Starting at 1 p.m., the House Fisheries and Resources committees will meet jointly to consider the governor's appointees to the state Board of Fisheries.
Two of these appointees face serious opposition.
Abe Williams is a Bristol Bay commercial salmon fisherman. He also works for the company looking to develop the Pebble mine, a fact that makes Williams a controversial pick for the board.
United Fishermen of Alaska is opposing Marit Carlson-Van Dort for continued service on the board. UFA says she's not truly a commercial fishing representative but rather a favorite of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association.
The Alaska Board of Fisheries qualifications criteria is a flawed process. In fact the current criteria is vague and inconsistent in any adherence to the Sustainable Salmon Fisheries or the Escapement Goal policies currently in regulation. Policies conceived by the State's constitutional constitutional conveiners in 1958 are outdated after 63 years of existence. A State as large and as complex as Alaska needs to be managed on sound scientific based policies with less political influence which changes every election. For the maximum benefit for all Alaskans the resources of the Stae need to be managed for long term goals.
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