Permitting
Fisheries Business License aka Proc Code
ADF&G Processor Code or Intent to Operate License - Click the link below to apply for your fisheries business license with the Department of Revenue. If you have questions about which license type you want to apply for, see the “Allowable Activities” or contact the Fish Excise Group at 907-269-6620 with the Alaska Department of Revenue.
https://online-tax.alaska.gov/ATP/WebDoc/_/#0
Allowable Activities
The allowable activities matrix will help you determine what Processor Code type you need.
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishlicense.allowableactivities_fbl
Who Can Export Out of State?
Federal Processor Permit (FPP)
What is processing?
Processing, or to process, means the preparation of, or to prepare, fish or crab to render it suitable for human consumption, industrial uses, or long-term storage, including but not limited to cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil, but does not mean icing, bleeding, heading, or gutting.
If any of these activities apply to you will want to apply for the Federal Processor Permit.
A FPP permit is required for stationary floating processors (processing vessels that operate solely within Alaska State waters). The permit also is required for shoreside processors that receive and/or process groundfish harvested from Federal waters (or from any Federally-permitted vessels). FPPs are non-transferable, one year permits, issued to owners on request and without charge.
Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP)
Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) – required if fishing in the EEZ and retaining groundfish bycatch. Not required if you are fishing in State waters only (within 3 nautical miles of shore). You can renew your FFP in eFish for follow the link to get a printable permit to mail or fax in to NOAA:
Registered Buyer Permit (RB)
Registered Buyer permit allows you to receive and make your own IFQ landing. Applications may be submitted online through your eFISH account here:https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login See copy of the application at the end of the document. This is required if you are going to be receiving or selling IFQ species.
Record Keeping and Reporting
Where are you offloading?
A NMFS approved scale is required at the location of offload. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/section-679.28#p-679.28(b)
Reporting in eFISH
If you are intending on only having a few landings per year, three or less, then you can choose to report via eFISH and do not need to register for eLandings.
You will need to use a combination of paper fish tickets and eFISH. If you do not already have access to eFISH, please contact RAM at either RAM.Alaska@noaa.gov or 1-800-304-4846 option 2.
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login
Registering for eLandings
Once you have received all your permits, proceed to elandings to register for your operation. You will want to bookmark this link for future reference. https://elandings.alaska.gov/web/
Click on the blue “Register” link below the “Show Password” checkbox.
eLandings Operation Types
Plant Receiver
At-Sea Processor
Catcher Seller
Buyer-Exporter
Enter the following information:
Operation Type: Select the operation type that applies to you
Operation Name: name of your business, we often see the vessel name here
ADFG Proc Code: issued by the Dept. of Revenue, example: F1234
Federal Permit Number: if you fish outside 3NM and retain groundfish this is required
Registered Buyer Number: apply via eFISH for this permit, needed for IFQ sales
Registered Crab Receiver: not required unless you are receiving or selling IFQ crab
Port: select the port of landing from the drop down list of ports
Vessel ADF&G: Your vessel number
Vehicle License Number: not required
UserID: write this down since it will be the username you use to log into eLandings.
Password: retain your password - it is case sensitive, must be at least 8 characters long
Confirm Password: re-enter the password
Company Name: this should be your first and last name or the name of your business
City: the city where you are located
State: Alaska
Telephone Number: best contact number
Fax Number: not required
Email Address: valid email to receive correspondence from eLandings
Security Question: create a question you know the answer to
Secret Answer: answer to your security question
Check for any spelling errors and click Register.
Congratulations you have created your eLandings account!
Please print, sign and submit a copy of your Authorizations Agreement to elandings@alaska.gov so your operation can be enabled.
Once your operation is enabled you will receive a confirmation email and be able to login and create landing reports.
Processing on your vessel
IPHC regulations require that any halibut filets must be off the vessel by 1800 local time on the calendar day following the offload.
(2) No person shall possess on board a vessel a Pacific halibut other than whole or with gills and entrails removed, except that this paragraph shall not prohibit the possession on board a vessel of: (a) Pacific halibut cheeks cut from Pacific halibut caught by persons authorized to process the Pacific halibut on board in accordance with NOAA Fisheries regulations published at 50 CFR Part 679; (b) filets from Pacific halibut offloaded in accordance with this Section that are possessed on board the harvesting vessel in the port of landing up to 1800 local time on the calendar day following the offload4 ; and (c) Pacific halibut with their heads removed in accordance with Section 18.
DEC -Thinking of storing, cleaning, packaging, processing or distributing seafood products?
If so, contact your local DEC office to ensure compliance with safe food handling practices.
The resources below will help you get started.
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishlicense.processing
https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood/
Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL)
A Prior Notice of Landing must be called into the NOAA Data Tech office for each offload of halibut. They can be reached at 1-800-304-4846 option #1 from 0600-midnight, seven days a week.
Your PNOL must be scheduled at least three hours in advance.
More details can be found at 50 CFR 679.5(l)(1)
Resources
Federal Regulations- The 679.5 recordkeeping and reporting regulations are located here:https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-679regs . Read section E (eLandings), and section L (IFQ Landings.)
IPHC Regulations https://www.iphc.int/2023/10/18/international-pacific-halibut-commission-fishery-regulations-2023/
State Regulations https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.Commercial
Enforcement - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact/alaska-enforcement
Data Techs - 1-800-304-4846 Option #1
eLandings Support mailto:elandings@alaska.gov
eLandings Wiki Documentation
For information on how to use eLandings to report your landings, please visit this page: eLandings User Manual
Training site and scenarios
We have an eLandings training environment where you can practice creating "fake" reports for a variety of different report types. This is a good place to get familiar with the reporting process. We highly recommend everyone try it. Those instructions are located here:
Dockside Sales
(A) A person holding a valid IFQ permit, or IFQ hired master permit, and a Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.
(B) A person holding a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit and Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of CDQ halibut with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all CDQ halibut have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.
(C) A Registered Buyer conducting dockside sales must issue a receipt to each individual receiving IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish in lieu of a PTR. This receipt must include:
(1) Date of sale;
(2) Registered Buyer permit number;
(3) Weight by product of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish transferred.
(D) A Registered Buyer must maintain a copy of each dockside sales receipt as described in paragraph (l) of this section.
Moving the Fish
TRANSFER DIRECTLY FROM THE LANDING SITE TO A PROCESSING FACILITY (CDQ HALIBUT, IFQ HALIBUT, IFQ SABLEFISH, OR CR CRAB ONLY).
A Product Transfer Report (PTR) is not required for transportation of unprocessed IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish directly from the landing site to a facility for processing, provided the following conditions are met:
A copy of the IFQ landing report receipt (Internet receipt) documenting the IFQ landing accompanies the offloaded IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut while in transit.
A copy of the IFQ landing report receipt is available for inspection by an authorized officer.
The Registered Buyer submitting the IFQ landing report completes a PTR for each shipment from the processing facility.
Product Transfer Reports
The operator or manager must record on a PTR those species that are listed in Tables 2a and 2c to this part when those species are transferred out of the facility or off the vessel and may also record species listed in Table 2d to this part.
A Registered Buyer must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of halibut or sablefish for which the Registered Buyer submitted an IFQ landing report or was required to submit an IFQ landing report
IFQ Halibut, IFQ Sablefish, and CDQ Halibut:
Except as noted below, a Registered Buyer must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of halibut or sablefish for which the Registered Buyer submitted an IFQ
landing report or was required to submit an IFQ landing report. A PTR is not required to accompany a shipment.
Product Transfer Report Exceptions
(2) Exceptions —
(i) Bait sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). During one calendar day, the operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR the individual sales or shipments of non-IFQ groundfish to vessels for bait purposes during the day recording the amount of such bait product shipped from a vessel or facility that day.
(ii) Retail sales —
(A) IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish. During one calendar day, the operator, manager, or Registered Buyer may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish if each sale weighs less than 10 lb or 4.5 kg.
(B) CR crab. During one calendar day, the RCR may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of CR crab if each sale weighs less than 100 lb or 45 kg.
(iii) Wholesale sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). The operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR, wholesale sales of non-IFQ groundfish by species when recording the amount of such wholesale species leaving a vessel or facility in one calendar day, if invoices detailing destinations for all of the product are available for inspection by an authorized officer.
(iv) Dockside sales.
(A) A person holding a valid IFQ permit, or IFQ hired master permit, and a Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.
(B) A person holding a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit and Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of CDQ halibut with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all CDQ halibut have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.
(C) A Registered Buyer conducting dockside sales must issue a receipt to each individual receiving IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish in lieu of a PTR. This receipt must include:
(1) Date of sale;
(2) Registered Buyer permit number;
(3) Weight by product of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish transferred.
(D) A Registered Buyer must maintain a copy of each dockside sales receipt as described in paragraph (l) of this section.
(v) Transfer directly from the landing site to a processing facility (CDQ halibut, IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab only). A PTR is not required for transportation of unprocessed IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, or CR crab directly from the landing site to a facility for processing, provided the following conditions are met:
Product Transfer Reports Time Limits
The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor, the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP, the Registered Buyer, or RCR must:
(i) Record all product transfer information on a PTR within 2 hours of the completion of the shipment.
(ii) Submit a PTR by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907–586–7313), by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the shipment occurred.
(iii) If any information on the original PTR changes prior to the first destination of the shipment, submit a revised PTR by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907–586–7313), by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the change occurred.
Custom Processing Operations
This is a special operation type that involves an "owner" of fish in conjunction with a fish "processor". This type of operation must be set up in eLandings by the "owner" of the fish and requires permits from both operations involved.
Custom Processing
The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP or the operator of a mothership must record products that result from custom processing for another person in eLandings consistently throughout a fishing year using one of the following two methods:
(i) Combined records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish routinely in eLandings using processor name, FFP or FPP number, and ADF&G processor code; or
(ii) Separate records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish in eLandings identified by the name, FPP number or FFP number, and ADF&G processor code of the associated business entity.
Business Arrangements
We recommend that you have your custom processing business arrangements clearly defined and documented specifically who is responsible for what fees including observer fees and cost recovery fees and any applicable taxes.
Offload Reporting When Some Fish is Retained or Sold at Another Location
The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP or the operator of a mothership must record products that result from custom processing for another person in eLandings consistently throughout a fishing year using one of the following two methods:
(i) Combined records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish routinely in eLandings using processor name, FFP or FPP number, and ADF&G processor code; or
(ii) Separate records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish in eLandings identified by the name, FPP number or FFP number, and ADF&G processor code of the associated business entity.
Retaining for Future Sale -IFQ Species Only
Code 87 should only be used if the fisher is taking the catch back onboard the vessel to sell at a later time. Documentation of retained for future sale indicates that a purchase has not occurred at the point of initial offload. The future sale may be via a dockside sale or to another processor. When the retained fish is finally sold, a second fish ticket/landing report must be completed.
Retaining for Personal Use
Code 95 (retained for personal use) should be used if the fisher is retaining some of the catch for personal use and consumption. The product weight and delivery condition code at the point of offload/weighing should be recorded.
Retaining for Bait
Code 92 (Retained for bait-not sold): should only be used if the fisherman is retaining part of the catch for bait, not for selling the catch.
Code 61 (Sold for bait): should be used if the catch is being sold by the fisherman to the processor to be used as bait.
Observer Fees
Starting in 2013, processors and registered buyers are required to pay an ex-vessel value-based fee to NMFS to support the funding and deployment of observers on vessels and in plants in the new “partial observer coverage category.” More information about the observer fees is available here. In 2021 fees were raised from 1.25% to 1.65%.
The observer fee is 1.65% of the ex-vessel value of the groundfish and halibut subject to the fee. Ex-vessel value is based on standard ex-vessel prices from prior years. Standard prices are published annually in December for the upcoming year and can be found on the NMFS website. The intent of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NMFS is for owners and operators of catcher vessels delivering to processors to split the fee liability 50/50 with the processor, such that each operation pays 0.625 percent of the total ex-vessel value of the landing. The owner of a shoreside processor or Registered Buyer permit holders will be responsible for collecting the fee, including the vessel’s portion of the fee, at the time of landing and remitting the full fee amount to NMFS. NMFS will hold the processor liable for payment of the entire fee.
The links in blue text below provide information to processors about when observer fees apply, how to view the observer fee at the time of landing, and how to pay observer fees.
How to Pay Observer Fees Using the eFISH Portal
What landings and disposition codes are subject to Observer Fees?
Viewing Observer fees in eLandings
Rounding on Observer Fees Explained and Illustrated
Out of State Landings
If you intend to take your IFQ catch and deliver outside of Alaska you are required to submit a Vessel Departure Report, Prior Notice of Landing and possibly a Vessel Activity Report.
Departure Report
Depart report. “Depart” means leaving Alaska. If the vessel is crossing the seaward boundary of the EEZ off Alaska and moving out of the EEZ or crossing the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia and moving into Canadian waters, indicate a “depart” report.
(A) Time limit and submittal. A vessel operator who intends to make a landing of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab at any location other than in an IFQ regulatory area for halibut and sablefish or in a crab fishery for CR crab (see Table 1 to part 680) in the State of Alaska must submit an IFQ Departure Report, by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800–304–4846 or 907–586–7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.
(B) Completion of fishing. A vessel operator must submit an IFQ Departure Report after completion of all fishing and prior to departing the waters of the EEZ adjacent to the jurisdictional waters of the State of Alaska, the territorial sea of the State of Alaska, or the internal waters of the State of Alaska when IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab are on board.
(C) Permit —
(1) Registered Crab Receiver permit. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report for CR crab must have a Registered Crab Receiver permit.
(2) Registered Buyer permit. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report for IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish must have a Registered Buyer permit.
(D) First landing of any species. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report must submit IFQ landing reports for all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish on board at the same time and place as the first landing of any IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish.
(E) Permits on board.
(1) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish must have one or more IFQ permit holders or IFQ hired master permit holders on board with a combined IFQ balance equal to or greater than all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish on board the vessel.
(2) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document CDQ halibut must ensure that one or more CDQ hired master permit holders are onboard with enough remaining halibut CDQ balance to harvest amounts of CDQ halibut equal to or greater than all CDQ halibut onboard.
(3) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document CR crab must have one or more permit holders on board with a combined CR balance equal to or greater than all CR crab on board the vessel.
(ii) Required information. When submitting an IFQ Departure Report, the vessel operator must provide the following information:
(A) Intended date, time (A.l.t.), and location of landing;
(B) Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number;
(C) Vessel operator's name and Registered Buyer permit or Registered Crab Receiver permit number;
(D) Halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and CR crab permit numbers of IFQ and CDQ permit holders on board;
(E) Area of harvest.
(1) If IFQ or CDQ halibut, then halibut regulatory areas (see Figure 15 to this part).
(2) If IFQ sablefish, then sablefish regulatory areas (see Figure 14 to this part).
(3) If CR crab, then the crab rationalization fishery code (see Table 1 to part 680).
(F) Estimated total weight as appropriate of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab on board (lb/kg/mt).
(iii) Revision to Departure Report. A vessel operator who intends to make an IFQ landing at a location different from the location named on the IFQ Departure report must submit a revised report naming the new location at least 12 hours in advance of the offload. Revisions must be submitted by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800–304–4846 or 907–586–7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.
(A) Time limit and submittal. A vessel operator who intends to make a landing of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab at any location other than in an IFQ regulatory area for halibut and sablefish or in a crab fishery for CR crab (see Table 1 to part 680) in the State of Alaska must submit an IFQ Departure Report, by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800–304–4846 or 907–586–7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.
(B) Completion of fishing. A vessel operator must submit an IFQ Departure Report after completion of all fishing and prior to departing the waters of the EEZ adjacent to the jurisdictional waters of the State of Alaska, the territorial sea of the State of Alaska, or the internal waters of the State of Alaska when IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab are on board.
(C) Permit —
(1) Registered Crab Receiver permit. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report for CR crab must have a Registered Crab Receiver permit.
(2) Registered Buyer permit. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report for IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish must have a Registered Buyer permit.
(D) First landing of any species. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report must submit IFQ landing reports for all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish on board at the same time and place as the first landing of any IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish.
(E) Permits on board.
(1) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish must have one or more IFQ permit holders or IFQ hired master permit holders on board with a combined IFQ balance equal to or greater than all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish on board the vessel.
(2) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document CDQ halibut must ensure that one or more CDQ hired master permit holders are onboard with enough remaining halibut CDQ balance to harvest amounts of CDQ halibut equal to or greater than all CDQ halibut onboard.
(3) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document CR crab must have one or more permit holders on board with a combined CR balance equal to or greater than all CR crab on board the vessel.
(ii) Required information. When submitting an IFQ Departure Report, the vessel operator must provide the following information:
(A) Intended date, time (A.l.t.), and location of landing;
(B) Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number;
(C) Vessel operator's name and Registered Buyer permit or Registered Crab Receiver permit number;
(D) Halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and CR crab permit numbers of IFQ and CDQ permit holders on board;
(E) Area of harvest.
(1) If IFQ or CDQ halibut, then halibut regulatory areas (see Figure 15 to this part).
(2) If IFQ sablefish, then sablefish regulatory areas (see Figure 14 to this part).
(3) If CR crab, then the crab rationalization fishery code (see Table 1 to part 680).
(F) Estimated total weight as appropriate of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab on board (lb/kg/mt).
(iii) Revision to Departure Report. A vessel operator who intends to make an IFQ landing at a location different from the location named on the IFQ Departure report must submit a revised report naming the new location at least 12 hours in advance of the offload. Revisions must be submitted by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800–304–4846 or 907–586–7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.
Vessel Activity Report (VAR)
If your vessel is crossing the EEZ off Alaska or crosses the US Canadian International Boundary and you need to complete the VAR. If you are only carrying IFQ and submitted a Departure Report you do not need to complete the VAR. Please see additional details below.
U.S. Vessel Activity Report (VAR). For a comparison of forms used for shipping, transporting, or transferring fish or fish product, see Table 13 to this part.
(1) Fish or fish product onboard. Except as noted in paragraph (k)(4) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, a catcher/processor, or a mothership required to hold a Federal fisheries permit issued under this part and carrying fish or fish product onboard must complete and submit a VAR by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907–586–7313) before the vessel crosses the seaward boundary of the EEZ off Alaska or crosses the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia.
(2) Combination of non-IFQ groundfish with IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish or CR crab. If a vessel is carrying non-IFQ groundfish and IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish or CR crab, the operator must submit a VAR in addition to an IFQ Departure Report required by paragraph (l)(4) of this section.
(3) Revised VAR. If fish or fish products are landed at a port other than the one specified on the VAR, the operator must submit a revised VAR showing the actual port of landing before any fish are offloaded.
(4) Exemption: IFQ Departure Report. A VAR is not required if a vessel is carrying only IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab onboard and the operator has submitted an IFQ Departure Report required by paragraph (l)(4) of this section.
(5) Information required.
(i) Whether original or revised VAR.
(ii) Name and Federal fisheries permit number of vessel or RCR permit number.
(iii) Type of vessel (whether catcher vessel, catcher/processor, or mothership).
(iv) Name, daytime telephone number (including area code), facsimile number and COMSAT number (if available) of representative.
(v) Return report. “Return,” for purposes of this paragraph, means returning to Alaska. If the vessel is crossing the seaward boundary of the EEZ off Alaska or crossing the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia into U.S. waters, indicate a “return” report and enter:
(A) Intended Alaska port of landing (see Table 14a to this part);
(B) Estimated date and time (hour and minute, Greenwich mean time) the vessel will cross the boundary; and
(C) The estimated position coordinates in latitude and longitude where the vessel will cross.