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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Return to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Caribou herd in arctic national wildlife refuge

Water Taxi Operation in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Updated November 10, 2026

A Special Use Permit is required for all commercial operations on national wildlife refuges, including any activities for which participants pay a fee for any services rendered or good delivered on refuge waters. Currently there are no limits on the number of non-hunting guides permitted on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but there are group size and other limitations. A $100 administrative fee is required.

Permit applications are due by March 15. 

Information about Motor Boat Business Requirements.

Steps to apply for a permit:

1) Read the Application Guidance completely.

2) Fill out the commercial permit application (either electronically or printed out) and sign the document (either electronically or printed out.) 

3) In addition to your permit application, you will need to include the following:

  • State of Alaska Business License
  • Liability Insurance Requirement (look up minimum in Application Guidance.) 
  • U.S. Coast Guard License (if applying for a boat operator permit)

4) Submit the application with the $100 administrative fee. You may call (907) 888-5704 with a credit card, or mail to 101 12th Avenue Room 236, Fairbanks, AK 99701. 

  • Submit application via email to arctic_permits@fws.gov OR 
  • Submit application via post to 101 12th Avenue Room 236, Fairbanks, AK 99701

If you have any questions, call (907)-888-5704.

 

A list of currently permitted guides and operators in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
 


Motor Boat Business Requirements for Arctic Refuge

Requirements for Motor Boat Businesses and their Boat Operators:

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge must regulate all commercial uses of refuge lands and waters, including boat businesses around Barter Island. This helps ensure businesses protect fish, wildlife, and their habitats; use safe procedures; and obey federal laws.

If you take passengers for hire aboard a vessel, then you are participating in a motor boat business. Motor boat businesses must have a permit from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and their commercial motor boat operators must be listed on that permit. Refuge permit applications are due by March 15 each year. Refuge staff can help business owners complete the Refuge permit process. Contact Maria Berkeland (907-456-0512) in Fairbanks.

Federal laws require that anyone taking passengers for hire aboard a vessel on inland or near-coastal waters must have at least a US Coast Guard-issued license for Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV). The OUPV license allows each operator to take up to six passengers for hire, which gives the common name of a “six-pack license.”

Here are some items a refuge permit application must include:
___A completed application form
___$100.00 administrative fee payment
___Business license issued by the State of Alaska
___US Coast Guard license (required for each of your business’s motor boat operators)

A Refuge permit will be issued for businesses when:
___Application review is complete (can take 45 days)
___Proof of business insurance is on file at Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
___US Coast Guard license for each of your business’s motor boat operators is in your permit file at the Refuge

How do motor boat operators get an OUPV (six-pack) license from the US Coast Guard?

1) Email Ilisagvik College Community and Workforce Development Training Manager at workforce@ilisagvik.edu to see how they can help. They may be able to:

  • provide partial tuition reimbursement
  • assist with travel
  • organize local classes (if there is sufficient enrollment)
  • get you one-on-one US Coast Guard and Transportation Security Administration application assistance

2) You should work with person assisting you with your application to:

  • complete the US Coast Guard classes
  • document your current qualifying Sea Service (minimum of 360 days required)
  • pass written, physical, and fitness exams
  • pass drug testing
  • obtain your TWIC Card from the Transportation Security Administration
  • submit to the US Coast Guard a complete packet requesting Merchant Mariner OUPV (six-pack) license, including five forms and TWIC Card

Ilisagvik College provides workforce development support services to North Slope residents. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.ilisagvik.edu/?p=829.

Complete licensing requirements for a Merchant Mariner OUPV credential/Six-pack License are outlined on the U.S. Coast Guard licensing website at http://www.uscg.mil/STCW/. See the “Forms” block to look over the five main required forms for the application.

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