Ryuichi ‘Rudy’ Tsukada, chief operating officer for the Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF), one of six Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program groups, has been nominated to fill the obligatory state of Alaska seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy nominated Tsukada on March 15 in a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, under provisions of Section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).
In second place for the Alaska seat on the federal council, the governor nominated Samuel Rabung, director of the Alaska Division of Commercial Fisheries. The third person Dunleavy listed for consideration was Tom Taube, deputy director of the Alaska Division of Sport Fisheries.
Dunleavy cited Tsukada for his career focused heavily on various aspects of fisheries.
CVRF, as one of the six CDQ groups, receives allocations of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab and groundfish for the economic and social benefits of residents of their 20 rural community members to support their subsistence fishery lifestyles.
The governor noted that Tsukada is known in sportfishing circles for saltwater sport fishing from a kayak for halibut and salmon in Southcentral Alaska.
“If appointed, his goals will be to ensure that living marine resources are well-managed for the benefit of current and future generations, Dunleavy said.