Arne Fuglvog

You remember Arne Fuglvog, don't you?

He's the former Petersburg fisherman, congressional aide and North Pacific Fishery Management Council member who did prison time in 2012 for misreporting sablefish catches.

One might think Fuglvog's fall from grace would bar him from ever taking any role in the management of federal fisheries off Alaska.

But recently, a stakeholder committee was formed to provide the council with recommendations on halibut management. And Fuglvog is among the committee members.

He's on the committee as a representative of Glacier Fish Co., which operates trawlers that net halibut as bycatch.

Arne Fuglvog's new career

Deckboss is sure you recall the sad story of Arne Fuglvog, who served prison time last year for a federal commercial fishing violation.

Fuglvog's legal troubles forced him to resign as fisheries aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Prior to joining Murkowski's staff, Fuglvog helped regulate Alaska fisheries as a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Well, now that he's a free man, Fuglvog has taken up a new career as a lobbyist.

He's registered Coastal Resource Strategies LLC in Washington state.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks lobbying activity, Fuglvog's firm has four clients: Aleutian Spray Fisheries, Blue North Fisheries, Fishermen's Finest and Glacier Fish.

These are all well-known fishing companies operating in Alaska.

Murkowski names a new fisheries aide

Jay Sterne is the new fisheries aide for U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Sterne takes the position previously held by Stefanie Moreland, who left in August to become fisheries adviser to Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell.

A press release today from Murkowski's office describes Sterne as "a 20-year veteran of fisheries and Arctic policy discussions."

Prior to Moreland, Arne Fuglvog was fisheries aide to Murkowski.

Fuglvog resigned from the job after admitting to a federal fisheries violation during his days as a commercial fisherman. He served five months in prison this year for the offense.

By way of background, Deckboss knows only a couple of things about Sterne.

In years past, he was involved in lobbying for Prowler Fisheries, a prominent commercial fishing company that belonged to the late John Winther of Petersburg.

And Sterne, you might recall, was among friends who wrote letters asking the judge to take Fuglvog's character and public service into consideration at his sentencing.

Parnell names familiar fisheries adviser

Stefanie Moreland, who took Arne Fuglvog's place as fisheries aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, is returning to state government as Gov. Sean Parnell's fisheries adviser.

Here's a press release from the governor's office:

Aug. 22, 2012

Moreland named adviser for fisheries, oceans and Arctic policy

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell today named Stefanie Moreland to the position of senior adviser for fisheries, oceans and Arctic policy.

Moreland currently serves as a legislative assistant for Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the areas of fisheries, oceans and the Arctic.

She also has held several positions in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, including federal fisheries coordinator and manager of the Extended Jurisdiction Program.

"Stefanie's knowledge of Alaska's diverse fisheries and understanding of Arctic issues, and her broad experience at both the state and federal level will be a great asset to my office and the state," Parnell said.

Moreland will be an adviser and coordinator on Alaska fisheries policy between the governor's office and other state and federal agencies. She also will interface and coordinate with state and federal agencies on Arctic policy matters.

Moreland received a bachelor's degree in natural resources and environmental studies from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in resource and applied economics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

"I'm honored to have this opportunity to return to Alaska and serve the governor," Moreland said. "I particularly look forward to helping ensure that state interests inform the major federal initiatives under way in the Arctic and waters off Alaska."

Moreland will begin her duties on Sept. 17. She will be based in Juneau.

Fuglvog's former fishing mate might go to jail

Federal prosecutors say testimony from Arne Fuglvog helped convict an Oregon man, Freddie Joe Hankins, of falsely reporting where he made commercial halibut catches.

Here's a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage.

Fuglvog is a former congressional aide and North Pacific Fishery Management Council member who was convicted of misreporting sablefish catches.

Sentenced to five months in prison, Fuglvog is scheduled for release on Aug. 11.

Fuglvog doing his time — in Petersburg!

Arne Fuglvog, the former congressional aide convicted of a federal fisheries violation, is serving his five-month prison sentence at this low-security facility in Petersburg, Va.

That's quite a coincidence, as Fuglvog is from Petersburg, Alaska.

Deckboss hears he reported to prison on March 13.

Fuglvog, 48, is scheduled for release on Aug. 11, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Fuglvog to do time for fishing violation

As expected, a federal judge this morning sentenced Arne Fuglvog to five months in prison for a commercial fishing violation.

Here is the court's sentencing form with more details.

Fuglvog is a former aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Fuglvog explains, and his friends come out

Several interesting documents have been filed in court ahead of Arne Fuglvog's sentencing next week.

Here is a statement from Fuglvog himself explaining the pressures he was under when he committed a federal fishery violation.

And here are letters from friends asking the judge to take Fuglvog's character and public service into consideration at sentencing.

Tommy Thompson letter

Bob Thorstenson letter

Joe Plesha letter

Stephanie Madsen letter

Jay Sterne letter

Celes Eckerman Hughes letter

Fuglvog's prison time could be cut in half

Federal prosecutors are now recommending only five months in prison for Arne Fuglvog, rather than the 10 months called for in a plea agreement.

The recommendation is in this sentencing memorandum filed yesterday in federal court in Anchorage.

Some incredible reading here, let me tell you, including details on why Fuglvog broke the law and his cooperation with investigators.

Sentencing is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday for Fuglvog, a former fisheries aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Fuglvog in August pled guilty to a commercial fishing violation prior to joining the senator's staff.

Fuglvog's fate will wait a bit longer

Arne Fuglvog won't be sentenced until after the holidays.

Fuglvog, you'll recall, is the former fisheries aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

He pled guilty in August to a federal fisheries violation, and was to be sentenced on Dec. 7.

Fuglvog, through his attorney, last week asked to delay sentencing, and Judge H. Russel Holland has reset the matter for 8 a.m. Feb. 7.

A plea agreement calls for Fuglvog to draw 10 months in prison.

Well worth a listen

Speaking of Arne Fuglvog, APRN's Libby Casey had a heck of a story yesterday on how former crewmen pushed authorities to investigate the ex-aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Moreland to replace Fuglvog on Murkowski staff

Stefanie Moreland will become Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski's new fisheries aide starting Nov. 7, a reliable source tells Deckboss.

Moreland will replace Arne Fuglvog, who left the position due to his criminal prosecution for an admitted commercial fishing violation in 2005.

Moreland currently is federal fisheries coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

More on Fuglvog

The U.S. attorney's office issued this press release on Arne Fuglvog's court appearance today.

Fuglvog update

So, Deckboss attended the court hearing and frankly it was a pretty dull half-hour.

As expected, Arne Fuglvog pled guilty to the fishing violation, and Judge H. Russel Holland accepted the plea.

The judge then penciled in Nov. 18 for sentencing.

A handful of reporters attended, folks I'm sure would have been elsewhere had the defendant merely been a fisherman and not an ex-aide to a U.S. senator.

His day in court

Arne Fuglvog, the former aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, this morning is scheduled to enter his plea to a misdemeanor commercial fishing violation.

Federal Judge H. Russel Holland of Anchorage will preside. Holland, you might recall, presided over the epic Exxon Valdez oil spill case.

Fuglvog charged criminally, could get prison time

Arne Fuglvog, who resigned Sunday as an aide to Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has been charged in federal court with a criminal fisheries violation.

Under a plea agreement, Fuglvog agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a recommended sentence of 10 months imprisonment, a $50,000 fine and a $100,000 "community service payment."

More on Fuglvog

Deckboss just received the following statement from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office:

Aug. 2, 2011

Murkowski statement on Arne Fuglvog

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Lisa Murkowski reacts to news that Arne Fuglvog violated a fishing regulation before he joined her staff:

"Prior to joining my staff, Arne Fuglvog violated a fishing regulation by misstating the location where he caught sablefish. I accepted his resignation Sunday, and he will plead guilty to this charge as part of a plea agreement.

"Arne served Alaskans for the past five years on my staff and for over a decade before that in his public service work in fisheries. I thank him for his years of service, but he knows the importance and value of our fisheries, and he also knows what all fishermen understand: fishing laws and regulations must be followed.

"Arne has cooperated fully with the authorities, taken responsibility for his actions, and accepted the consequences."

Some personnel news

Arne Fuglvog has left his job as an aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Fuglvog, you'll recall, is a former Petersburg commercial fisherman.

Deckboss naturally is trying to find out more.

Fuglvog: I'm loyal to Lisa

Here's an open letter to the Alaska seafood industry from Arne Fuglvog, a former commercial fisherman and aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who's mounting a write-in bid for re-election. Fuglvog didn't send this to Deckboss; a reader did.

Oct. 28, 2010

Members of the fishing industry,

There are lots of rumours flying during election season, but one that I feel compelled to respond to, is whether I would take a job with Joe Miller or Scott McAdams, if either one is successful in winning the upcoming election.

I have been extremely honored to work for Lisa Murkowski for the past four years. She took a chance on me, when she did not know if I could do the job. She has been such a pleasure to work for and I have the utmost respect for her. Her tremendous support of the fishing industry, our fishing families and coastal communities is unquestionable. I have watched her assume the mantle of Ted Stevens in being the go-to Senator on Alaskan fishing issues.

I did not know Lisa Murkowski when I took the job in DC. I had a very good sense of who I thought she was, but during the four years of working for her, I have truly grown to respect and admire her. I would not work for any other Senator in Washington DC. It is such a personal job and you have to trust and believe in the person you are working for. You don't have to agree with everything that they do or believe in, but you must believe in their honesty, integrity and motives. There is not one question in my mind about Lisa Murkowski's honesty, integrity and willingness to do absolutely everything she can to help Alaska and her constituents.

So, to put this one to bed, I would ONLY work for Senator Lisa Murkowski in Washington DC. Period.

Regards,

Arne Fuglvog

Fuglvog pulls out of contention for NMFS job

Arne Fuglvog has dropped out of the hunt for the top job at the National Marine Fisheries Service.

In this letter dated July 31 to Commerce Department Under Secretary Jane Lubchenco, Fuglvog said the process of considering candidates was taking much longer than he expected "and I am no longer able to remain a candidate."

Fuglvog is a former Alaska commercial fisherman now working on the staff of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

The Obama administration recently asked Jim Balsiger to stay on a few more months as NMFS chief while the search for his successor continues.