Veteran Bristol Bay commercial fisherman Vince Webster will serve out
his second term on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, but won’t get a third term appointment
recommended by Gov. Sean Parnell.
his second term on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, but won’t get a third term appointment
recommended by Gov. Sean Parnell.
State legislators failed to approve the appointment in early April,
after pressure from members of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association.
after pressure from members of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association.
The historic pattern would be for the governor to look for another board
member from Bristol Bay, where there are a lot of fishing interests that have
no representation, said Jason Hooley, state director of boards and commissions.
member from Bristol Bay, where there are a lot of fishing interests that have
no representation, said Jason Hooley, state director of boards and commissions.
As of late April, seven people had put in their applications, to be
considered along with other past applicants for the board, Hooley said.
considered along with other past applicants for the board, Hooley said.
Whoever is selected will begin their service on July 1, and then pending
approval by the Legislature when it begins its next session in January,
continue on the board, he said.
approval by the Legislature when it begins its next session in January,
continue on the board, he said.
Legislators in early April voted down Parnell’s reappointment of Webster
to the Board of Fisheries, while approving the reappointment of Thomas
Kluberton, Talkeetna.
to the Board of Fisheries, while approving the reappointment of Thomas
Kluberton, Talkeetna.
Parnell said it was “disappointing, discouraging and disheartening when
bad information or politics prevent a qualified Alaskan from serving our
state.”
bad information or politics prevent a qualified Alaskan from serving our
state.”
The governor had urged legislators to contact Webster personally and
listen to his responses to allegations from the Kenai River Sportfishing
Association regarding the new late-run Kenai River Chinook salmon escapement
goal, which angered KRSA. In fact, the board’s vote on lower escapement goals
for Kenai River Chinook salmon was unanimous.
listen to his responses to allegations from the Kenai River Sportfishing
Association regarding the new late-run Kenai River Chinook salmon escapement
goal, which angered KRSA. In fact, the board’s vote on lower escapement goals
for Kenai River Chinook salmon was unanimous.
Parnell said he personally phoned Webster after the vote to thank him
for volunteering six years of service on the board.
for volunteering six years of service on the board.
KRSA had been critical of Webster’s reappointment and lobbied heavily
against it, urging its members to contact their legislators to oppose
legislative confirmation of the governor’s reappointment.
against it, urging its members to contact their legislators to oppose
legislative confirmation of the governor’s reappointment.
KRSA was angered when the Board of Fisheries moved in March to lower
escapement goals for Kenai River late run Chinook salmon. Webster, who works
for Katmai National Park, and fishes commercially, had the support of most
rural and coastal legislators, but was opposed mostly by legislators from the
Anchorage area and Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
escapement goals for Kenai River late run Chinook salmon. Webster, who works
for Katmai National Park, and fishes commercially, had the support of most
rural and coastal legislators, but was opposed mostly by legislators from the
Anchorage area and Matanuska-Susitna Valley.