AK Stat § 16.43.970 (2021)
2021 Alaska Statutes|Title 16. Fish and Game|Chapter 43. Regulation of Entry into Alaska Commercial Fisheries|Article 9. General Provisions.|Sec. 16.43.970. Penalties.

(a) A person who violates a provision of this chapter or a regulation adopted under this chapter or a regulation adopted under this chapter is, upon conviction, guilty of a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for a first conviction, and a fine of not more than $10,000 for a second or third conviction. Upon a first or second conviction under this subsection, the court may in its discretion also order the commission to suspend the commercial fishing privileges of the person for a period of not more than three years and to revoke one or more or all commercial fishing permits held by the person. Upon a third or subsequent conviction under this subsection, the person is also subject to a loss of commercial fishing privileges as provided under (i) of this section. This subsection does not apply to violations of AS 16.43.140(a). (b) A person who knowingly makes a false statement to the commission for the purpose of obtaining a benefit, including the issuance, renewal, duplication, or transfer of an entry or interim-use permit or vessel license or a person who assists another by knowingly making a false statement to the commission for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for another, is guilty of the crime of unsworn falsification in the second degree as set out in AS 11.56.210. Upon conviction, the person is also subject to suspension of commercial fishing privileges and revocation of commercial fishing permits under (i) of this section. (c) [Repealed, § 12 ch 47 SLA 1981.] (d) If a permit holder is charged by the state with violating a provision of this chapter or a regulation adopted under this chapter, the holder may not transfer any interim-use or entry permit under AS 16.43.170 until after the final adjudication or dismissal of the charges. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an interim-use or entry permit may not be transferred while under suspension, without the consent of the commission. (f) A commercial fishing entry permit revoked under this section that is pledged as security for a loan under AS 16.10.333, or 16.10.338, or AS 44.81.231 shall be reassigned as provided in AS 16.10.337 or AS 44.81.250. (g) A person who violates the provisions of AS 16.43.140(a) is (1) upon a first conviction, guilty of a class B misdemeanor and may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or forfeiture of the person's fishing vessel, or both, and shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 and loss of commercial fishing privileges under (i) of this section; (2) upon a second conviction, guilty of a class A misdemeanor and may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than one year, and shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $20,000, forfeiture of the person's fishing vessel, and loss of commercial fishing privileges under (i) of this section; (3) upon a third or subsequent conviction, guilty of a class A misdemeanor and may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than one year, and shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than $20,000 nor more than $50,000, forfeiture of the person's fishing vessel, and loss of commercial fishing privileges under (i) of this section. (h) A person convicted of violating the provisions of AS 16.43.140(a) forfeits the value of the fishery resources found on board the person's vessel at the time of the violation. (i) Upon the conviction of a person for an offense described under (a), (b), or (g) of this section, the court shall immediately notify the commission of the conviction. The notice provided by the court shall be accompanied by an order suspending commercial fishing privileges and revoking commercial fishing permits under (a) of this section, as appropriate. The commission shall, upon receipt of (1) an order from the court under (a) of this section, suspend the commercial fishing privileges of a person for the period set by the court and revoke commercial fishing permits held by the person as directed by the court; (2) a notice from the court that a person has been convicted of a third or subsequent violation of (a) of this section, suspend all commercial fishing privileges of the person for a period of three years from the date of conviction and revoke all commercial fishing permits held by the person; (3) a notice from the court that a person has been convicted of a violation described under (b) of this section, suspend all commercial fishing privileges of the person for a period of three years from the date of conviction and revoke all commercial fishing permits held by the person; (4) a notice from the court that a person has been convicted of a violation described under (g)(1) of this section, suspend all commercial fishing privileges of the person for a period of one year from the date of conviction; (5) a notice from the court that a person has been convicted of a violation described under (g)(2) of this section, suspend all commercial fishing privileges of the person for a period of two years from the date of conviction; (6) a notice from the court that a person has been convicted of a violation described under (g)(3) of this section, suspend all commercial fishing privileges of the person for a period of five years from the date of conviction. (j) In this section, (1) “commercial fishing permit” means an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued under this chapter; (2) “commercial fishing privileges” means the privilege of participating in an activity for which a commercial fishing permit is required and the privilege of obtaining a commercial fishing permit.