No. 25-1118

Cook Inlet Fisherman’s Fund v. Alaska Department of Fish & Game, et al.

Lower Court: Alaska
Docketed: 2026-03-25
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Tags: commerce-clause fish-stock-management interstate-commerce magnuson-stevens-act personal-use-fishery resident-only-restrictions
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Does the Alaska -resident -only Personal Use
("PU") salmon fishery in C ook Inlet, Alaska, violate
the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution?

2. Does restricting the commercial fishery in
Upper Cook Inlet ("UCI") to provide salmon for the Alaska -resident -only PU salmon fishery, violate the
Magnuson -Stevens Act ("MSA") and the Commerce
Clause?

3. Does managing the Kenai River king salmon
(Chinook) and other salmon stocks primarily for sport
and guided sport uses violate the MSA and the
Commerce Clause?

4. Can Alaska restrict the UCI commercial fishery
and interstate commerce because it is restricting
resident and non -resident commercial fishermen alike?

5. Does the fact that PU fish cannot be bartered
or sold mean the impacts on interstate commerce can
be ignored?

6. Can the Kenai River king salmon stock be
managed for only part of the stock over 34 inches,
ignoring the definition of "f ish stock" in state law and
the MSA?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether Alaska's resident-only personal use salmon fishery and restrictions on commercial fishing in Cook Inlet violate the Commerce Clause and the Magnuson-Stevens Act

Docket Entries

2026-04-10
Waiver of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2026-01-27
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 24, 2026)

Attorneys

Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, et al.
Jenna Marie LorenceDepartment of Law, Respondent
Cook Inlet Fisherman’s Fund
Carl J. D. BaumanLaw Offices of Carl Bauman, Petitioner