Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has forwarded to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo four names each for two obligatory seats for the state of Alaska on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, with incumbent Nicole Kimball and Angela Drobnica as his first choices for the two seats.
Kimball has worked as a fisheries analyst for the Council, as a federal fisheries coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and is now vice president of Alaska operations with the Pacific Seafood Processors Association.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management from the University of Maine and a master’s in environmental policy from Tufts University.
Drobnica is currently serving as the government affairs and fisheries director for the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association, one of six Community Development Quota organizations, whose mission is to increase direct participation in the Bering Sea Aleutian Island fisheries, help alleviate communities out of poverty and help build fisheries-based economies in the program’s 65 member communities.
The other two people recommended for nomination are Sam Rabung, director of the Division of Commercial Fisheries at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Dave Rutz, director of the ADF&G Division of Sport Fish.
The final decision on who will be seated rests with Raimondo.