April 22, 2026 — Alaska State Representative Sarah Vance has introduced the Alaska Coastal Micro-Fisheries Act, legislation that would eliminate some regulatory requirements for small-scale fishers looking to process their catch.
Alaska House Bill 356 would reduce the health and sanitary requirements on permits for commercial fishing vessels and their operators by allowing exemptions for processing operations on low-risk species if safety standards are already met. The legislation only applies to catches under 5,000 pounds.