Q. What is subsistence fishing and hunting?

A. Subsistence uses of wild resources are defined in Alaska state law as the "noncommercial, customary and traditional uses" of fish and wildlife resources for direct personal or family uses as food, shelter, fuel (e.g. firewood), clothing, tools, or transportation. The subsistence uses of wild resources also include making and selling handmade articles out of non-edible by-products of fish and wildlife resources taken for personal or family consumption. Customary and traditional uses of wild resources also include barter, sharing, or limited and noncommercial exchange of fish and wildlife resources for minimal amounts of cash (customary trade) for personal or family use (Alaska Statute 16.05.940[33]). Subsistence fishing is fishing for or possession of fish for subsistence uses and subsistence hunting is hunting for or possession of wildlife parts for subsistence uses. To qualify to participate in subsistence fishing or hunting a person must be an Alaska resident, meaning he/she has lived in Alaska for 12 consecutive months. Furthermore, all subsistence hunters must have a valid hunting license and in areas where subsistence fishing permits are required, a valid subsistence fishing permit. Depending upon the area and the resource, subsistence fishers may use nets, seines, fish wheels, long lines, or other types of gear as defined by the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Q. Does "subsistence" only mean hunting and fishing for food?

A. Certainly food is one of the most important subsistence uses of wild resources. In the 1990s (the last period for which a comprehensive estimate is available), average rural subsistence harvest statewide was about 375 pounds of food per person per year. That is more than the U.S. average consumption of 255 pounds of domestic meat, fish, and poultry per year. (The average American uses a total of 1,371 pounds of all foods per year.) However, there are other important uses of subsistence products, such as:

• Clothing: Wild furs and hides are still the best materials for ruffs (wind guards), mittens, parkas, kuspuks, clothes lining, and mukluks (winter boots) in many regions.
• Fuel: Wood is a major source of energy in rural homes, and is also used for smoking and preserving fish and meat.
• Transportation: Fish, seals, and other products are used to feed dog teams.
• Construction: Spruce, birch, hemlock, willow, and cottonwood are used for house logs, sleds, fish racks, and many other items.
• Home goods: Hides are used as sleeping mats. Seal skins are used as pokes to store food. Wild grasses are made into baskets and mats.
• Sharing: Fish and wildlife are widely shared with neighbors who cannot harvest for themselves because of age, disability, or other circumstances.
• Customary trade: Specialized products like seal oil are bartered and exchanged in traditional trade networks between communities. Furs sold to outside markets provide an important source of income to many rural areas.
• Ceremony: Traditional products are used in funerals, potlatches, weddings, dances, and other ceremonial occasions.
• Arts and crafts: Ivory, antlers, grass, wood, skins, and furs are crafted into beautiful items of art for sale and enjoyment.

Q. How are subsistence fishing and hunting different from sport fishing and hunting?

A. General hunting and sport fishing are not classified as customary and traditional uses under regulations adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the Alaska Board of Game. Another difference is that while subsistence fisheries employ efficient gear such as nets, fish wheels, and long lines, most sport fishing is limited to rod and reel. Although sport fishers often retain a portion of their catch for food, the primary goal of sport fishing is recreation. Sport fisheries are open to non-Alaska residents, while only Alaskans may participate in subsistence fisheries. Wild resources taken in sport fisheries may not be bartered. In many areas of the state, regulations for general hunting for Alaska residents and subsistence hunting are the same for game populations with customary and traditional use findings. Non-resident hunting regulations often include shorter seasons and smaller bag limits. The Alaska Board of Game adopts registration hunt or Tier II permit requirements when it is necessary to limit participation in subsistence hunts.

Q. How is subsistence fishing different from personal use fishing?

A. Personal use fisheries differ from subsistence fisheries in that they do not meet the criteria established for customary and traditional fisheries (5 AAC 99.010) or they occur in nonsubsistence areas. They are similar in that they use more efficient gear than rod and reel. Personal use fishing includes fishing for finfish and gathering shellfish for personal use. Fish or shellfish harvested using a personal use permit cannot be sold or bartered (AS 16.05.940[24]). Personal use permits may be obtained only by Alaska residents who have a valid sport fishing license. Examples of personal use fisheries that can be reached by automobile from Anchorage and Fairbanks are the dip net fisheries that take place in the lower Kenai and Kasilof rivers, the dip net fishery that takes place in the Copper River at Chitina, and the personal use fisheries on the Tanana River in the Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area.

Q. Who decides what is a subsistence fishery or a subsistence hunt?

A. Except in nonsubsistence areas, the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the Alaska Board of Game identify the fish stocks and game populations that are customarily and traditionally taken for subsistence purposes. To do this, the boards follow the "Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game Subsistence Procedures" that lists 8 criteria describing a subsistence fishery or subsistence hunt (5 AAC 99.010). Each board then adopts regulations that provide Alaska residents with reasonable opportunities to participate in the harvest of these fish stocks and game populations.

Q. What is a nonsubsistence area?

A. The Joint Board of Fisheries and Game is required to identify nonsubsistence areas, where dependence upon subsistence (customary and traditional uses of fish and wildlife) is not a principal characteristic of the economy, culture, and way of life of the area or community (AS 16.05.258(c)). The Alaska subsistence law lists 12 socio-economic characteristics that the Joint Board examines when it defines nonsubsistence areas. The Joint Board has identified 5 nonsubsistence areas in Alaska (5AAC 99.015):

          Ketchikan Nonsubsistence Area
          Juneau Nonsubsistence Area
          Anchorage-Matanuska/Susitna-Kenai Nonsubsistence Area
          Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area
          Valdez Nonsubsistence Area

Q. Is subsistence for Natives only?

A. No. Both Alaska Natives and non-Natives may participate in subsistence fisheries and subsistence hunts as established by the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Board of Game, and the Federal Subsistence Board. In Alaska state law, subsistence uses include the customary and traditional uses of fish and wildlife outside nonsubsistence areas, regardless of ethnicity.

One exception pertains to subsistence hunting of marine mammals. Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, only Alaska Natives who live on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean may harvest marine mammals for subsistence purposes.

Q. Who makes Alaska subsistence hunting and fishing regulations?

A. State regulations for subsistence hunting and fishing are developed by the Alaska Board of Game and the Alaska Board of Fisheries through the proposal process. ADF&G employees provide background information in the form of staff reports and technical comments on regulatory proposals during the deliberative process; ADF&G employees also provide administrative assistance to the boards. For background on the boards and the board process, including information on how to submit proposals to change regulations, click here.

Q. What about federal hunting and fishing regulations?

A. For the most part, subsistence hunting and fishing on federal lands and waters in Alaska are regulated under provisions of Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Exceptions include marine mammal hunting, migratory bird hunting, and subsistence halibut fishing. Under ANILCA, eligibility to participate in federal subsistence hunting and fishing is limited to rural Alaska residents. Federal subsistence regulations are developed by the Federal Subsistence Board and are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management (OSM). For more information about the federal subsistence program, including federal subsistence regulations, go to the OSM website.

Q. What is the Federal Subsistence Board?

A. The Federal Subsistence Board is the decision-making body that oversees the Federal Subsistence Management program in Alaska. The Board is composed of directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Forest Service, and a chairman appointed by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture.

Q. Do I need a license to go subsistence fishing?

A. No. However, you need to check the regulations to learn if a subsistence permit is required for the fishery you want to participate in. If a permit is required, you can obtain a permit, free of charge, at ADF&G offices. Click here

Q. Do I need a license to go subsistence hunting?

A. Yes. All hunting under state regulations requires that you obtain a resident hunting license. Click here for information about obtaining a hunting license. You may also need to obtain a subsistence permit before you go subsistence hunting. Check the regulations for the area and species you wish to hunt. Link to regulations

Q. What about getting a “subsistence licenseâ€� for hunting?

A. There is no special “subsistence hunting license.â€� A hunting/trapping/sport fishing license is available to Alaska residents who have received assistance from state or federal welfare programs, or who meet income guidelines. Click here for more information. Again, this is not a “subsistence licenseâ€� but rather a special provision for individuals with limited incomes. Some Alaska residents who meet age or military service requirements may qualify for a free permanent identification card.

Q. Isn’t subsistence eligibility based upon need?

A. No, all Alaska residents are entitled to participate in state-administered subsistence hunts and fisheries in Alaska, unless the Alaska Board of Game or the Alaska Board of Fisheries determines that there is an insufficient harvestable surplus of a particular resource to provide for all subsistence uses. In those cases, the respective regulatory board restricts the number of Alaskans who can participate in a subsistence hunt or fishery based upon (1) the customary and direct dependence on the animal population by the subsistence user for human consumption as a mainstay of livelihood and (2) the ability of the subsistence user to obtain food if subsistence use is restricted or eliminated. This is referred to as Tier II subsistence management and is based upon Alaska Statute 16.05.258.

Q. Is subsistence a type of welfare for people with low incomes?

A. No. Subsistence is not a welfare system for people with low incomes. In fact, households with the highest incomes in rural communities usually produce the most subsistence foods. Households with the lowest incomes usually produce less subsistence foods.

This makes sense if subsistence is seen as a family enterprise. Households with the lowest incomes in the community are commonly the very elderly, single mothers with young dependent children, and young single persons or young couples who are just getting started. These households also very likely cannot subsistence fish and hunt very well. They often lack the time, the labor, and the equipment to harvest effectively. They usually eat subsistence foods or use subsistence products produced by other households in the community.

The households who produce the most subsistence foods in a community are usually households with large, mature labor forces that are fully equipped for hunting and fishing. Usually, these are households with mature parents and several mature children. They have the labor and equipment to harvest wild foods. They typically produce extra subsistence foods to share with elderly relatives, the less fortunate, and young adults. The mature households also usually have greater monetary incomes because there may be several household members with jobs.

Because of this, rural communities would suffer extreme hardship if subsistence hunting and fishing were limited to only households with low incomes. This would cut out the most productive households in the community.

Q. What is a “Tier II hunt?â€�

A. The Alaska Board of Game determines whether a game population can be harvested under the principle of sustained yield. If the population can be harvested, the board then determines what amount is reasonably necessary for subsistence uses. If the population is sufficient, the boards can provide for all consumptive uses (e.g. sport and subsistence.) However, if the population falls below a certain level the board must eliminate all consumptive uses other than subsistence. If the population is not sufficient to provide a reasonable opportunity for Alaskans to participate in the subsistence hunt, then the board can distinguish among subsistence users. A Tier II hunt takes place when the board must distinguish among subsistence users through limitations based on the customary and direct dependence of the game population and the ability of the subsistence user to obtain food if subsistence is eliminated or restricted. Click here for information on Tier II hunts. The Alaska Board of Fisheries follows the same process for Tier II fisheries.

Q. Where can I get a subsistence fishing permit?

A. State subsistence fishing permits are available to Alaska residents, free of charge, at ADF&G offices. In some areas, permits are also available from vendors in local communities. Not all subsistence fishing permits are available at all ADF&G offices, so check the following table for the fishery in which you are interested. Fishery Contact Information

Q. If I have a subsistence permit, can I hunt and fish wherever I want and take as much as I want without limits?

A. Generally, the answer is no. Subsistence hunting and fishing, like all other harvest opportunities, are subject to reasonable regulations, including seasons and bag limits. If you want to subsistence hunt in Alaska, whoever you are and where ever you live, you must obtain a resident state hunting license. Go here for information on how to obtain a license. Most big game harvested under subsistence hunting regulations also must be reported to the ADF&G through submission of a harvest report available from most ADF&G offices and license vendors or available over the internet here.

Although, a sport fishing license is not required to subsistence fish in Alaska, in many parts of the state a subsistence fishing permit is required. Permits require harvest reporting, and, in many cases set harvest limits to ensure sustainable resource management. In some parts of Alaska away from urban and road-connected areas, subsistence hunting permits and subsistence fishing permits are not required and subsistence fish harvests are not limited by daily or annual bag limits. However, rules against wasteful taking apply throughout Alaska.

With increasing numbers of Alaskans interested in participating in subsistence hunting and fishing, regulations and permit conditions have become more common to provide for sustainable management. Conditions can include harvest reporting, moose antler restrictions, salvage requirements, gear and harvest timing restrictions, and limits on the number of animals that can be harvested. Alaskans wishing to participate in subsistence hunting and/or fishing should contact their local ADF&G office to determine what licenses or permits might be required.

Q. Where can I subsistence fish?

A. Alaska residents (individuals who have lived in the state for 12 consecutive months) may participate in subsistence fisheries that have been established in regulation by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. In many cases, a permit must be obtained before fishing and a record of harvest must be maintained on the permit and returned to ADF&G at the end of the season. For subsistence fishing regulations by area, click here. For a table that shows where subsistence fishing permits may be obtained, click here. Always consult the regulations before fishing.

Q. Where can I subsistence hunt?

A. Alaska residents (individuals who have resided in the state for 12 consecutive months) may participate in subsistence hunting of any game population for which the Alaska Board of Game has made a positive customary and traditional use finding. However, some hunts, especially those easily accessible by road, such as the Nelchina caribou hunt in Game Management Unit 13, are very popular, so participation may be limited. Click here for a link to Alaska hunting regulations. You may also contact the Wildlife Information Centers operated by the Division of Wildlife Conservation by clicking here.

Q. Where can I subsistence hunt and fish around Anchorage?

A. Anchorage, and most of the areas along the road system in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Kenai Peninsula Borough, have been designated by the state Joint Board as being in a nonsubsistence area, which means that there is no state subsistence hunting or fishing allowed. However, Alaska residents may participate in personal use and sport fisheries and general hunts within nonsubsistence areas. Contact the Wildlife Information Center at ADF&G in Anchorage for information about hunting opportunities in the Anchorage Area. Contact the Sport Fish Information Center at ADF&G in Anchorage for information about personal use fishing opportunities in Southcentral Alaska.

Q. Where can I subsistence hunt and fish around Fairbanks?

A. The Joint Board of Fisheries and Game in 1992 established the Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area, which includes the Fairbanks-North Star Borough and portions of Game Management Units 25C, 20A, and 20D as depicted in the map under "nonsubsistence areas," above.

Subsistence hunting and fishing regulations do not apply within the Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area; however, general sport and/or recreational hunting opportunities are provided within the Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area, as are sport fishing and personal use fishing opportunities. Contact the Division of Wildlife Conservation at (907)459-7206 and the Division of Sport Fish at (907)459-7228 for more information about hunting and fishing opportunities in and near Fairbanks.

Q. My relatives are visiting me from outside the state. May they assist me with my subsistence fishing?

A. No. Only Alaska residents may participate in subsistence hunting and fishing. This includes operating boats, deploying fishing gear, and removing fish from nets, fish wheels, and hooks. However, anyone may help with processing the fish. However, nonresidents may not be "in possession" of unpreserved subsistence harvested fish. This answer is based upon the definitions in Alaska Law, specifically the statutory definition of “subsistence usesâ€� where subsistence is limited to Alaska residents (AS 16.05.940(33)), the statutory definition of “takeâ€� (AS 16.05.940(34)), and the statutory definition of subsistence fishing (AS 16.05.948(30)).

Q. May I give some of my subsistence fish and game to others?

A. Yes. The definition of subsistence uses in Alaska state law provides for the customary and traditional trading, bartering, and sharing of fish and wildlife resources with others for personal or family consumption (AS 16.05.940(33)). In fact, sharing subsistence caught fish and wildlife is a fundamental characteristic of communities that follow a subsistence way of life. For example, it is estimated that while 60% of households in rural Alaska harvest wildlife, 86% of households use wildlife. Similarly for fish, 83% of rural Alaskan households harvest fish, while 95% of households use subsistence-caught fish.

Q. May I give some of my subsistence fish to my relatives who live outside of Alaska?

A. Yes. The definition of subsistence uses in Alaska Statute provides for customary and traditional uses of wild, renewable resources by an Alaska resident “for direct personal or family consumptionâ€�, or “sharing for personal or family consumption; in this paragraph, ‘family’ means persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and a person living in the household on a permanent basisâ€� (AS 16.05.940(33)). However Non-Alaskan residents may not be in possession of unpreserved subsistence harvested fish or game. If you give fish or game to Non-Alaskans, make sure it has been frozen, smoked, canned, dried or otherwise processed.

Q. May I have my subsistence fish and game processed at a commercial facility?

A. Yes. As long as the processed fish or game is not for sale. There is nothing in statute or regulation that prohibits an individual from having subsistence caught fish or wildlife processed at a commercial facility.

Q. May I trade or barter my subsistence fish?

A. Yes. The definition of subsistence uses in Alaska Statute provides for the customary and traditional trade, barter, and sharing of fish and wildlife resources with others for personal or family consumption. “Barterâ€� means the exchange or trade of fish or game, or their parts, taken for subsistence uses (A) for other fish or game or their parts; or (B) for other food or for nonedible items other than money if the exchange is of a limited and noncommercial nature (AS 16.05.940(2)).

Q. May I sell some of my subsistence fish or some of the dry or smoked fish I make from my subsistence fish?

A. Generally, the answer is no. The state subsistence law recognizes customary trade as the limited noncommercial exchange for minimal amounts of cash. However, subsistence fishing regulations forbid the purchase or sale of subsistence-taken fish, their parts, or their eggs, except that it is lawful to buy or sell a handicraft made out of the skin or nonedible by-products of fish taken for personal or family consumption (5 AAC 01.010(d)). An exception to this is if the Alaska Board of Fisheries has made specific findings that recognize customary trade of a fish stock, which they have in only 2 cases: the customary trade of herring spawn on kelp in Southeast Alaska (5 AAC 01.717) and the customary trade of finfish in Norton Sound-Port Clarence area (5 AAC 01.188). Permit or record-keeping forms are required if participating in customary trade under state subsistence regulations, other restrictions may apply.

Customary trade of fish pertains to whole fish “in the round� or otherwise unprocessed. Any exchange for cash of processed fish, such as smoked or dried strips or portions of fish or canned or jarred fish requires adherence to food safety regulations administered by the Alaska Department of Environment Conservation. Click here for more information on permit requirements to sell processed fish.

Q. What is customary trade?

A. State law recognizes “customary tradeâ€� as a subsistence use and defines customary trade as “the limited noncommercial exchange, for minimal amounts of cash, as restricted by the appropriate board, of fish or game resourcesâ€� (AS 16.05.940(8)). As with any use specified in the definition of subsistence uses, customary trade is required to be customary and traditional (AS 16.05.940(7)), and noncommercial (AS 16.05.940(33)). Customary trade is not the same as “barter,â€� which is separately defined as “the exchange or trade of fish or game, or their parts, taken for subsistence uses (A) for other fish or game or their parts; or (B) for other food or for nonedible items other than money if the exchange is of a limited and noncommercial natureâ€� (AS 16.05.940(2)).

Currently, the subsistence fishing regulations state, “unless otherwise specified in this chapter, it is unlawful to buy or sell subsistence-taken fish, their parts, or their eggs, except that it is lawful to buy or sell a handicraft made out of the skin or nonedible by-products of fish taken for personal or family consumption� (5 AAC 01.010(d)). The Alaska Board of Fisheries has made 2 customary and traditional use findings for customary trade of fish stocks. One is the customary trade of herring spawn on kelp in Southeast Alaska (5 AAC 01.717) and the second is customary trade of finfish in Norton Sound-Port Clarence area (5 AAC 01.188).

The Federal Subsistence Board has recognized regional differences and defined customary trade differently for separate regions of Alaska. Federal customary trade regulations allow federally-qualified rural residents to exchange in customary trade subsistence-harvested fish, their parts, or their eggs, legally taken under federal subsistence regulations from waters under federal jurisdiction, for cash from other rural residents of Alaska. Federal customary trade regulations provide for rural residents to trade fish, their parts, or their eggs for cash from individuals other than rural residents, if the individual who purchases the fish, their parts, or their eggs uses them for personal or family consumption. If you are not a rural resident, you may not sell fish, their parts, or their eggs taken under federal subsistence regulations. Click here for more information on Federal subsistence fishing regulations.

It is important to keep in mind that state and federal customary trade regulations do not preempt laws regarding the processing and sale of food for human consumption. All foods sold for human consumption must comply with food safety laws and regulations. Click here for more information on permit requirements to sell processed fish.

Q. Are there studies of subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska? Where can I find the findings of these studies?

A. The Division of Subsistence produces a Technical Paper Series that describes contemporary subsistence activities throughout Alaska. Copies of most technical papers can be found on the ADF&G website and in selected libraries. Click here to connect to a list of technical papers. The Division also maintains a Subsistence Land Use Map Collection, and a Community Subsistence Information System that is accessible on the department website.

Q. How much salmon is harvested in subsistence fisheries in Alaska each year?

A. In 2006, the most recent year for which information on a statewide level has been compiled, just over 1 million salmon were harvested in subsistence fisheries in Alaska. The Division of Subsistence prepares an annual Alaska Subsistence Fisheries report that appears as part of the division’s Technical Paper Series.

Q. How can I go subsistence fishing for halibut?

A. This is a federally-managed fishery. Regulations for subsistence halibut fishing in Alaska are adopted by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service based on recommendations from the federal North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Under these regulations, you must be a resident of one of specifically - designated rural Alaska communities or a member of specifically designated Alaska Native tribes to participate in the subsistence halibut fishery, and you must obtain a Subsistence Halibut Registration Certificate (SHARC) from the Restricted Access Management (RAM) division of the National Marine Fisheries Service before fishing. For more information, contact RAM on the internet here.

Q. Who can subsistence hunt for marine mammals in Alaska?

A. Subsistence hunting of marine mammals is governed by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under the MMPA, only Alaska Natives who reside on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean may harvest marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Under the MMPA, creating and selling authentic Native articles of handicraft and clothing from marine mammals is allowed and subsistence hunting must be accomplished in a nonwasteful manner. No marine mammal taken for purposes of creating and selling authentic Native articles of handicraft and clothing may be sold or otherwise transferred to any person other than an Indian, Aleut or Eskimo, or delivered, carried, transported or shipped in interstate or foreign commerce, unless being sent to a registered tannery for processing, or sold or transferred to a registered agent for resale or transfer to an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo, or it has first been transformed into an authentic Native handicraft item or piece of clothing, or it is an edible portion and sold either in an Alaska Native community or to an individual Alaska Native for his or her consumption. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the management of polar bears, walrus, and sea otters. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for the management of sea lions, seals, and whales.

Q. Who may hunt migratory birds for subsistence uses in Alaska?

A. Spring and summer migratory bird customary and traditional subsistence hunting in Alaska is managed by the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council (AMBCC) under federal regulations in 50 CFR Part 92. Permanent Alaska residents living in a village located within an included harvest area are eligible to harvest migratory birds and eggs for subsistence purposes provided they have appropriate licenses and stamps. Generally, village areas located north and west of the Alaska Range, along the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands, and Kodiak, are subsistence harvest areas. Also included as subsistence harvest areas are individual community areas that petitioned for inclusion, such as Gulkana, Gakona, Tazlina, Copper Center, Mentasta Lake, Chitina, Chistochina, Tatitlek, Chenega, Port Graham, Nanwalek, Tyonek, Hoonah, Craig, Hydaburg, and Yakutat, among others. If you live south or east of the Alaska Range and your area or community of residence is not listed above, then you are not eligible to participate in spring and summer subsistence hunting of migratory birds and waterfowl. Spring and summer subsistence hunting of migratory birds open for subsistence harvest is regulated by regionally specific regulations, which can be found here.

Fall and winter migratory bird hunting from September 1 through March 10 is managed under separate federal regulations in 50 CFR Part 20 and state regulations in 5 AAC 85.065. Fall and winter migratory bird hunters should consult the regulations found here or contact their local ADF&G office. Fall and winter waterfowl hunting is open to Alaskan residents, nonresident military personnel, and nonresident alien hunters provided they have applicable licenses, stamps and proof of enrollment in the Harvest Information Program. There are also restricted areas and areas closed to waterfowl hunting. Furthermore, hunting times are regulated regionally such that hunters should consult with regulations or otherwise contact their local Fish and Game office for more information.

Q. Are subsistence foods safe to eat?

A. Overall, wild fish and wildlife are high quality, nutritious, and healthful foods. For advice about the consumption of fish, see “Fish Facts and Consumption Guidelinesâ€� at the State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation, Epidemiology Section. Every year, the State’s Division of Environmental Health issues bulletins warning about the dangers of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) from consuming clams and other shellfish from uncertified beaches. For more information, go to here and here. For information about wildlife diseases click here.

Q. Is big game (like moose or caribou) the main subsistence food?

A. As a general rule, no. Many small communities in Alaska depend on a great number of wildlife and fish resources, not just moose and caribou. In fact, Division of Subsistence research shows that the main type of subsistence food harvested by Alaskans is fish; 60% of the state's subsistence harvest by weight is fish, including salmon, halibut, herring, whitefish, cod, and Arctic char-Dolly Varden, among others. On the other hand, land mammals represent 20% of the state's subsistence harvest, marine mammals are 14% of the harvest, birds are 2%, shellfish are 2% and wild plants are 2%.

Of course, the types of foods people eat vary from place to place. For example, subsistence fishing is a smaller item in extreme coastal Arctic areas, where caribou, seals, whales, and walrus are the major subsistence resources.

Q. Does subsistence take most of the fish and game?

A. As a general rule, no. In the 1990s, commercial fisheries took about 97% of the statewide harvest of fish and wildlife; subsistence harvesters took 2%, and sport hunters and fishers took 1%.

Of course, these proportions vary by area. In the areas with roads, the sport harvest is usually larger than the subsistence harvest. In the areas without roads, the subsistence harvest is larger than the sport harvest. But commercial fishing is the clear leader in overall volume.

Q. Does subsistence involve money?

A. Yes. Rural families use money in order to purchase basic goods and services: fuel oil and electricity for heat, light, and power; family goods like clothing and shelter; and subsistence equipment like guns, ammunition, fishing nets, power motors, gasoline, rain gear, and so forth. Money is used to invest in the tools for hunting, fishing, and gathering.

It is a common misconception that there is no money in traditional subsistence economies. However, trade and commerce have always been part of subsistence systems. Goods have been traded for thousands of years in Alaska. The commercial fur trade with European markets began about 300 years ago, bringing European currencies and goods into Alaska. Thus, commercial enterprise and money have been part of traditional subsistence economies for a long time.

Rural Alaska's economies operate differently from urban economies, however. In Alaska today, the rural economies are "mixed economies," where families and communities live by combining wild resource harvests with commercial-wage employment. Monetary jobs tend to be few and unstable. Monetary incomes tend to be small and insecure. Economic activity tends to occur in family groups, rather than business firms. Economic ventures tend to be small scale. Economic goals tend to be for the benefit of family groups, rather than the monetary profits for business firms. These are major differences. Because of this, Alaska is a pluralistic society, with "mixed subsistence-cash economies" existing side-by-side with the "industrial capital economy" of the population centers of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and most other communities along the road system.

Q. Is subsistence compatible with wildlife conservation?

A. Rural communities depend on the land for subsistence. It is to their advantage to maintain undamaged land and ecosystems, so wildlife are abundant. Most subsistence communities have customary rules for treating the land and the ecosystem. These rules have been passed on through the generations and include: "Do not waste," "Take only what is needed," "Treat the animals with respect," "Do not damage the land without cause," among others. It is believed that if the rules are followed, then the land will continue to provide. Subsistence peoples are the original conservationists, although they may not use that word, because their very lives depend on it.

This is not to say there is perfect compliance with customary rules, as with any group of people. However, today most people still comply with the traditional rules and practices. They comply, even when there are additional government rules and regulations governing land and resource uses. In fact, rural areas commonly must obey 2 sets of laws: those from the state-federal administration, and those handed down from their forebearers as customary law.

The federal Alaska National Interest Conservation Act (ANILCA) recognizes the compatibility of subsistence and wilderness values. ANILCA protects subsistence uses in most parks, preserves, refuges, national forests, and wilderness areas. Subsistence peoples and traditional uses are part of the natural ecosystem and have helped to maintain it for generations.

Q. Is subsistence compatible with wilderness?

A. Yes. Most areas designated as "wilderness" today are the traditional homelands of subsistence peoples. Alaskans have been living in and using these areas for thousands of years, and continue to do so. These areas would not appear pristine and undamaged today -- and therefore classified as wilderness -- if rural Alaskans had not been good stewards of the lands, fish, and wildlife. The lands are wilderness now, because subsistence is compatible with wilderness.

Q. Why don't subsistence hunters use bows and arrows?

A. Subsistence requires equipment that works, is safe, and is sustainable with ecological and economic conditions over the long term. Most subsistence hunters stopped using bows and arrows over a century ago in Alaska. Other methods of harvesting fish and wildlife such as fish weirs, caribou corrals, and moose snares, were outlawed many years ago. Rural Alaska has been using guns for hunting longer than America has been using automobiles for transportation, since the 1860s in most areas.

Subsistence equipment is usually small scale, appropriate technology. It is efficient and modern. Equipment commonly includes fish nets, fish wheels, aluminum skiffs with small out-boards, snowmachines, binoculars, and citizen-band radios. These may be used alongside dog teams, skin boats, smoke houses, and fish basket traps, depending upon the areas and conditions.

Q. Is subsistence disappearing?

A. Subsistence is constantly changing, but as a whole, there is little evidence that it is disappearing as a way of life in Alaska. In rural Alaska, subsistence activities are among the most highly valued parts of the culture. Subsistence harvests still are essential parts of the rural economy. In most rural places, children continue to learn how to capture wild foods and prepare them for use by the family and community.

Nevertheless, some things do threaten subsistence. Roads into rural areas usually result in declines in the subsistence way of living. Roads bring about ecological change, increased competition for wild resources, and in-migration of groups that do not hunt and fish for subsistence. Unregulated commercial harvesting that depleted fish stocks and game populations resulted in declines in subsistence in certain areas in Alaska. Examples of this include commercial whaling and commercial walrus hunting in the Arctic, and large-scale commercial salmon traps in Southeast Alaska. Unreasonably restrictive access to traditional harvest areas or species may threaten subsistence over time. State and federal subsistence laws are intended to help bring about regulations beneficial to the subsistence way of life. In general, any change that depletes wild resources, reduces access to wild areas and resources, or increases competition between user groups can create problems for subsistence.

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