Tag Archives: Alaska’s Board of Fisheries
Amidst divide between set net and seiner fleets, Board of Fisheries passes gear changes for both
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries approved small changes for the local salmon set net and purse seine fleets at its meeting in Kodiak last week, January 9th – 12th, while opting to keep the status quo overall for the westside of the island’s management strategy. Of the 91 people who signed up to give public comments, roughly a third of them discussed seining or set nets (gillnets) and the proposals dealing with their respective fishing gear. Out of the 31 total proposals before the Board of Fisheries, about ten considered management changes between the gear groups. BOF oversees fisheries management within state waters. more, >>click to read<< 12:20
Changes to Sitka commercial herring fishery don’t get board support
Several proposals to make changes to the commercial sac roe herring fishery in Sitka Sound failed to win support from Alaska’s Board of Fisheries over the weekend. Two of those would have made a permanent move away from a competitive fishery. Another would have allowed permit holders to opt for an alternative way to harvest herring eggs for market. Two proposals sought to end the competitive purse seine fishery in Sitka Sound for sac roe and replace it with an equal share fishery. >click to read< 10:51
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries votes not to authorize purse seine fishing on Yukon River
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries voted 5-2 Saturday to not approve a new type of commercial chum salmon fishing gear in the lower Yukon River. In one of the board’s most contested decisions of its five-day meeting, the regulatory body was against opening the river to purse seining, a method that involves encircling a group of fish with a net and pulling it closed like a purse. Fishermen from upriver communities like Tanana and Manley Hot Springs opposed the purse seine opening out of concern that purse seiners would injure king salmon inadvertently swept up with the chum salmon. Read the article here 09:12
Boards and Commissions Director Gillis resigns days before Board of Fisheries nominee due
ANCHORAGE—Gov. Bill Walker’s Boards and Commissions Director Karen Gillis has left her position amid growing controversy over a Board of Fisheries seat that has yet to be successfully filled. Walker, who is required by Alaska Statute to appoint a person to the seat by May 19, has previously appointed two candidates to the open seat; neither has lasted longer than a month. Though staff in the governor’s office confirmed Gillis’ departure, they have refused to discuss when she left, or release an updated list of candidates for the open seat. Read the rest here 09:33
Longtime Kenai River habitat advocate applies for Board of Fisheries seat
A Kenai Peninsula resident known for his habitat advocacy has applied to be on Alaska’s Board of Fisheries. Robert Ruffner is a 19-year resident of Soldotna and has supervised dozens of culvert and fish passage projects on the Kenai Peninsula. Ruffner, who has not actively participated in fisheries politics on one side of the sport, commercial, or personal-use fishing battle over Cook Inlet fish, could be a less polarizing figure. Read the rest here 08:47
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries releases 2014-2015 proposal book
Fishermen and other stakeholders are asking Alaska’s Board of Fisheries to consider 162 proposals to change subsistence, commercial, personal use and sport regulations in fisheries throughout the state during the 2014-2015 meeting cycle. Read more here 18:55
Alaska Legislature confirms fish board incumbents
Three incumbent members of Alaska’s Board of Fisheries were unanimously confirmed, after a Chugiak representative withdraw his objection to the two commercial fishers on the board. Read more here 19:43
Adak, Norton Sound net new crab fishery regulations and more – Molly Dischner
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries took steps toward creating more crab fishing opportunity in Norton Sound and near Adak this week. Read more here BOF approves Kuskokwim dipnets, shorter gillnets Read more here BOF addresses Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound crab Read more here Cook Inlet fishermen ask BOF to reconsider setnet changes Read more here BOF talks Yukon, Bristol Bay issues Read more here 22:58
BOF talks Yukon, Bristol Bay issues
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries took action on a handful of Yukon River and Bristol Bay salmon management proposals today. The board is holding its statewide king and tanner crab meeting in Anchorage, and the agenda includes certain issues in other fisheries. Read more here 15:36
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries will meet in Anchorage Feb. 26 to March 4 to talk about Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands issues.
The board is tasked with discussing 48 proposals. Those address commercial, sport and subsistence fishing for a wide-swath of state fisheries near the Alaska Peninsula. The majority of the proposals address commercial fishing. Read more
