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News Archives (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006)
Note: These stories were current at the time of posting and are provided for your information. However, they are not reviewed or updated regularly and may contain outdated web links.
April 2006 Federal Subsistence Fishing Regulations Change for 2006 (04/13/06) Kenai Customary and Traditional Use Recognized (4/13/06) Secretary of Interior Resigns (04/13/06) Federal Subsistence Board Funds $6.8 Million in Monitoring (04/13/06)
March
2006 Alaska Board of Fisheries Proposals Due April 10th (03/20/06)
December 2005
Nominations
Sought for Regional Advisory Council Seats
(12/21/05) August 2005
June 2005 December 2004
Comments Invited on Change
to Areas of Federal Jurisdiction (12/28/04)
November 2004 New RAC Appointees Include Fishermen, Guides (11/20/04)
October 2004
Report Finds Resistance to New Fishery on the Kenai
(10/22/04) September 2004 Council to Consider
Changes to Subsistence Halibut Regs
(9/20/04)
July 2004 June 2004
U.S. Won't Overturn Area M Decision by Board of
Fish (6/9/04) May 2004
Federal Subsistence Proposals Out for Public
Review (5/5/04) April 2004
Federal Board Taking Comment on 70-30 RAC Composition
(4/19/04) March 2004
Board to Hear Testimony on Intervention in Area M
(3/30/04)
February 2004 January 2004
Federal Fisheries Proposals for 2005 Due
March 26 (1/9/04) October 2003
Regional Council Action on 2003 Fisheries
Proposals (10/29/03)
Board to Meet Nov. 5 to Consider Adding ADFG as
Member (10/20/03) September 2003
Stakeholder Meetings to Address
Kenai Subsistence Fish (9/17/03) July 2003
Federal Board Rejects State's Appeal of Cash
Sale Rule (7/17/03) May 2003
Comment Deadline on 2004 Fishery Proposals June 16
(5/7/03) March 2003
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Proposals Due
Friday (3/26/03) February 2003
Federal Subsistence Office Issues Rural
Methodology Report (2/20/03) January 2003
Interior Appoints 37 to Regional Advisory
Councils (1/28/03)
Federal Subsistence Fishing Regulations Change for 2006 (04/13/2006) The Federal Subsistence Board approved changes to federal subsistence fishing regulations at its January 10-13 meeting in Anchorage. New regulations took effect April 1, 2006. The only statewide change approved by the Board is a regulation allowing the sale of handicrafts made from the non-edible byproducts of subsistence-harvested fish or shellfish. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) specifically allows for such uses, but federal regulations have not officially recognized them in the past. The proposal was supported by oral and written public comments and the recommendations of Regional Advisory Councils. Supporters stated that it would recognize a long-standing practice, allow full utilization of subsistence resources, and enable users to pass down traditional values and knowledge. Yukon-Northern Area Ongoing concerns about Yukon River Chinook stocks caused the subsistence gillnet fishery to be a topic of discussion at the Federal Subsistence Board meeting. The Board rejected proposals that would have started the windowed subsistence fishery on May 15th and limited gillnets with greater than six inch mesh size to no more than 35 meshes depth, but did recognize concerns from Yukon River fishermen about the stocks, and encouraged efforts by stakeholders and state and federal fishery managers to work together to address concerns. The change to the start date of the windowed fishing schedule was initially proposed by the Western Interior Regional Council, who cited conservation concerns for the early part of the Chinook salmon run. Other affected Regional Councils and some members of the public opposed the proposal, stating that they start harvesting early in the season when weather is good and fish drying conditions are optimal. Adoption of the proposal would have resulted in federal subsistence regulations being more restrictive than state regulations and could also have interfered with the subsistence sheefish fishery. The Eastern Interior Council proposed the 35 mesh depth restriction on gillnets, which was opposed by the Western Interior and Yukon- Kuskokwim Delta Councils. Proponents of the change expressed concern that deeper nets target larger female Chinook salmon, resulting in fewer large salmon reaching the spawning grounds. However, adoption of the proposal would have made federal subsistence fishing regulations more restrictive than the state’s commercial and subsistence regulations. Members of the public testified that adoption of the proposal would create a hardship, causing subsistence users to work harder to harvest the same amount of fish. Jill Klein, executive director of the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, which represents commercial and subsistence fishermen on the Yukon River, testified that the association opposed the proposal. “We recognize that preserving the older and larger salmon is vital to the health and survival of the Yukon River fishery. There's not sufficient evidence, however, to suggest that reducing net depth will have the desired effect of reducing catches of these salmon,” said Klein. Klein cited changing water temperatures, bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery, and competition from hatchery releases as possible factors affecting the health of Yukon River stocks. The Board also made a positive customary and traditional use finding for residents of Mentasta Lake, Chistochina, Slana, and surrounding areas for freshwater fish other than salmon in the waters of the Tanana River drainage. Kuskokwim Area The Board eliminated closures to subsistence salmon fisheries before, during, and after commercial fishing periods in District 1, the Kuskokwim River and Kuskokuak Slough. The change aligns federal and state regulations and provides additional subsistence fishing opportunities. Federal users will now be subject to state regulations unless they are superseded by a Federal Special Action.
Alaska Peninsula Area The Board decided to allow additional subsistence fishing opportunities by eliminating closures within a 50 mile radius of commercial openings. The new regulations close subsistence fishing for salmon in the 24 hours before and the 12 hours after a commercial opening in the district or section where the opening occurred.
Chignik Area The Board adopted a proposal to allow subsistence fishing as specified on state subsistence salmon fishing permits unless superseded by a Federal Special Action. Since 2004, state regulations have been less restrictive than federal regulations. The Board also reduced the closure time to subsistence fishing by commercial permit holders prior to the first commercial opening to 24 hours and allowed subsistence fishing in additional areas in the Chignik River.
The Board made a positive customary and traditional use finding for freshwater fish for the federal public waters of Prince William Sound, except for the Copper River drainage upstream of Haley Creek for all residents of Prince William Sound except those who live in the Copper River drainage upstream of Haley Creek. This includes residents of Cordova, Tatitlek, Chenega Bay, and nearby communities as well as residents of Whittier. Although the Southcentral Regional Council recommended excluding residents of Whittier, the Board decided to include them. The Board also voted to allow the accumulation of federal subsistence harvest limits and state sport fishing limits for all fish in the Prince William Sound area except for the Copper River drainage north of Haley Creek, as long as the harvest does not occur on the same day. The Board declined several proposals: one that would have created a fly fishing-only zone on a portion of the Eyak River, one to prohibit the use of dip nets to harvest salmon in the waters of Prince William Sound except for the Copper River, and one to align regulations for harvest of trout, whitefish, and grayling with state sport fishing regulations. The Board did approve a requirement that operators of fish wheels in the Upper Copper River District check the wheels and remove all fish every ten hours. The new regulation is intended to reduce waste. The Board also approved the use of fyke nets, also known as basket traps, on Tanada Creek provided that subsistence users coordinate closely with the in-season manager. Southeast Area The Board modified a regulation requiring the clipping of fins to identify subsistence-caught fish in Southeast and Yakutat areas. Past regulations required that the pelvic fin be removed from fish caught in Southeast and the dorsal fin be removed from fish caught in the Yakutat area. Subsistence users said removal of these fins led to spoilage of fish. Under the new regulation, the tail fin must be clipped instead of the pelvic or dorsal fin. Although the original proposal would have eliminated marking entirely, the Board chose to modify the requirement. Fin clipping is used by enforcement to identify fish harvested under subsistence regulations and is intended to keep subsistence-caught fish from entering the commercial market. The Board eliminated the federal harvest limit for sockeye salmon in Pillar Bay, an area used by subsistence harvesters from Kake. The federal limit was lower than the state limit and no harvest has occurred under the terms of a federal permit. Federal users will be subject to the state subsistence and personal use limit, which is set by ADF&G depending on the strength of the run. In recent years, the state’s daily and annual limit had been 50 fish per household or individual. The Board also approved two changes to subsistence fishing on the Stikine River near Wrangell. The Board modified the 5 ½-inch mesh size restriction for gillnets used in the river, replacing it with an 8 inch size limit during the Chinook season only. Subsistence users said the small mesh size decreased the ability to harvest Chinook and coho and was not necessary since the fisheries are managed with a harvest limit. The Board also approved changing of the start date of the Stikine River sockeye salmon fishery from July 1 to June 21 to allow subsistence users to access the earlier part of the run. A proposal to make a positive customary and traditional use finding for residents of Gustavus in District 14 for salmon, Dolly Varden, trout, smelt, and eulachon was tabled by the Board for consideration next year. The Southeast Regional Council recommended this course of action to allow an examination of customary and traditional use patterns by residents of all Icy Strait and Cross Sound communities. Residents of Hoonah already have a positive customary and traditional use finding for these species in the area and the Hoonah Indian Association opposed broadening the finding to include residents of Gustavus. The Board removed prohibitions on the use of bait for subsistence fishing in the Southeast and Yakutat areas. Allowing the use of bait allows for more efficient harvest, but also increases mortality on released fish. For this reason, the board adopted language to require all fish taken with bait to be retained and counted towards daily or annual limits. The Board also specified that for streams with steelhead, once your daily or annual limit of steelhead is harvested, you may no longer fish with bait. The Board rejected a proposal that would have allowed the use of subsistence harvested pink salmon as bait in commercial fisheries after receiving legal advice that it would not be supportable to allow the use of subsistence caught fish as bait in state managed fisheries. Four proposals to restrict or eliminate harvest in the subsistence steelhead fishery were rejected by the Board. The Board first authorized the fishery in 2005 despite objections from the Department of Fish and Game, whose biologists stated that the harvest potential in the fishery could cause conservation concerns, especially on streams where steelhead runs are small. Federal permits and reporting are required for steelhead fishing in Southeast. Streams of concern have more restrictive permit conditions, including size and harvest limits and gear restrictions. Conditions are developed annually by federal managers after consultation with state biologists. Reported harvest for 2005 was 24 steelhead taken on Prince of Wales and 8 taken in other areas. State biologists continued to express concern about the vulnerability of steelhead stocks. Marianne See of ADF&G questioned the federal harvest estimates, saying, “It's really not clear whether that reflects a lack of harvest or a lack of reporting. If it's a lack of harvest, then, in fact, the state regulations would, in fact, provide for opportunity. If the information presented, in fact, is a lack of reporting, then we question the permit system's effectiveness in capturing those users of the resource.” The Board meets annually to consider changes to subsistence fishing regulations. Complete regulations are online at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/lawsalt.cfm (Click on Fisheries Regulations). Kenai Customary and Traditional Use Recognized (4/13/06) After days of staff reports, testimony, and deliberations, the Federal Subsistence Board recognized customary and traditional use of fish by rural residents of the Kenai Peninsula, an initial step toward the creation of new subsistence fishery regulations for federal public waters on the Kenai. The Board also asked the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council to form a subcommittee, made up of representatives of subsistence, sport and commercial users, to work together to provide for subsistence fishing on the Kenai Peninsula. Specifically, the Board chose to recognize customary and traditional use of all fish species by residents of Hope and Cooper Landing for waters north of and including the Kenai River drainage within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and the Chugach National Forest. For residents of Ninilchik, the Board recognized the customary and traditional use of all fish species in waters of the Kasilof River drainage within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. For residents of the Tuxedni Bay area in western Cook Inlet, the Board recognized customary and traditional use of salmon in waters within Lake Clark National Park draining into and including that portion of Tuxedni Bay within the park. The Board requested additional staff analysis of Kenai Peninsula communities’ subsistence uses, which could result in an expansion of these areas of eligibility. By recognizing customary and traditional uses by residents of certain communities, the Board has narrowed the number of eligible subsistence users on the Kenai substantially. Without a positive customary and traditional use determination for certain communities, subsistence fisheries in an area are open to all rural residents of Alaska. Recognizing these uses and narrowing the universe of possible users will enable the Board to consider proposals to address harvest limits, seasons, and methods and means in the area. Proposals to create specific subsistence fishery regulations on the Kenai have been submitted to the Board in the past, but were deferred to allow the Board to first make an appropriate customary and traditional use finding. In addition to subsistence users, sport and commercial users have an interest in how the new fishery regulations are developed. Allocation and use of fishery resources on the Kenai Peninsula and in Cook Inlet are often characterized as the most controversial in the state. For that reason, the Board has requested that the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council form a subcommittee, made up of stakeholders representing subsistence, sport and commercial users, to work together on the new regulations. “All users have an appreciation of the importance of these fishery resources,” said Board chairman Mitch Demientieff. “I have great faith that when they sit down together they will come up with regulatory proposals that will address the needs of subsistence users while accommodating other uses.” Secretary of Interior Resigns (04/13/06) Interior Secretary Gale Norton has submitted her resignation to President Bush, who nominated Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne as her replacement. Kempthorne must be confirmed by the Senate, where he served six years in the mid-nineties, before he officially becomes Norton’s replacement. Norton served as Interior Secretary for five years before resigning at the end of March. Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski applauded Kempthorne’s appointment, calling him a “decisive policy maker and an experienced leader.” The Interior Secretary is of particular importance to Alaskans because of the large amount of federal land holdings in the state. Along with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior is responsible for management of subsistence on federal public lands in Alaska. Although much of the Secretary’s authority for day to day management is delegated to the Federal Subsistence Board, many decisions remain with the Secretary, including appointments to Regional Advisory Councils. Federal Subsistence Board to Draft Policies on Customary and Traditional Findings, Closures (04/13/06) By the end of 2006, the Federal Subsistence Board plans to adopt written policies on customary and traditional use findings as well as criteria used when implementing closures. These policies are being drafted by the Board and will be reviewed by the Regional Advisory Councils, the State of Alaska, and the public, then finalized. According to Drue Pearce, senior advisor to the Secretary of Interior for Alaska Affairs, the goal of the written policies is, “to have consistent criteria that are written, that are clear and understood by everyone, so the Board is consistent in making its determinations no matter what region.” The policies are being drafted in response to a letter to the Board from Assistant Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett with concurrence from the Department of Agriculture. The letter asked the Board to conduct a review of current practices regarding closures and to prepare a written policy that indicates how these decisions will be made and reviewed. In the same letter, the Assistant Secretary asked the Board to review its practices and develop a written policy clarifying its approach to customary and traditional use determinations. The letter requesting the written policies was the result of the work of a Federal/State policy group that met in 2005. In early 2005, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski met with the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, and expressed some specific concerns regarding the federal subsistence program. He followed up with a letter outlining the concerns and requesting that a joint Federal/State policy group be convened. The group met three times in 2005 and addressed several topics of concern to the state, including lack of standards for adopting federal regulations, duplication of state regulations, and insufficiency of federal land to support federally regulated harvests. The State of Alaska expressed concern about an apparent lack of standards for adopting Federal regulations, focusing on two areas: closures to non-subsistence uses and customary and traditional use determinations. When closing areas to non-subsistence uses, the state feels that substantial evidence should be required and documented in written findings showing that a closure or restriction on non-subsistence uses is necessary. The state also requested that the Federal Board conduct periodic reviews of existing closures. Federal regulators agreed that closures should have a sound basis and that periodic review of closures should occur to determine if closures are still necessary. The state also expressed the position that many customary and traditional use determinations made by the Federal Subsistence Board appear to lack substantial evidence to support them. The Secretary’s letter did not suggest any specific criteria that should be included in the policies. A draft policy on closures is now available for review. It can be obtained from the Office of Subsistence Management website at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/current.cfm or by calling (800) 478-1456. The customary and traditional use determination policy will be available for public review this fall. The Federal/State policy group also discussed duplication of regulations. The State of Alaska held that having separate state and federal regulations is costly, confusing, and difficult to enforce. The state suggested that the federal government should defer to state regulations where those regulations satisfy the subsistence priority. Although federal officials agreed that having separate regulatory systems is a challenge, it is their position that it would be legally untenable to defer to state regulations. They feel the federal program must have separate regulations. The state also expressed concern about federal regulations which apply to small blocks of federal land that are insufficient to support a harvest. Specifically, the state was concerned about federal regulations on strips of federal land that are surrounded by state and private land, are unmarked and difficult to locate, do not support large stocks, and offer few opportunities to meet the federal priority. The federal response was that the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) requires a subsistence preference on federal lands without regard to the size of those lands. Therefore, they declined to eliminate regulations that apply to small parcels of federal land. At this time, it is not expected that the Federal/State policy group will meet again. Federal Subsistence Board Funds $6.8 Million in Monitoring (04/13/06) The Federal Subsistence Board has approved a total of $6.8 million in spending for the 2006 Subsistence Fisheries Monitoring Program. $1.1 million was allocated to 15 new projects, while $5.7 million is being spent to continue 71 projects that started in years prior to 2006. Among the approved projects is a genetic research project to identify the stock composition of Yukon River chum salmon passing Pilot Station. Also funded were biological sampling, harvest assessment and traditional ecological knowledge studies of non-salmon species in the Yukon Flats and middle Yukon River. On the Kuskokwim River, a project to address perceived declines in local whitefish populations will assess harvests and collect traditional knowledge for non-salmon species on the lower Kuskokwim. Another new project is an expanded radio telemetry study of whitefish and a new telemetry study for sheefish on the Kuskokwim. For the Copper River, the Board funded a tagging study to estimate sockeye salmon abundance. The 86 research and monitoring projects will provide information needed to sustain subsistence fisheries Federal Subsistence Fisheries Proposals Due March 24th (03/20/06) Members of the public interested in making changes to federal subsistence fishing regulations can submit proposals through 5:00pm March 24, 2006. Examples of topics for proposals include changing subsistence season dates, harvest limits, methods and means, customary and traditional use determinations, rural determinations, methods of collecting harvest data, restrictions on possession, transportation and use of fish, and permit requirements. Proposal forms are printed in the federal subsistence management regulations booklet and are available through the federal Office of Subsistence Management, 1-800-478-1456 or through UFA’s Subsistence Outreach Program, 1-888-586-6822. Forms can also be found at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/pdf/forms/fpropform06.pdf. About 40 fisheries proposals are submitted each year. The Federal Subsistence Board considers proposals for changing subsistence fishing regulations in all areas of the state, each year. Proposals submitted by the March 24th deadline will be published in the board’s annual proposal booklet, a compilation of all proposals statewide. The proposal booklet is distributed for review by members of the public, agency staff and federal decision-makers. Following comment from the public and the State of Alaska, fisheries proposals go to federal Regional Advisory Councils each fall for review, and are forwarded to the Federal Subsistence Board for final action in January. Proposals submitted this year are the first step in development of regulations that will go into effect April 1, 2007.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced that there will be no subsistence or commercial harvest of eulachon smelt in Sections 1-C and 1-D, which includes the waters of Burroughs Bay, and the Unuk, Klahini, and Chickamin Rivers for the 2006 season due to concerns for the health of the stocks. In 2004 and 2005 there were very limited returns to these areas. The United States Forest Service, which manages Federal waters in the Burroughs Bay area, is also closing those waters to the subsistence harvest of eulachon smelt this year. Fish and Game, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service, will continue to monitor the returns to these systems during the spring of 2006. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has also announced that the Stikine River will be closed to commercial eulachon fishing and Bradfield Canal will be closed to commercial and subsistence eulachon fishing in 2006. Many eulachon spawning runs throughout the Pacific coast, including Southeast Alaska, have had marked declines in recent years. The department has limited information concerning the status of eulachon stocks in the Bradfield Canal and Stikine River and feels a conservative approach is necessary for sustaining the health of these stocks. General monitoring of the Stikine River eulachon run will be conducted by the department, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service, in the spring of 2006. ADF&G Conducts Subsistence Halibut Survey (03/20/06) The Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), Division of Subsistence, has mailed a one-page survey form to everyone who registered and received a Subsistence Halibut Registration Certificate (SHARC) from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Survey recipients will be asked to record whether they subsistence fished for halibut in 2005 and how many halibut they harvested, and to return the form to ADF&G. To ensure future subsistence halibut fishery decisions are based on reliable information, everyone who receives the survey is encouraged to take a few minutes to fill it out and return it to ADF&G. Accurate harvest information is essential for effective management and for providing future subsistence fishing opportunities. The study findings will be summarized at a community level and presented in a final written report available to the public in late 2006. This is the third year of an ongoing project to estimate subsistence halibut harvests in Alaska. Results of the research pertaining to 2003 and 2004 subsistence halibut harvests are available at the Division of Subsistence website at www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us , under “Publications.” Questions about the survey should be addressed to Jim Fall or Brian Davis of ADF&G's Division of Subsistence at (907) 267-2353 or e-mail jim_fall@fishgame.state.ak.us or brian_davis@fishgame.state.ak.us. In Southeast Alaska, please contact Mike Turek at (907) 465-3617 or e-mail mike_turek@fishgame.state.ak.us. Questions about subsistence halibut fishing regulations, including how to obtain a SHARC, should be addressed to NMFS at 1-800-304-4846 (option #2). Alaska Board of Fisheries Proposals Due April 10th (03/20/06) The Alaska Board of Fisheries is now accepting proposed changes to the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial finfish regulations for the Bristol Bay, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, and Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands management areas. Finfish includes: salmon, herring, trout, groundfish, char, burbot, northern pike, whitefish, Pacific cod, sablefish, shark, pollock, etc., but does not include halibut. In addition, the board is accepting proposed changes to the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial statewide finfish provisions regulations. Examples of “statewide" regulations include, but are not limited to, policy for the management of sustainable salmon fisheries, policy for the management of mixed stock fisheries, policy for statewide salmon escapement goals, possession of sport-caught fish, fishing by proxy, etc. To insure that the proposed booklets are distributed well in advance of the board meetings and the fishing season, the board has set Monday, April 10, 2006 as the proposal deadline. Proposal forms may be obtained from any office of the Boards Support Section or from http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/index.php. Proposals must be received by Boards Support by the deadline (a postmark is NOT sufficient). If you have questions of would like to request a form, please call Boards Support at (907) 465-4110. Following publication, proposal booklets will be available to advisory committees and interested members of the public for review and comment. Proposals received by the above deadline will be considered by the Board of Fisheries during the October 2006 - March 2007 meeting cycle. Ten Communities to Undergo Further Rural Review (12/21/05) At a meeting held December 6-7 in Anchorage, the Federal Subsistence Board directed its staff to further analyze 10 communities as the Board continues its rural review process.
An
initial review completed by staff earlier this year had also
identified 10 communities for further analysis, but the list approved
by the Board differs from the list originally proposed. Prudhoe Bay,
currently considered rural, will undergo further analysis. The Board
broadened the scope of the review of the Ketchikan area, currently
considered nonrural, to include an analysis of rural and nonrural
characteristics. The original list proposed by staff only included
analysis of the Saxman area, near Ketchikan. In addition, federal
staff had originally identified Sitka as a candidate for further
analysis. The Board concluded that additional analysis of Sitka was
not necessary.
Additional information on the rural review process can be found at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/current.cfm.
The Federal Subsistence Board is accepting applications to serve on one of 10 Regional Advisory Councils that advise the Board on subsistence fishing, hunting and trapping regulations. Recommendations from Regional Councils carry a great deal of weight in the federal process. Those appointed will serve three year terms. Regional Councils meet at least twice a year, usually in the fall and winter months. Seats are open statewide to subsistence, commercial and sport users. Application packets and more information are available from: Ann Wilkinson at (907) 786-3676 or (800) 478-1456 E-mail: ann_wilkinson@fws.gov . Or download an application from the Office of Subsistence Management website at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/racapp.cfm?CFID=8225&CFTOKEN=87448847 Deadline for applications/nominations is January 3, 2006.
New Members Join Regional Advisory Councils (12/21/05) Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, has made appointments and reappointments to seats on the 10 Federal subsistence regional advisory councils. For News Releases listing members of each Regional Council, visit http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?PageNum_qAppStep=2&gnr=1.
Public Comment Sought on Rural Status for Alaska Communities (8/9/05) The Federal Subsistence Board has released a list of ten communities and areas that have been identified for further analysis of their rural or non-rural status. Because the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) gives priority to Alaskans in rural communities for subsistence use on federal public lands, rural status is crucial to subsistence users who wish to participate in the federal program. The Federal Subsistence Board is seeking written public comment through October 28, 2005 on the proposed list of communities for further analysis as well as on the rural and non-rural characteristics of these communities. Additional comment will be taken at a public hearing which will be held in Anchorage December 6, 2005.
The Federal Subsistence Board initially determined which communities were rural and non-rural when the Federal Subsistence Management program began in 1990. Regulations require that a community status review be conducted every ten years beginning with the availability the 2000 year census data. Earlier this year, federal staff began the review process, focusing on changes since 1990. This initial analysis revealed that most Alaskan communities have not changed significantly enough to justify a change in rural status. However, ten communities were identified that require further analysis to determine whether their current determination is still appropriate.
Federal regulations specify that a community with a population of 2,500 or less is generally considered rural while a community with a population of more than 7,000 is generally considered non-rural, although exceptions to this rule are made for communities with significant characteristics that indicate that consideration of population only results in an inappropriate classification. Communities with populations between 2,500 and 7,000 are evaluated using additional considerations, including diversity and development of the local economy, use of fish and wildlife, community infrastructure, transportation and educational institutions.
Several communities whose populations have changed are being considered for further review. Kodiak and Sitka are currently considered rural, but have populations in excess of 7,000. Adak is considered non-rural but has dropped below 2,500 residents. The Board will also be reviewing several areas which were grouped together for evaluation purposes to determine whether the groupings are still appropriate. Outlying areas in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Clam Gulch in the Kenai Area, and Moose Pass in the Seward area are currently considered non-rural due to their proximity to larger communities, but may be considered separately. Willow and Point MacKenzie in the Wasilla area, Fox River and Happy Valley in the Homer area, and Saxman in the Ketchikan area are currently considered rural, but may require further analysis due to their proximity to larger communities. Delta Junction, Big Delta, Deltana, and Fort Greely may be considered for a large grouping and a collective rural/non-rural status evaluation.
The Board will hold a public meeting on December 6, 2005 at the Egan Civic Center in Anchorage to take additional comments on this issue after which they will approve a final list for further analysis. The Board is expected to make their final decision by December 2006.
Written comments can be sent to the Board via email subsistence@fws.gov by fax, (907) 786-3898 or may be mailed to: Federal Subsistence Board Attn:Theo Matuskowitz Office of Subsistence Management 3601 C Street, Suite 1030 Anchorage, AK 99503
For additional information, maps of affected areas, and
initial review information, contact Larry Buklis with the Federal
Office of Subsistence Management (OSM), (800) 478-1456 or (907)
786-3822 or visit
http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/current.cfm. You
may also contact our office at
(888) 586-6822 (in Alaska only), (907)586-6822 or via email at
aa@subsistmgtinfo.org Yukon River Subsistence Fishery a Success by Most Standards (8/9/05) The summer king salmon run on the Yukon River is over, and reports from users throughout the area confirm this was a good summer for subsistence fishing. July 18 marked the cut off for the sonar count at Pilot Station estimating Yukon River king salmon and summer chum. By last count 165,000 kings and 2.5 million summer chums had passed the station located about 120 miles from the mouth of the river. According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Steve Hayes, king numbers ran near average while the summer chums well exceeded the historical 1.4 million average.
Subsistence needs in the lower river were met early. While king salmon runs were strong, fishery managers relaxed regulations to allow more fishing time for those upriver. Commercial fishing openings were also adjusted to provide for more escapement and subsistence fishing opportunities. Reports from subsistence fishermen indicated that although the salmon were slightly smaller, many were higher quality than those caught in recent years.
With the majority of the summer run over, Yukon River subsistence fishermen are now fishing for fall chum and coho. According to ADF&G, the Pilot Station Sonar Project estimates the cumulative passage of 1,556 coho salmon is near average and is anticipated to start building this week. The cumulative sonar estimate of fall chum salmon through August 2 is 376,933 which is above the average for the project of 168,361. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, a run of this size should prove adequate for escapement and subsistence uses.
Redoubt Bay and Lake Sockeye Limits Announced (8/9/05) The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced that effective Saturday, July 16, 2005 the individual/household possession limit of subsistence sockeye salmon at Redoubt Bay and Lake near Sitka will be 25 sockeye salmon and the individual/household annual limit will be 100 sockeye salmon. The department will also be issuing community harvest permits to those groups or organizations that are interested.
As of July 14, 10,400 sockeye had been counted through the weir. Run timing based on past weir data has shown that approximately 20% of the sockeye run has passed through the weir into the Redoubt Lake at this time. The resulting projected total escapement for the 2005 season at Redoubt Lake is approximately 43,000 sockeye salmon, however, if the run is earlier than normal a smaller total return may be expected.
Management of the Redoubt Area has been controversial in the past, when small run sizes led to restrictions on both subsistence and sport users. Subsistence advocates have asked the Federal Subsistence Board to extend its jurisdiction beyond federal waters and into those managed by the State of Alaska to ensure adequate opportunities for subsistence harvest. Although the Federal Subsistence Board declined to do so, the Alaska Board of Fisheries addressed the issue at its January 2003 meeting and adopted the Redoubt Bay and Lake Sockeye Salmon Management Plan in response to the concerns raised by subsistence users.
This plan provides a management approach for subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries that harvest Redoubt Lake sockeye salmon based on an optimal escapement goal of 7,000 to 25,000 fish. The management plan provides that if the projected total escapement is greater than 30,000 fish then the subsistence individual/household possession limit will be 25 fish and the annual limit will be 100 fish. The management plan also provides for the issuance of community harvest permits if the projected total escapement is greater than 40,000 fish. Certain restrictions apply to community harvest permits and those interested should contact the Sitka Fish and Game office for additional information.
New Proposals Would Change Federal Fishing
Regulations (6/15/05)
Southeast
Alaska Commenting on the three Stikine proposals, David Bedford, Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said the July 1 starting date is written in the agreement made by the Pacific Salmon Commission and that Canadian members would want to look at the proposed changes at the Commission’s October meeting. The October executive session sets the agenda for the Commission’s year, but a final decision would not be made until after the annual meeting in February. Mesh size is included in the treaty between Canada and the United States. Bedford explains that Canada has agreed to mesh sizes 8 inches or less through the third week of June for Chinook, but they may not endorse a complete elimination of mesh size restrictions. Several other Southeast Alaska proposals would either restrict or eliminate the region’s steelhead fishery. The Federal Subsistence Board will consider proposals from residents of Petersburg and Juneau to limit the steelhead fishery on streams in those areas by reinstating the 36 inch size limit and confining gear to rod and reel only. Juneau area streams would also be subject to state sportfish regulations for Dolly Varden and cutthroat if a proposal by Raincountry Flyfishers is adopted. Another proposal from a Sitka resident would eliminate the steelhead fishery entirely.
The proposals are in response to
recent action taken by the Federal Subsistence Board liberalizing the
steelhead harvest regulations for federal subsistence users in
Southeast over the objections of State biologists. Except for Prince
of Wales Island and a few nearby islands, subsistence steelhead
fishermen in Southeast were previously limited to state sportfish bag
and gear limits, allowing harvest of two steelhead per year, 36 inches
or larger, using a rod and reel without bait.
Prince
William Sound Area
Other proposals would allow
accumulation of Federal harvest limits with state sport limits,
establish a fly fishing zone on the Eyak River near the Eyak Bridge, and allow the use of
fyke nets to harvest salmon in Tanada Creek. Two additional proposals
would apply to all waters of Prince William Sound south of Haley Creek. One would define
allowable gear for salmon as spears, gaffs, and rod and reel. The
other would establish seasons and harvest limits equivalent to state
sportfish regulations for char, whitefish, trout, and grayling.
Chignik
Area
Alaska
Peninsula
Kuskokwim
Area
Yukon-Northern Area Statewide
No proposals were submitted for the Kotzebue, Norton Sound-Port Clarence, Bristol Bay, Aleutian Islands, Kodiak, or Yakutat areas. The proposals booklet is available and distributed for review by members of the public, agency staff and federal decision-makers. To request a booklet, contact us at (888) 586-6822 (toll-free within Alaska) or (907) 586-6822. Proposals are also available online at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/law.cfm?fp=1 Following comment from the public and the State of Alaska, fisheries proposals go to federal Regional Advisory Councils each fall for review, and are forwarded to the Federal Subsistence Board for final action in January. Proposals submitted this year are the first step in development of regulations that will go into effect April 1, 2006. Comments on Proposals Due June 30 (6/15/05) Interested members of the public are
invited to provide written comments on federal subsistence fishing
proposals for 2006. Comments should be received by the Office of
Subsistence Management by June 30. Comments received by the deadline
will be sent to Federal Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) and the
Federal Subsistence Board (FSB). The public is also invited to
comment in person at Regional Advisory Council meetings in September
and October or at the Federal Subsistence Board meeting in Anchorage
January 2006. The RACs consider proposals and develop
recommendations, while the FSB takes final action. Proposals that are
adopted will take effect April 1. 2006. To find proposal booklets go to
http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/law.cfm?fp=1 Comments should include proposal numbers and may
be sent by email to subsistence@fws.gov by fax to (907) 786-3898 or
may be mailed to:
New Subsistence Halibut Rules
(6/15/05) More Changes in Halibut Regulations to Come (6/15/05) The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has developed new statewide rules on numbers of fish in possession, use of charter boats and the exchange of cash known as customary trade. In addition, the Council established new limits on fishing in the Sitka Sound area and Kodiak road zone and Chiniak Bay, and allowed fishing in non-subsistence use areas by holders of special permits. However, these rules have not yet become effective. It is expected that the next set of revisions, affectionately dubbed “Halibut Three,” will be in place by January of 2006. National Marine Fisheries Service is currently in the process of drafting a proposed rule for publication in the Federal Register. Once the rule is published, the public will have an opportunity to submit comments before the Final Rule is drafted. The date of the comment period is not yet known. Once effective, halibut three will eliminate the controversial $400 limit on “customary trade.” Instead, the exchange of cash will be limited to compensation for “actual trip expenses for ice, bait, food and fuel directly related to the harvest of subsistence halibut.” A subsistence halibut possession limit of one daily limit has been proposed, along with a provision restricting the use of charter vessels in the fishery to the owner and immediate family. Subsistence fishing while clients are on board and transfer of subsistence halibut to clients will be prohibited. The rules will also allow fishing in non-subsistence use areas by holders of ceremonial and educational permits. In the Sitka Sound area, new restrictions between June 1 and August 31 will include a 15-hook per vessel limit, a prohibition on power hauling, and a vessel catch limit of five halibut per day. From September 1 though May 31, subsistence fishermen in the LAMP will be limited to 10 halibut per vessel per day. In the Kodiak road zone and Chiniak Bay, fishermen will be limited to 60 hooks per vessel, provided two eligible fishermen are on board. A community harvest program will be established to allow eligible tribal members to fish with additional gear.
Three New Types of Subsistence Halibut Permits Available (6/15/05) Along with other changes to subsistence halibut fishing regulations, NMFS has also implemented three new types of permits. The Community Harvest, Ceremonial and Educational permits are designed to address concerns raised by tribal and community members about the revised regulations. Although the revised regulations are considerably more liberal in areas adjacent to the Bering Sea, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska both have additional restrictions. In
area 3A (Southcentral Alaska), harvesters are now limited to 90 hooks
per vessel in addition to the 30 hook per fisherman limit. However,
qualified Alaska Native tribes in areas 2C and 3A can apply for
Ceremonial and Educational permits. The permits were developed based
on testimony from the tribes that they traditionally harvest halibut
for these purposes. Ceremonial and
Educational permits maintain the same gear limitations as those
required when fishing under a subsistence halibut registration
certificate. However, holders of these permits are allowed to harvest
25 fish.
The survey is the only method available to estimate subsistence halibut harvests in Alaska. Although subsistence harvest accounts for a small percentage of the halibut taken from Alaskan waters each year, accurate catch data will help managers protect the resource and provide future subsistence fishing opportunities. All survey responses are confidential. According to ADF&G, high response rates increase confidence in the quality of survey data. Results from last year’s survey showed a total statewide harvest of one million pounds, with two-thirds of the harvest coming from Southeast Alaska. Regulations allowing subsistence harvest of halibut in Alaska didn’t go into effect until May 15th, 2003, so this may not represent an annual rate. (To see the entire 2003 harvest survey report, go to the Division of Subsistence website at www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us and look under “Publications”.) Easley explained that
the survey is now in an outreach phase. Researchers will be visiting
communities to encourage those who have not responded to participate
in the survey. Researchers may work to collect information through a
community’s tribal organization, by phone or in person. Board to Decide Which Towns Are 'Rural' for Subsistence (2/17/05) The Federal Subsistence Board has started evaluating communities to determine which Alaskans reside in “rural” places and thus qualify for federal subsistence hunts and fisheries. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act requires that rural Alaskan residents be given a priority for subsistence uses of fish and wildlife on federal public lands in the state. Federal regulations require the status of communities to be evaluated every 10 years, using new federal census information. In response to criticism of some rural determinations in the 1990s, federal managers were considering adopting a new methodology for making such decisions, but legal questions about a proposed new model have led them to retain the former methodology. According to that standard, communities with populations of 2,500 or less are generally considered rural and ones larger than 7,000, generally non-rural. Deviations from the rule occur for small communities ranked non-rural because of attachment to larger ones (like Houston, population 1,202) and for larger communities determined to be rural due to their relative isolation (like Sitka, population 8,835). Communities with populations between 2,500 and 7,000 are evaluated on the basis of characteristics that include diversity and development of the local economy, use of fish and wildlife, community infrastructure, transportation and educational institutions. The largest communities currently determined to be rural are Sitka and Kodiak, population 6,334. Residents of Sitka will likely be watching the evaluation closely, as many residents there have been outspoken supporters of federal management and active subsistence harvesters. Some subsistence advocates in Ketchikan may also push for a rural designation of that community, which has lost population in recent years. Adak, site of an inactive Navy base with a population just over 300, is expected to become rural. By August, federal staff are expected to have recommendations on rural determinations, including a list of communities requiring further review. Following a public review of staff recommendations, federal staff in 2006 will conduct in-depth analyses of communities identified for further analysis. By June 2006, the Federal Subsistence Board is scheduled to develop a proposed rule to address changes in current status, with a final decision to be made by December 2006. Written comments on the evaluation process will be accepted through April 1, 2005. They can be sent to the Board by e-mail to subsistence@fws.gov, by fax at (907) 786-3898 or by mail to Federal Subsistence Board, Attn: Theo Matuskowitz, Office of Subsistence Management, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, AK 99503 Additional information about the process is available on the federal subsistence program’s website, http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/current.cfm or by phoning Maureen Clark at (907) 786-3953. State Issues Subsistence Halibut Harvest Surveys (2/17/05) State and federal fishery managers are encouraging all subsistence halibut fishermen in Alaska to fill out and return their year 2004 harvest surveys. The surveys were mailed last week to the more than 12,000 individuals registered to participate in the fishery. Survey recipients are asked if they subsistence fished for halibut in 2004 and how many halibut they harvested and to return the form to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Subsistence. The survey represents the second year of a project aimed at estimating subsistence halibut harvests under new regulations that went into effect May 15, 2003. Results of last year’s survey found a total statewide harvest of 1 million pounds, with two-thirds of the harvest coming from Southeast Alaska. Nearly 75 percent of fishermen reported using setline gear. (To see the entire harvest survey report, go to the Division of Subsistence website at www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us under “Publications.”) Management of the fishery hinges on reliable harvest information, said Dr. Jim Fall, who conducts the study under contract to the National Marine Fisheries Service. “Accurate harvest information is essential to effective management and for providing future subsistence fishing opportunities.” Questions about subsistence halibut fishing regulations should be addressed to NMFS at 1-800-304-4846 (option #2) or to UFA’s Subsistence Outreach program, 1-888-586-6822. Questions about the survey should be addressed to the Division of Subsistence in Anchorage at 907-267-2353 or in Douglas at 907-4645-3617. Dr. Jim Fall can be reached at 907-267-2359 and at jim_fall@fishgame.state.ak.us . Proposals to Change Fishing Regulations Due March 25 (2/7/05) Fishermen and members of the public interested in making changes to federal subsistence fishing regulations can file regulatory proposals through March 25, 2005. Alaska residents and non-residents can make proposals aimed at changing subsistence season dates, harvest limits, methods and means, customary and traditional use determinations, rural determinations, methods of collecting harvest data, restrictions on possession, transportation and use of fish, and permit requirements. Federal Regional Advisory Councils, state Fish and Game Advisory Committees and other organizations also can submit proposals. Proposal forms are |