S04H Permit Reassignment Application Deadline

The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) has issued guidance regarding the implementation of HB 117, which mandates the creation of a new 'East Side Set Net' (ESSN) administrative area, designated as area 'I', within the Upper Subdistrict of the Cook Inlet Central District. Current S04H permit holders who fished in specific statistical areas (244-21, 244-22, 244-31, 244-32, 244-41, and 244-42) between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, are eligible to apply for permit reassignment. The application window for this reassignment is open from October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Applicants must submit a written request alongside their 2027 Permit Renewal form. Documentation proving personal participation, such as fish tickets, buoy tags, or shore fisheries leases, is required. The CFEC will begin eligibility determinations on January 1, 2027, with final decisions and permit issuances expected by January 31, 2027. Special provisions exist for permit holders who acquired their permits from immediate family members, allowing them to use the family member's participation history to qualify. Applicants may appeal final CFEC decisions to the Alaska Superior Court by March 1, 2027. The commission explicitly instructs applicants not to send payment with their initial application, as processing will not begin until January 2027.