Senate President Green proposes a new fisheries board plan

By Bradners’ Alaska Legislative Digest

Appointments to the state Board of Fisheries are some of the most controversial issues that come before the state Legislature. A bill introduced Feb. 19 by Senate President Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, would expand the Board of Fisheries from seven to nine members, who would be appointed specifically as representatives of three categories of fish harvesters. Senate Bill 284 requires the appointment of three members who represent commercial fishing interests, three representing personal use/subsistence interests and three to represent sport-fishing interests. The bill would eliminate the current requirement that the governor select appointees that merely reflect diversity and different points of view.