available on the Alaska Online Public Notices website.