Juneau watch

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has signed House Bill 33 into law.

Kodiak Republican Rep. Louise Stutes, in her sponsor statement, said the bill would allow members of the Board of Fisheries to have a say on subjects for which they have a personal or financial interest.

"The passage of this bill will allow the conflicted board members to offer remarks and input on deliberations but still precludes them from voting on the conflicted issue," the statement said.

Commercial fishing organizations including United Fishermen of Alaska generally supported the legislation, while other interests such as the Kenai River Sportfishing Association opposed it.

ASMI hails federal funds for international marketing

Here's a press release from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

An update on Board of Fisheries appointments

A few days ago, we reported the governor had picked three people for service on the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Now, the governor has officially submitted his appointees for legislative confirmation.

But there's been a change.

Paul Cyr, of Ketchikan, is now an appointee instead of Josh Hayes, of Anchorage.

The other two are Blair Hickson, of Wasilla, and Mike Wood, of Talkeetna, who already holds a seat on the board and is being reappointed to a second term.

Board of Fisheries to hold special meeting Friday

The Alaska Board of Fisheries will convene a special meeting online at 1 p.m. Friday to consider four board-generated proposals.

Proposal 192 is drawing the most interest. It would make a change in eastside Cook Inlet legal commercial fishing gear, replacing set gillnet gear with set beach seine nets.

Beach seining could be a way to allow fishermen to harvest sockeye salmon while safely releasing scarce king salmon, says this Alaska Department of Fish and Game commentary on Proposal 192.

But the proposal is expected to draw opposition.

A second commissioner for CFEC

The governor has appointed Tracy Welch, of Juneau, to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.

CFEC now has a full complement of two commissioners, the other being Rick Green.

Oregon's new man on the North Pacific Council

Details in this letter.

Juneau watch

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, says he added an amendment for the state fish and game commissioner to "institute and oversee an electronic monitoring system for trawl vessels that participate in state fisheries."

More in this Facebook post.