(a) A person engaged in commercial fishing shall obtain a commercial fishing license and shall retain the license in possession and readily available for inspection during fishing operations. An entry permit or interim-use permit entitles the holder to participate as a gear operator in the fishery for which the permit is issued and to participate as a crewmember in any fishery. A crewmember fishing license is not transferable and entitles the holder to participate as a crewmember in any fishery.

(b) A person applying for a commercial fishing license under this section shall provide the person's social security number. A person applying for a resident commercial fishing license under this section shall also provide proof of residence that the department requires by regulation.

(c) [Repealed, § 12 ch 123 SLA 1978.]

(d) Upon request, the department or the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission shall provide a social security number provided by an applicant for a license under this section to the child support services agency created in AS 25.27.010, or the child support agency of another state, for child support purposes authorized under law.

(e) Except as provided under AS 16.05.470 and AS 23.35.060, fees collected from the sale of crewmember fishing licenses under this section may be appropriated into the fish and game fund.

(f) [Repealed, § 7 ch 27 SLA 2001.]

(g) A resident engaged in commercial fishing who is 11 years of age or older and who does not hold an entry permit or an interim-use permit shall, except as provided in (i) of this section, pay a fee of $60 for an annual crewmember fishing license. A resident engaged in commercial fishing who is less than 11 years of age and who does not hold an entry permit or an interim-use permit shall pay an annual fee of $5.

(h) A nonresident engaged in commercial fishing who is 11 years of age or older and who does not hold an entry permit or an interim-use permit shall, except as provided in (i) of this section, pay a base fee of $60 for an annual crewmember fishing license, plus an amount, established by the department by regulation, that is as close as is practicable to the maximum allowed by law. A nonresident engaged in commercial fishing who is less than 11 years of age and who does not hold an entry permit or an interim-use permit shall pay an annual base fee of $5 plus an amount, established by the department by regulation, that is as close as is practicable to the maximum allowed by law.

(i) Notwithstanding (g) and (h) of this section, a resident or nonresident engaged in commercial fishing who does not hold an entry permit or an interim-use permit may obtain one seven-day crewmember fishing license under this subsection annually. A person who obtains a seven-day license is not eligible for another seven-day license in the same license year; however, if a person who obtains a seven-day license pays the full fee for an annual crewmember fishing license under (g) or (h) of this section during the same license year, the person is entitled to receive a refund of the fee for the seven-day license. The department shall adopt regulations establishing a refund procedure. During the period for which the seven-day license is valid, a person who holds a seven-day license may not engage in fishing with a rod and reel while present on a commercial fishing vessel. The fee for a seven-day license is $30.

(j) In this section, “commercial fishing license” includes an entry permit and an interim-use permit issued under AS 16.43 and a crewmember fishing license.