Continuity on the council

Two Alaska members of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council — the chair, Angel Drobnica, and Nicole Kimball — will see their three-year terms end in August.

After that, who will occupy the two seats?

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is good with Drobnica and Kimball continuing on the council. Here's his letter to the U.S. commerce secretary nominating them for new terms.

Drobnica is director of fisheries and government relations for the Juneau-based Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association.

Kimball, of Anchorage, is vice president, Alaska operations, for the Pacific Seafood Processors Association.

Tsukada for the council

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has named Rudy Tsukada for a coming vacancy on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Here's the governor's nomination letter.

Tsukada, if approved, would replace Simon Kinneen, who is finishing up his third consecutive three-year term, the maximum allowable.

Oregon State prof picked to head NOAA

Here's the White House announcement and an OSU press release.

Obama picks new commerce secretary

Bet you've never heard of her.

Here's a Washington Post story with details.

President picks Benton for Arctic commission

President Obama today announced his intent to appoint David Benton, of Juneau, to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.

From the White House press release:

David Benton is currently a self-employed marine resource consultant. From 2004 to 2010, he served as Executive Director of the Marine Conservation Alliance. From 2001 to 2003 and again from 2006 to 2009, Mr. Benton served on the North Pacific Research Board. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the Chair of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Previously, he held a number of positions in the Alaskan government, including serving as the Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game from 1994 to 2000. In 1999, Mr. Benton was appointed to be a United States Commissioner on the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Commission. Mr. Benton volunteers as President of the Alaska Lighthouse Association and is involved in restoring Point Retreat Lighthouse on Admiralty Island. Mr. Benton received a B.A. with a double major in Coastal Resources Planning and Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Here's a press release from U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, who recommended Benton to the White House.

Former SoCal power exec to head Commerce

The White House today announced President Obama will nominate John Bryson as commerce secretary.

If confirmed, the former CEO of Southern California electric power company Edison International will succeed Gary Locke, the former Washington state governor now in line to become ambassador to China.

The commerce secretary, of course, is a highly relevant position for fish folk, as the Commerce Department includes such agencies as the National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Weather Service.

Governor likes Olson for another term on council

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

March 16, 2011

Gov. Parnell makes nominations to fisheries council

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell today nominated Eric Olson for consideration by the U.S. secretary of commerce for continued service on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The governor also named Ragnar Alstrom and Jack Schultheis as alternate nominees.

"Eric has provided outstanding leadership on the council, and his continued service will advance Alaska's interests," Parnell said. "Each of these nominees is knowledgeable and experienced in management and conservation of the fishery resources in the North Pacific."

Olson, of Anchorage, is finishing his second term on the council and is the current chair.

Olson was born and raised in rural Alaska, is a Bristol Bay Native Corp. shareholder, and is a lifelong commercial fisherman. He is the director of offshore fisheries for Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association, and formerly served as the regional seafood financial manager for Kwik’pak Fisheries LLC.

Olson also serves on the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the North Pacific Research Board and the North Pacific Marine Science Foundation. He earned bachelor's degrees in management as well as accounting from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Alstrom, of Alakanuk, is the executive director of Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association as well as a commercial fisherman, having participated in salmon, halibut, crab and herring fisheries in the Yukon region. Alstrom also serves on the Yukon River Panel and the Bering Sea Fishermen's Association board of directors, in addition to his former service on the NPFMC's Advisory Panel from 1998-2002. He is a former mayor of Alakanuk.

Schultheis, of Emmonak, is the general manager of Kwik’pak Fisheries LLC. He has been involved in processing for 38 years, mostly in Western Alaska fisheries, for companies such as 10th & M Seafoods, North Alaska Fisheries, Yukon Delta Fish Marketing Co-operative, ANPAC Fisheries and Whitney-Fidalgo Seafoods. Schultheis is currently a member of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors.

The NPFMC manages over 900,000 square miles of ocean and is responsible for managing halibut, cod, sole and other groundfish in the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands waters. Established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act, the council is one of eight regional councils dedicated to the oversight of the nation’s fisheries.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which was originally signed into law in 1976, empowers the commerce secretary to choose the final appointee from applicants nominated by governors of coastal states.

Update on commissioner nominations

The Joint Board of Fisheries and Game voted unanimously this afternoon to send two names to Gov. Sean Parnell to consider for fish and game commissioner: Cora Campbell and Ron Somerville.

They were the only applicants for the job.

Parnell already has strongly signaled his likely choice, and that's Campbell, who currently is serving as acting commissioner.

Boards to consider commissioner nominees

Alaska's fisheries and game boards will meet in joint session at 1 p.m. today to consider nominations for state commissioner of fish and game.

Click here for the agenda plus details on how to listen to the meeting via teleconference.