Governor wants expanded fish board

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker today issued the following statement in defense of his choice for the Board of Fisheries.

Finding high-quality Alaskans to serve on the Board of Fisheries is critical, and that is why I was pleased to nominate Duncan Fields of Kodiak to fill the vacant seat on the board.

At the same time, Duncan's appointment underscores the constant struggle to achieve balance on the board. Not only is there an array of user groups — from commercial and sportfish to subsistence and personal use — there are also distinct regions which deserve representation when management issues are considered. It is not always possible to balance every need every year. This is why I believe the board should be expanded to include nine members. While I continue to support Duncan's appointment, I am working to promptly address the concern of balance between user groups.

Fields appointed to Board of Fisheries

The governor has appointed Duncan Fields, of Kodiak, to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Fields has long been involved in fish politics and policy. He formerly served on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The governor also has reappointed Orville Huntington, of Huslia, to the board.

Both appointments are subject to legislative confirmation.

Fields, Long appointed to North Pacific Council

The Commerce Department has reappointed Duncan Fields, of Kodiak, to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and also has appointed newcomer David Long, of Wasilla.

Council members serve three-year terms.

Here's a news release on appointments to all the regional fishery management councils around the country.

Governor likes Fields, Long for fish council

Gov. Sean Parnell is backing Duncan Fields to continue on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and favors Wasilla resident David Long to replace two-term member Sam Cotten.

Here's an abbreviated version of the press release from Juneau:

March 15, 2013

Gov. Parnell makes nominations to fishery council

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell today nominated Duncan Fields and David Long for consideration by the U.S. secretary of commerce for service on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The governor also named Stefanie Moreland and John Moller as alternate nominees.

"The fisheries resources in the North Pacific are of vital importance to Alaskans and Alaskan communities, and these nominees are experienced in the harvest, conservation and management of fisheries resources," Parnell said. "Mr. Fields and Mr. Long will effectively press forward on issues that are important to Alaska."

Fields, of Kodiak, is completing his second term on the NPFMC. He has been an active fisherman since 1960. Fields serves as a technical adviser for the Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition, the vice president of natural resource and community development for Old Harbor Native Corp., and a natural resource consultant for Shoreside Consulting. He served on the NPFMC Advisory Panel from 2001 through 2007 and is a member of the executive committee of United Fishermen of Alaska. He earned a bachelor's degree with a comprehensive social science major from Cedarville College and a law degree from the University of Oregon.

Long, of Wasilla, has acquired extensive and diverse experience over the past 40 years through active participation in fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Bristol Bay and the Sea of Okhotsk in a variety of gear types and fisheries. He is a licensed master of oceans, has mastered vessels with oceanographic research and development programs, and has served the Alaska State Troopers as a vessel supervisor. He also has participated in the NPFMC process by providing testimony and information. Long also is an avid sportfisherman.

Moreland, of Juneau, is currently a special assistant in the governor's office, serving as a policy adviser on fisheries, wildlife, oceans and Arctic issues. She formerly served as a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Moller was born in Unalaska and resides in Juneau, where he serves as a senior rural affairs adviser and special assistant in the governor's office. He served for 13 years as general manager of the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association.

The NPFMC is one of eight regional councils dedicated to oversight of the nation’s fisheries.

Cotten, Fields retain seats on council

The Obama administration today appointed Sam Cotten of Eagle River and Duncan Fields of Kodiak to new three-year terms on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

That Cotten will stay on the 11-member panel is a bit of a surprise, as Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell indicated he wanted to replace him with Jim Hubbard, a Seward halibut and sablefish longliner.

Cotten waged a strong campaign to keep his seat, industry players said. Plus, he is strongly identified as a Democrat, which certainly can't be said of the governor.

Of course, one might also suppose that Cotten simply has done a job worthy of another term on the council.

Here is today's announcement from the Commerce Department.

Governor likes Fields, not Cotten, for council

Gov. Sean Parnell today announced he's nominating Duncan Fields of Kodiak for a second term on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

But Parnell wants to replace Sam Cotten of Eagle River with Seward longliner Jim Hubbard.

Here's the full press release:

March 15, 2010

Governor Makes Nominations for North Pacific Council

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell forwarded his nominations of Duncan Fields of Kodiak and James Hubbard of Seward for consideration by the U.S. secretary of commerce for seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The governor also forwarded Sam Cotten of Eagle River and Matt Moir of Kodiak as alternate nominees.

"I have confidence that these nominees will serve with the best interest of Alaska's resources, coastal communities and Alaskans at heart," said Gov. Parnell. "Continuing our tradition of sound fisheries management is essential to protecting Alaska jobs and families who rely on these resources."

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional councils established by the 1976 Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act, later renamed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, to oversee management of the nation's marine fisheries. The council has jurisdiction over 900,000 square miles of ocean from three to 200 miles off Alaska's shores, and the primary responsibility for managing pollock, cod, halibut, sole and other groundfish.

Fields is completing his first term on the NPFMC. He has been an active fisherman since 1960 and also serves as a technical adviser for the Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition, the vice president of natural resource and community development for Old Harbor Native Corp., and a natural resource consultant for Shoreside Consulting. He served on NPFMC Advisory Panel from 2001–2007, and is a member of the board of directors of the United Fishermen of Alaska. He earned a bachelor's degree with a comprehensive social science major from Cedarville College, and a juris doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law.

Hubbard has been a fisherman since the 1970s and participates in the halibut, sablefish, Pacific cod and other groundfish fisheries throughout the entire Gulf of Alaska. With his wife, Rhonda, he is a co-owner of J&R Fisheries, which markets the seafood products caught and processed aboard his freezer-longliner, the F/V Kruzof. He currently serves on the Research Advisory Board to the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Hubbard is also a member of the United Fishermen of Alaska and several other commercial fishing organizations.

Cotten is completing his first term on the NPFMC. He is a resource analyst for the Aleutians East Borough and has significant experience in Alaska as a sport fisherman and commercial fisherman. Cotten is a former director of the Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank, and a former member of the Alaska State Legislature.

Moir is the general manager of Alaska Pacific Seafoods, where he has worked since 1987. He is a current member of the NPFMC Advisory Panel. Moir is also a member of the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, the Kodiak Fishery Advisory Committee, the Kodiak Island Borough Fisheries and Oceanic Research Board, and is an adviser to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. He earned a bachelor's degree in natural science from St. John's University and a master's degree in food technology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires governors of specific coastal states to provide nominations for each vacancy, from which the commerce secretary makes a final appointment.

Who wants a council seat?

Two members of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Sam Cotten of Eagle River and Duncan Fields of Kodiak, will see their three-year terms expire in August.

From what I've heard, these two first-termers want another hitch on the 11-member council.

But challengers for the two seats already are stacking up in Gov. Sean Parnell's office. The governor later this year will submit his choices to the U.S. commerce secretary for final approval.

So who wants a council seat?

The governor's office provided Deckboss this list of people who have applied thus far:

Mike Heimbuch, a Homer commercial fisherman

Matt Moir, general manager of Alaska Pacific Seafoods in Kodiak

Donald Poulos, an Anchorage resident and former commercial fisherman out of Kodiak and Chignik

Michael Robbins, an Anchorage attorney

Dick Tremaine, an Anchorage resident and asset manager for Norton Sound Economic Development Corp.