Several fisheries-related bills have be prefiled ahead of the start of this year’s legislative session, including things such as encouraging the development of regional fisheries associations to one more clearly laying out what constitutes a conflict of interest for Board of Fisheries members. One that is sure to receive pushback from commercial fishing interests would require that BOF prioritize personal use fishers when restrictions are necessary for conservation.
The 2022 Board of Fish Bristol Bay meeting is underway from Nov. 29 - Dec. 3 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. KDLG's Izzy Ross is at the meeting. Here are her notes.
Alaskan wildlife officials canceled the 2022-23 Bering Sea Snow Crab season for the first time ever. The Bristol Bay King Crab season is also canceled for the second consecutive year.
This summer, 79 million sockeye returned to Bristol Bay. It was the largest run on record. But over the past half-century, there has been a dramatic shift in commercially in Bristol Bay. Local permit ownership has declined sharply, and research shows that’s due in part to a regulatory change to Alaska’s fishery management from the 1970s.