An Act relating to the use of certain trawl or dredge fishing gear in state water; and providing for an effective date.

SB 161 prohibits commercial fishing operations in Alaska state waters from using trawl or dredge gear that causes substantial contact with the seafloor, effective January 1, 2028. It requires the Department of Fish and Game to study seafloor ecosystem health and bycatch data from the past decade, then report findings to the legislature by January 2027. The report must analyze impacts on fish habitats and recommend whether such gear should be banned or limited for sustainable fisheries and public benefit. This bill directly affects commercial fishermen using bottom-contact fishing gear in Alaska's waters.