Alaska fish board committee to weigh Traditional Knowledge changes Sept. 25

Alaskans who want a say in how the Board of Fisheries handles Traditional Knowledge reports and structures public testimony time have until 5 p.m. Sept. 23 to submit written comments, ahead of a three-member committee meeting that takes up the issue by webconference on Friday, Sept. 25, at 9 a.m.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries' Committee on Board Process, Management, and Research Needs will consider changes meant to make more efficient use of board meeting time and public-input opportunities. Marit Carlson-Van Dort chairs the committee, along with Tom Carpenter and Mike Wood.

The committee will take live public testimony at the meeting; join at us06web.zoom.us/j/84586505392 or by phone at (253) 215-8782, webinar ID 845 8650 5392. Written comments, capped at 100 single-sided pages, are due by the Sept. 23 deadline at boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov, by mail to P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526, or by fax to (907) 465-6094. Accommodation requests go to Art Nelson at (907) 267-2292 by the same deadline.

The board created the Traditional Knowledge report process in late 2023, allotting 10 minutes per report compared with three minutes for general public testimony, and later adopted a policy treating local and Traditional Knowledge as an aspect of best available science. Commenters in 2023 sought more Alaska Native representation and remote participation options; the current notice does not specifically list either as an agenda item.