The commissioner is the principal executive officer of the Department of Fish and Game. The commissioner shall be a qualified executive with knowledge of the requirements for the protection, management, conservation, and restoration of the fish and game resources of the state.
The commissioner shall (1) supervise and control the department, and may appoint and employ division heads, enforcement agents, and the technical, clerical, and other assistants necessary for the general administration of the department; (2) manage, protect, maintain, improve, and extend the fish, game and aquatic plant resources of the state in the interest of the […]
The commissioner is entitled to the compensation fixed by law and, subject to appropriate state travel regulations, is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties.
(a) The commissioner has, but not by way of limitation, the following powers and duties: (1) through the appropriate state agency and under the provisions of AS 36.30 (State Procurement Code), to acquire by gift, purchase, or lease, or other lawful means, land, buildings, water, rights-of-way, or other necessary or proper real or personal property […]
The department shall avoid destruction of nuisance moose if a practicable alternative exists for the relocation of the moose to suitable habitat where the moose will not be a nuisance. The commissioner may authorize one or more private individuals or groups to relocate nuisance moose to suitable habitat designated by the department if, upon review […]
(a) The commissioner may enter into appropriate contracts and agreements with agencies, such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission, designed to ensure that on-board observer programs conducted in the fisheries of the state are coordinated and consistent with each other for vessels operating […]
(a) This chapter does not limit the power of the commissioner or an authorized designee, when circumstances require, to summarily open or close seasons or areas or to change weekly closed periods on fish or game by means of emergency orders. (b) The commissioner or an authorized designee may, under criteria adopted by the Board […]
(a) The commissioner shall extend the time and dates during which application may be made for fish or game registration if the commissioner finds that (1) the conservation and management of the fish or game resource will not be affected adversely; and (2) the failure to timely apply is the result of excusable neglect. (b) […]
Regulations of a board and of the commissioner, including emergency openings and closures, are admissible as evidence in the courts of the state in accordance with AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
Nothing in this chapter authorizes the department or a board to change the amount of fees or licenses.
(a) The commissioner may, with the approval of the governor, establish a departmental division of commercial fisheries, a departmental division of sport fisheries, a departmental division of game, and other departmental divisions as are necessary. (b) [Repealed, § 3 E.O. No. 86 (1993).] (c) There is established in the department a section of subsistence hunting […]
The department shall (1) develop and continually maintain a comprehensive, coordinated state plan for the orderly present and long-range rehabilitation, enhancement, and development of all aspects of the state’s fisheries for the perpetual use, benefit, and enjoyment of all citizens and revise and update this plan annually; (2) encourage the investment by private enterprise in […]
The section of subsistence hunting and fishing shall (1) compile existing data and conduct studies to gather information, including data from subsistence users, on all aspects of the role of subsistence hunting and fishing in the lives of the residents of the state; (2) quantify the amount, nutritional value, and extent of dependence on food […]
There is created a revolving fish and game fund, which shall be used exclusively for the following: (1) to carry out the purposes and provisions of this title, except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52, or other duties that may be delegated by the legislature to the commissioner or the department; (2) [Repealed, § 34 ch […]
(a) The fish and game fund shall be made up of the following money and other money the legislature appropriates, which shall be deposited and retained in the fund until expended: (1) money received from the sale of state sport fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, tags, and special permits, waterfowl conservation tags purchased by hunters, […]
Upon authorization of the commissioner, disbursements from the fish and game fund shall be paid by the proper state officer on presentation of vouchers signed by the commissioner or an authorized representative, and approved by the proper state officer.
(a) Except as provided in (c) of this section, money accruing to the state from sport fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, tags, or permit fees may not be diverted to a purpose other than the protection, propagation, investigation, and restoration of sport fish and game resources and the expenses of administering the sport fish and […]
The state assents to the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act of September 2, 1937 (16 U.S.C. 669-669j), to the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act of August 9, 1950 (16 U.S.C. 777-777k), to any amendment, revision, or modification of either Act, and to any other federal aid act that may be enacted to benefit […]
The following persons are peace officers of the state and they shall enforce this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52: (1) an employee of the department authorized by the commissioner; (2) a police officer in the state; (3) any other person authorized by the commissioner.
Each peace officer designated in AS 16.05.150 shall arrest a person violating a provision of this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52, or any regulation adopted under this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52, in the peace officer’s presence or view, and shall take the person for examination or trial before an officer […]
