January 7, 2022
(Anchorage)
– Today, Governor Mike Dunleavy released the list of eleven Alaskans who will
serve on the Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force. The mission of the task force is
to better understand the unintended bycatch of fish such as halibut and salmon
caught in both State and federal waters. The two remaining seats on the task
force will be non-voting seats filled by members of the Alaska Legislature.
“While Alaska’s healthy
and sustainable fisheries are an example for the entire world to follow,
bycatch has remained a contentious issue of concern of all Alaskans,” said
Governor Dunleavy. “The 11 Alaskans who stepped forward to serve on the
Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force represent key stakeholder groups and are
recognized for not only their knowledge of fisheries, but their commitment to
sustaining the resource for generations of Alaskans to come.”
The Governor’s
appointees are:
John Jensen, Chair – Mr. Jensen has over
a half century of experience in Alaska’s commercial fishing industry. He is
serving his seventh term on the Alaska Board of Fisheries and was appointed to
the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council in 2018.
Tommy Sheridan,
Vice-chair
– Mr. Sheridan will hold the public member seat on the task force and fills the
role of vice-chair. He is the owner of Sheridan Consulting and is a member of
the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.
Brian Gabriel – Mr. Gabriel has
served as mayor of the City of Kenai since 2016 and previously held a seat on
the city council for six years.
Linda Kozak – Ms. Kozak occupies
the halibut fisher seat in addition to running a fisheries consulting service.
She also serves on the board of United Fishermen of Alaska.
Raymond May – Filling the salmon
fisher seat is Mr. Raymond May. He owns and operates a commercial fishing
vessel out of Kodiak Island, and is a council member for the Native Village of
Port Lions.
Erik Velsko – Mr. Velsko will
occupy the seat reserved for a crab fisherman. He has worked as a commercial
fisherman in Alaska since 1997 and is a member of the North Pacific Fisheries
Management Council Advisory Panel.
Mike Flores – Mr. Flores has owned
and operated a sport fishing charter business in Ninilchik since 1994. He is
also a board member on the State of Alaska’s Big Game Commercial Services
Board.
Stephanie Madsen – Ms. Madsen is the
Executive Director for the At-Sea Processors Association.
Ragnar Alstrom – Holds the Community
Development Quota (CDQ) representative seat on the task force. Mr. Alstrom is
the executive director for the Yukon Delta Development Association.
Kevin Delaney – Mr. Delaney is the
founder of Delaney Outdoors, a fisheries consulting firm he opened in 2010. He
was the director for the Division of Sport Fish, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game from 2005 to 2010.
Duncan Fields – Mr. Duncan fills the
seat reserved for an organization representing Alaska Natives. He is a
long-time resident of Kodiak Island and owns a consulting firm that represents
two Native corporations.
Governor Dunleavy has
tasked the group to study the following areas: