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Public submits 70 proposals for changes to Bristol Bay fisheries

KDLG

Among the proposals to be considered by the Board of Fisheries in December are 24 that target district-specific management and regulations for the Bay’s commercial salmon fishery.

DILLINGHAM: Alaska's Board of Fisheries will meet in December to discuss possible changes to Bristol Bay sport, commercial and subsistence fisheries.

Forrest Bowers, from Fish and Game's division of commercial fisheries, says there are fewer proposals this year than in 2012, when the board last took up Bristol Bay fisheries.

The board considers changes to each region on a three-year cycle. Proposals are submitted by members of the public, regional advisory committees and other organizations. For this winter’s meeting, they were due last spring.

This year, the largest chunk of the proposals - 24 - target district-specific management plans and regulations for Bristol Bay’s commercial salmon fishery.

Another six proposals address district boundaries and gear, 14 seek to change registration dates and requirements, and nine would allow permit stacking in one form or another.

Port Heiden residents have also suggested moving certain parts of the Alaska Peninsula management area into the Bristol Bay fishery. Those proposals will be discussed at the Bristol Bay meeting, with opportunity for public comment then. Bowers said a decision on those proposals will be made at the Alaska Peninsula meeting, which is in August.

There are also five proposals each for sport and subsistence fisheries, and four for the herring fishery.