Fairley McDonald

The board discussed subsistence issues in Alaska, including updates from the Department of the Interior on the scoping review of the federal subsistence program. Public testimony focused on concerns regarding salmon declines, impacts of mining on water quality, bycatch, and the need for greater representation of tribal and rural voices in management decisions. Additional topics included educational outreach initiatives, National Park Service rulemaking, caribou hunting access in various regions, and the economic challenges faced by rural communities. The board emphasized the importance of balancing resource management with the cultural and food security needs of all rural residents.

The board conducted a regulatory meeting focusing on public testimony and subsistence management. Key topics included discussions on subsistence rights, the cumulative impacts of tourism and sport fishing on subsistence resources, the importance of traditional ecological knowledge, and administrative concerns regarding tribal consultation and representation. The board also reviewed proposals for brown bear customary and traditional use determinations in Unit 6 for the communities of Cordova, Chenega Bay, and Tatitlek.

The board held a regulatory meeting to deliberate on wildlife proposals for the 2026 to 2028 cycle and review existing closures. Key topics included discussions on subsistence hunting, trapping, and fishing on Federal public lands, updates on organizational reorganizations, budget information, and the status of fish and wildlife resources. The meeting also addressed changes to the agenda, such as deferrals and withdrawals of specific proposals, and provided a platform for information sharing between agency representatives and public members regarding subsistence management challenges and priorities.

The board meeting addressed several key topics including public comments on non-agenda items, concerns regarding subsistence access, closures, and the dual management system in Alaska. Discussion points included the impact of commercial fishing and sport hunting on wildlife resources, predator management, and the need for collaborative management with tribal organizations. Additionally, the meeting featured presentations from university students regarding their research on subsistence regulations, designated hunter programs, and environmental concerns such as severe winter impacts on wildlife populations and the threat of invasive European green crabs.

This document outlines the 2026 Fisheries Resource Monitoring Plan, which aims to identify and provide information necessary to sustain subsistence fisheries on Federal public lands for rural Alaskans. The plan accomplishes this by funding high-priority research and monitoring projects focusing on harvest monitoring, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and stock status and trends. It seeks to enhance fisheries research and data, improve communication for subsistence fisheries management, and increase meaningful involvement and collaboration with federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native/rural organizations.