AlaskaOutdoor.com

State & Federal Boundaries for Fisheries Management in 2012

(Juneau) – Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Commissioner Cora Campbell announced today that significant progress has been made toward addressing the State of Alaska’s concerns regarding the 2006 revisions to Alaska’s baseline, from which state-federal boundary lines in waters surrounding the State of Alaska are determined. State and federal agencies also have reached agreement about appropriate enforcement of the state and federal fisheries boundary line.

The U.S. Baseline Committee determines closing lines across entrances to bays and rivers. These closing lines serve to separate U.S. internal waters from the U.S. territorial sea. The State of Alaska had concern about the impact of the 2006 committee action on the state/federal (Submerged Lands Act) boundary, submerged land ownership, and implications for management and enforcement of Alaska fisheries.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), for the 2012 fishing year and until further notice, has agreed to manage and enforce federal fisheries and recognize state-waters fisheries based upon the most recent (September 2011) decisions of the U.S. Baseline Committee. The Baseline Committee’s decisions are in response to nine proposals submitted by Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, the state’s lead agency on boundary issues. The Baseline Committee’s decision affects changes to the three-nautical-mile boundary off Uyak Bay, Akun Bay, Portage Bay, Kalekta Bay, Kachemak Bay, Aniakchak-Amber Bays, Chignik-Castle Bays, Imuya Bay, and Port Dick. The Committee agreed with eight of the state’s nine proposals, and decisions were finalized for all areas except Chignik-Castle Bays and Kalekta Bay. For areas where baseline changes have occurred, but have not yet been reviewed or finalized by the Baseline Committee, NOAA Fisheries intends to recognize the historical three-mile state-waters boundary line and not the 2006 changes to the Alaska baseline.

New NOAA charts were produced in October and November of 2011 for the Kachemak Bay area (NOAA charts 16640, 16645, and 16647). These charts, which reflect the Baseline Committee’s decision, are located at: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/AlaskaViewerTable.shtml . Charts for the remaining areas for which final decisions were made are not expected to be produced by NOAA Fisheries until 2013. In the interim, NOAA Fisheries will produce chartlets (small, area-specific charts) to assist with management and enforcement of the boundary line. These chartlets are expected to be posted soon and will be located at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/3nm/ .

Vessel operators with questions should contact their local ADF&G Area Managers.

Local authority on Interior Alaska antlerless moose hunts questioned
by Tim Mowry/tmowry@newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — As it turns out, all the ruckus local hunters have been raising about antlerless moose hunts on the Tanana Flats south of Fairbanks may be for naught.

Or maybe not.

During a statewide Alaska Board of Game meeting in Anchorage last month, it was brought to the attention of board members that the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee may not have the authority to prevent an antlerless moose hunt in Game Management Unit 20A south of Fairbanks, even if it wants to.

A state regulation adopted by the Board of Game almost 30 years ago states advisory committees must either be located in or the majority of its members must live in the affected unit or subunit to have veto power in that unit or subunit. In the case of the Fairbanks advisory committee, it is neither in unit 20A, nor do the majority of members live in unit 20A. It is in unit 20B and that’s where all the committee members live.

In past years, the game board has allowed four different local advisory committees — Fairbanks, Delta, Minto-Nenana and Middle Nenana — to vote on the matter of antlerless hunts in units 20A and 20B.

But now, less than a month before the Board of Game is scheduled to meet in Fairbanks to consider, among a multitude of other things, antlerless moose hunts in units 20A and 20B, and just days before the Fairbanks advisory committee is scheduled to vote on whether to reauthorize those hunts, the Board of Game is waffling about whether the Fairbanks advisory committee’s vote, as well as that of the Delta advisory committee, will count.

New interpretation

According to a memo from senior assistant attorney general Kevin Saxby, who provides legal counsel to the Board of Game, neither the Fairbanks or Delta advisory committees have authority to vote on the reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts in unit 20A, because they are outside the area and the majority of its members don’t reside in the area.

“That’s the last interpretation I got,” game board chairman Cliff Judkins said in a phone interview with the News-Miner. “We can only interpret it the way law is written.”

The new interpretation came as a surprise to Judkins, who has sat on the board for several years.

“We had all interpreted it the other way,” he said of the

regulation. “I’d never looked at the regulation before. We haven’t had that issue come up anywhere else.”

It came up after Fairbanks advisory committee member Al Barrette brought it to the attention of the board. Barrette said he did so because “the integrity of the advisory committee was being questioned” and he wanted to make sure the committee was acting appropriately.

“There was nothing malicious about this,” Barrette said. “I was just asking the Board of Game to give us direction. All this was was getting clarification.”

Jim Sampson, the former borough mayor and a critic of the antlerless hunts, called the situation “a political back-door deal” to send the message to the Fairbanks advisory committee “to either get in line (with the antlerless hunts) or you’re out of here.”

“This is something they’ve been working on in case it looks like the Fairbanks advisory committee wasn’t going to go along with the cow hunts,” Sampson said.

Divisive issue

The antlerless hunts have been a wedge that has split the Fairbanks hunting community in recent years. Some hunters are morally opposed to shooting cow moose while others view it as an opportunity to put more moose on the tables of Alaskans.

Since 2004, almost 3,000 antlerless moose have been killed in unit 20A but the hunts have created social issues such as overcrowding, hunter conflict, trespassing and overharvesting of moose in some accessible areas.

Last month, more than 200 people showed up at the Fairbanks advisory committee meeting to discuss the antlerless hunts and provide public testimony in favor of or against the hunts. The Fairbanks advisory committee is scheduled to vote whether to approve the hunts on Wednesday.

Barrette, who sat on the Board of Game briefly two years ago but was replaced after his appointment wasn’t confirmed by the legislature, admits he doesn’t think advisory committees should have the authority to veto cow hunts if the Department of Fish and Game says they are needed to stabilize a moose population, which is the case in unit 20A.

Barrette called the 1976 statute giving advisory committees that authority “a piece of knee jerk legislation.” Advisory committee members aren’t trained, professional biologists and shouldn’t be allowed to make biological decisions based on personal or political beliefs, he said.

“It’s not right when you start playing politics with management,” he said.

Shocking development

New Fairbanks advisory committee chairman Terry Marquette said he’s as confused as anyone about where the committee stands.

“Who’s our boss? Is it the Board of Game? Is it (Kevin) Saxby?” Marquette said. “They took that legal advisory and made everyone aware of it, but they didn’t issue any directive.”

The reaction of advisory committee members when they read the memo from Saxby was “absolute shock,” Marquette said.

As it stands now, the Fairbanks advisory committee will vote on the reauthorization of unit 20A antlerless hunts just as it has in past years.

“Until it’s officially resolved we’re going to continue to work with the reaffirmation process we’ve got set up,” Marquette said. “We may be told later we’ve wasted our time and we don’t have jurisdiction out there.

“I think what everybody is hoping is the precedent has been set and we’ll be allowed to continue to participate in reauthorization process,” Marquette said. “If the (Board of Game) turns around and slam dunks the (advisory committees), they’re in essence saying the (advisory committees) don’t mean anything.”

Compromise solution

All four advisory committees met with staff from the Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks on Saturday in hopes of hammering out a compromise regarding the antlerless hunt similar to the one agreed on four years ago when hunters grew restless about the antlerless hunts.

The advisory committees and department negotiated a toned-down version of the hunt by reducing the number of permits issued, reducing the harvest quota and eliminated the take of calves and cows with calves. That was enough to make the antlerless hunt palatable to three of the four advisory committees.

The consensus is that some kind of compromise will be reached to continue the antlerless hunts in some way, shape or form.

While Marquette isn’t sure which way the Fairbanks advisory committee will vote, he said several members would rather see the department make some concessions to the antlerless hunts than kill them outright. An earlier close to the season, for example, would eliminate two major concerns — shooting pregnant cows and shooting bulls that were illegal during the general hunting season but are legal during the winter because they have dropped their antlers.

“I do know a lot of people who are of the opinion that some things can be changed and we could still continue the cow hunt,” he said.

Judkins said he would prefer to have all four advisory committees vote on the antlerless hunt reauthorization but that goes against the regulation.

Saxby told the board it could change the regulation because it dates back to the time when there was only one joint board of fish and game and decisions regarding antlerless moose hunts were the responsibility of the game board.

Saxby also told board members they could require the approval of additional advisory committees even if those advisory committees are not located in or the majority of their members don’t reside in a unit or subunit.

“You can decide we want to have more committees voting in favor because this is such a controversial thing in this area,” Saxby said.

But it was clear listening to discussion at the Board of Game meeting that some board members don’t like the power advisory committees wield when it comes to antlerless moose hunts.

Board member Ted Spraker of Kenai went so far as to say the department and game board has been “blackmailed” by the Fairbanks advisory committee on the matter of antlerless hunts.

“I believe in the public process, but I don’t believe in being strong-armed by eight or 10 people who vote themselves in by bringing 50 or 100 like-minded people,” Spraker said.

Saxby told him only the Legislature can change the statute that gives advisory committees veto power over cow hunts.

To which Spraker replied, “There’s not a legislator in the country that will take on that issue.”

Contact staff writer Tim Mowry at 459-7587.

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Local authority on Interior Alaska antlerless moose hunts questioned

http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/17413413/article-Local-authority-on-Interior-Alaska-antlerless-moose-hunts-questioned?instance=home_news_window_left_top_2

COMMENTARY: Halibut cut again; Bering Sea ice slowing down crab, pollock
By Laine Welch, For the Journal

As expected there will be less halibut available for fishermen to catch this year – an 18 percent drop to 33 million pounds, to be split among fisheries along the west coast, British Columbia and Alaska. That follows a 19 percent cut to the catch last year.

The announcement was made Jan. 27 at the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s annual meeting in Anchorage. Alaska always gets the lion’s share of the catch, which this year will be 25.5 million pounds.   

Driving the fishing decreases: Pacific halibut stocks continue a decade long decline, there appears to be little recruitment of fish entering the fishery, the fish are smaller than they should be at age — and, most troubling, scientists believe they have overestimated the halibut biomass for years. 

Most stakeholders were accepting of the catch limits, but the overall mood was concern over the status of the halibut stocks, said Kathy Hansen, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Fishermen’s Alliance.   

The 800-pound gorilla in the meeting room was the millions of pounds of halibut that is taken as bycatch in other Alaska fisheries and, by law, discarded. While the IPHC sets catch limits for the halibut fisheries, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council oversees the limits for halibut allowed to be taken as bycatch in federally managed fisheries.

“It’s a bit uncomfortable to be from Alaska where we supposedly have sustainable fisheries and the best management in the world,” Hansen said. “And we have the Pacific Council and Canada saying, ‘Hey, we’ve dealt with getting a better observer program, we’ve reduced bycatch significantly with new programs and what are you guys in Alaska doing?’ All we can say is the (North Pacific) Council is looking at things again.

“It’s time for them to get serious and make some accommodations so we can say, yes we are moving toward trying to identify how much bycatch is being taken in fisheries and reduce that amount.”

Five bycatch related motions were adopted by the IPHC Conference Board, a panel that includes 30 commercial and sport users from the US, and 21 from Canada “to give the fishers’ perspective,” according to the IPHC website.

“The board believes that accurate accounting of all removals is critical for development of accurate stock assessment, and for understanding the health of the halibut resource and the exploitable biomass available to the directed fisheries,” it stated in the 2012 meeting minutes.

The conference board said it wants a report next January that identifies areas that might be designated as nursery grounds, and assesses the future impacts on the stocks if those areas were closed to all taking of halibut. The board also strongly recommended that federal managers implement the Restructured Observer Program for the Gulf of Alaska in 2013.

The 2012 halibut fishery will open March 17. Here are the Alaska catch limits, in millions of pounds:

2C (Southeast): 2.6, up 12 percent

3A (Central Gulf): 11.9, down 17 percent

3B (Western Gulf): 5.0, down 32 percent

4A (Aleutians): 1.5, down 35 percent

4B (Aleutians): 1.8, down 17 percent

4CDE (Bering Sea): 2.4, down 34 percent

Fish on ice

High winds, frigid temperatures and sea ice have put the brakes on Alaska’s winter fisheries, and hundreds of boats are tied to the docks awaiting a break in the weather.

“It is the coldest I’ve seen in 10 years of fishing,” said Nick Mangini, skipper of the Kodiak-based F/V Enterprise, which has been targeting pot cod since the start of the year. “I’m glad I’m in the wheelhouse, but I really feel for the guys on deck.”

What forecasters call “big ice” has blocked the Bering Sea snow crab fishery with floes 18 inches thick and 15 miles wide. The pack also is moving more quickly, according to National Weather Service ice watchers — 20 miles per day instead of the usual 2 miles to 3 miles per day.

The ice can drag crab pots for miles and pop the marker buoys, making it tough for crabbers to even find them. More than 8,000 crab pots are on the Bering Sea grounds, and at $1,000 per pot, the loss can be costly.

Fortunately, the lost pots will not continue “ghost fishing.” All pot gear in Alaska fisheries is required to use biodegradable twine and escape panels to allow crabs and smaller species to go free.

Along with the crabbers, pollock boats also are being frozen out of their fishery. The trawl season opened Jan. 20 but the weather had kept most of the Bering Seas boats tied up to the Dutch Harbor docks.

A fleet of 80 catcher boats and 16 at-sea processors are expected on the fishing grounds for a catch of nearly 3 billion pounds, split between winter and summer seasons. 

Another quarter of a million pounds will come from the Gulf of Alaska, a 21 percent increase from last year. That 50-boat fleet also was on delay due to weather, and they are waiting for the valuable pollock roe to ripen. The rest of the pollock is made into fillets and surimi, and market watchers say demand is strong for all three products, at home and in foreign markets. 

The outlook for Alaska pollock is good, thanks to lots of young fish growing into the fishery. In the eastern Bering Sea, dubbed the nation’s “fish basket”, year classes from 2006 and 2008 are up 17 percent and 26 percent, respectively. That pollock will fuel the fishery for the next few years. Alaska pollock is the nation’s largest fishery, accounting for nearly 35 percent of U.S. seafood landings.

This article appears in the AJOC February 5 2012 issue of Alaska Journal of Commerce

Read more: http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/AJOC-February-5-2012/COMMENTARY-Halibut-cut-again-Bering-Sea-ice-slowing-down-crab-pollock/#ixzz1lHBAh8aL

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE

REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA BOARD OF GAME

 

The Alaska Board of Game proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the use and taking of game.  Regulations subject to board action are in 5 AAC 84, 85, 92, 98 and 99.  The subject matter areas to be addressed concern Game Management Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C; and statewide reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts and brown bear tag fee exemptions.  The board will also address additional topics for other Game Management Units and statewide provisions as described below:

 

A.  TRAPPING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C, including but not limited to: beaver, coyote, mink, marten, otter, muskrat, squirrel, marmot, fox, weasel, lynx, black bear, and wolves.  In addition, the definition of bucket foot snare.

 

B.  HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS in Units 12, 19, 20 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C for all species including, but not limited to: bison, muskox, moose, caribou, black bear, Dall sheep, brown bear, wolves, wolverine, lynx, fur animals, small game, unclassified game, and deleterious exotic wildlife.  In addition, the potential for Tier I or Tier II subsistence hunting for each population and the reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts in all Units.

 

C.  LICENSES, HARVEST TICKETS, HARVEST REPORTS, TAGS, FEES, AND PERMITS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C, including, but not limited to: discretionary and required permit hunt conditions and procedures including requirements for antler locking tags and same day airborne assistance for taking bison;  taking of game by proxy; permits for hunting black bear and brown bear with the use of bait or scent lures; special provisions for moose and Dall sheep hunts; guide requirements for nonresidents; maintaining bait stations by guides and assistant guides; special hunts for youth and disabled individuals; hunter education requirements; community subsistence harvest hunts, areas and conditions; and reauthorization of brown bear tag fee exemptions.  In addition, discretionary trapping permit conditions and procedures including black bear trapping requirements for age, residency, salvage, sealing, evidence of sex and identity, identification and checking bear bait and snare stations; and taking bear with snares and with the use of artificial light.

 

D. HUNTING AND TRAPPING METHODS AND MEANS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including, but not limited to:  lawful methods of taking game, big game, and furbearers, including taking bear at bait stations the same day airborne; allowing the use of helicopters to access to trapping; and requirements for checking traps.

 

E.   POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, AND USE OF GAME in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including, but not limited to:  sealing of bear skins and skulls; salvage of game meat, furs, and hides; taking cub bears and female bears with cubs; and purchase and sale of game.

 

F.   RESTRICTED AREAS AND GAME MANAGEMENT UNITS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including, but not limited to:  areas closed to hunting and trapping; closures and restrictions in state game refuges; management areas including Minto Flats and Fairbanks Management Areas; controlled use areas including Yanert, Koyukuk, Kanuti, Wood River, Ladue, and new Controlled Use Areas in Unit 20.  In addition, restrictions for use of motorized vehicles; allowing the use of crossbows; and taking of small game by falconry in the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area.

 

G.  INTENSIVE / PREDATOR MANAGEMENT in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C for all prey populations and populations having a positive finding as identified big game prey populations.  In addition, predation control areas implementation plans for Units 20, 24, 9, 17 and 19, including habitat manipulation, population and harvest objections, and related findings.

 

H.  CUSTOMARY AND TRADITIONAL USES OF GAME POPULATIONS for Units 12, 9, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including but not limited to: amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence uses for game including wolves.

 

I.    STATEWIDE AND OTHER PROVISIONS:  Seasons and bag limits for bear and moose in Units 9B and 9C; the sale of big game trophies; moose hunting in Unit 11; discretionary permit conditions for methods and means for recipients of Governor’s tags; sealing and salvage requirements for black bear; bait station seasons for taking black bear; taking cub bears and female bears with cubs; and statewide seasons and bag limits for black bear; and permits for falconry.

 

You may comment on the proposed regulations, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes by submitting written comments to the Alaska Board of Game, Boards Support Section at P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526.  Comments may also be submitted by fax to (907) 465-6094.

 

Written comments may be submitted to the Board of Game at any time before the proposal is taken up by the board in deliberations, but as a practical matter, written comments should be submitted to the Boards Support Section office at the above address or fax number by 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2012 to ensure inclusion in the board workbooks.

 

Written comment over 100 single sided or 50 double sided pages in length from any one individual or group relating to proposals will not be accepted.  Written comments submitted after February 17, 2012 will be limited to 10 single sided or 5 double sided pages in length from any one individual or group.  Written comments that are submitted are public record and are subject to public inspection.

 

The public hearing portion of the meeting will begin immediately after staff reports and continue until everyone who has signed up and is present when called has been given the opportunity to be heard.  However, state advisory committee representatives may elect to provide testimony at a later portion of the meeting.  The deadline to sign up to testify will be announced at the meeting.  The board will take oral testimony only from those who register before the cut-off time.  The length of oral statements may be limited to three to five minutes, or less.

 

Additional public hearings may be held throughout the meeting just before consideration and adoption of proposed changes in the regulations. A live audio stream of the board meeting is intended to be available and can be accessed on the Board of Game website at: www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov .

 

Tentative Meeting Schedule

Interior Region Meeting

Wedgewood Resort

212 Wedgewood Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska  99701

March 2 – 11, 2012

 

An agenda will be posted daily during the meeting.  Any changes to meeting locations, dates or times, or rescheduling of topics or subject matter will be announced by news release.  Please watch for these announcements in the news media or call (907) 465-4110.

 

If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodations in order to participate in this process, please contact Scott Crass at (907) 465-4110 no later than February 17, 2012 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

 

The proposed regulation changes are available on the Board of Game website www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo or through the ADF&G Boards Support Section Office at (907) 465-4110.

 

Anyone interested in or affected by subsistence and general hunting or trapping regulations is hereby informed that, by publishing this legal notice the Board of Game may consider any or all of the subject areas covered by this notice. THE BOARD IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OR CONFINES OF THE ACTUAL PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC OR STAFF.  Pursuant to AS 44.62.200, the board may review the full range of activities appropriate to any of the subjects listed in this notice.  The board may make changes to the hunting and trapping regulations as may be required to ensure the subsistence priority in AS 16.05.258 including reexamining customary and traditional use findings and determinations for amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence use.

 

After the public hearing, the Board of Game may adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or amend, reject, supplement, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  You should comment during the time allowed if your interest could be affected.

 

Statutory Authority:   AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.270

 

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.256;

AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.407; AS 16.05.346; AS 16.05.340; AS 16.30.010 – .030;

AS 16.05.330, and AS 16.05.783

 

Fiscal Information:  The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

 

 

 

DATE:  January 27, 2012                                                     

                                                                        Kristy Tibbles, Executive Director

Alaska Board of Game

 

 

ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION

(AS 44.62.190(d))

 

1.  Adopting agency: Alaska Board of Game

 

2.  General subject of regulation: Interior Region

 

3.  Citation of regulations: 5 AAC 84, 85, 92, 98, and 99

 

4.  Reason for the proposed action:

     (   )  compliance with federal law

     (   )  compliance with new or changed state statute

     (   )  compliance with court order

     (   )  development of program standards

     (X) other: Regularly scheduled topics for the Interior Region, 2012 Board of Game meeting and other miscellaneous provisions.  Implement, interpret, or make specific the provisions of AS 16.05– AS 16.30

 

5.  Program category and RDU: Natural Resources and all RDUs

 

6.  Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding:  It is not possible to estimate cost.    However, this action is not expected to require an increased appropriation.

 

7.  The name of the contact person for the regulations:

 

                Name:                    Kristy Tibbles

                Title:                       Executive Director, Board Game

                Address:                Boards Support Section

                                                Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game

                                                PO Box 115526

                                                Juneau, AK 99811-5526

                Telephone:            (907) 465-4110

 

8.  The origin of the proposed action:

 

                __X__    staff of state agency

                __X__    federal government

                __X__    general public

                ____       petition for regulation change

                _____    other (please list)

 

9.  Date:  January 27, 2012                                                                               Prepared by:                                                       

                                                                                                                                Kristy Tibbles

                                                                                                                                Executive Director, Board of Game

                                                                                                                                907-465-4110

12.13.11 NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE
REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA BOARD OF GAME
 
Notice is given that the Alaska Board of Game, under the authority of Title 16, Alaska Statutes, proposes to adopt, amend, or repeal regulations in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code which implement, interpret or make specific the provisions of Title 16.
 
The Board of Game may adopt, amend, repeal, or take no action on the subject matters listed below.  Regulations to be the subject of board action concern the use or taking of game and include, but are not limited to the following:
 
A.  HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS, including:  Statewide seasons for ALL big game; taking small game with the use of falconry; brown bear hunting in Units 7 and 15; statewide bag limit for black bear; statewide hunting and trapping seasons by nonresidents; and statewide seasons for youth hunts.
 
B. METHODS AND MEANS FOR TAKING BIG GAME, GAME, FUR ANIMALS, AND FURBEARERS, including: Lawful methods of taking big game and game including with the use of archery and crossbow equipment, compound bows, lighted nocks, broadheads, and artificial or enhanced light equipment; requiring special tags for type of take, rifle or archery; prohibiting the use of electronics, artificial light; certain pack animals, felt soled wading boots, and animal urine; providing archery hunts for disabled individuals; and same day airborne taking of big game and game.  Also under this category, lawful methods of taking furbearers and fur animals including: prohibiting the take of furbearers and fur animals with firearms, the taking of black bears with traps or snares and artificial light; requirements for trapping tags, identification, and checking traps; incidental taking of animals with traps; taking small game through falconry; and use of snares in Unit 1.
 
C.  POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, AND USE OF GAME including: Subsistence bartering; sale of big game trophies; prohibiting the sale of bear parts; record requirements for taxidermists and authorizing the inspection of those records; restrictions to bag limits including wounded game and taking cub bears and female bears with cubs; evidence of sex and identity including requirements for external sex organs to remain attached on certain big game animals; transfer of possession including inspection by federal agents; and salvage and sealing requirements for taking black bear.
 
D. PERMITS, PERMIT HUNT CONDITIONS, AND PROCEDURES, including: All discretionary hunting permit conditions and procedures including requirements for trophy destruction, coordinates of kill locations, antler locking tags, setting seasons, bag limits, methods, and means for recipients of Governor’s tags; discretionary trapping permit conditions associated with incidental take; permits to take game for cultural purposes; permits for scientific, educational, propagative, or public safety purposes; permits for falconry including changes to the ADF&G Falconry Manual and the capture of raptors by nonresidents; permits for public safety purposes; permits to take beavers; restrictions on the number of permit applications and the number allowed to be issued to each person, the allocation of permits for residents and nonresidents; exceptions for deferring permits; and establishing a bonus point drawing permit system.  Also under this category, permits for taking black bear with the use of bait or scent lures including the number of bait sites maintained by guides and assistant guides; baiting permit dates; prohibiting baiting on National Park Service lands; using scent while floating; requirements for accompanying hunters at bait sites; same-day-airborne taking of black bear; bait site identification; archery certification; and guide client agreements.
 
E. PREDATOR CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS including:  Eliminating predator control permits for black bear baiting; responsibilities and authorities of the Department of Fish and Game; nonresident hunting seasons in intensive management areas; and predator control implementation plans for Units 26, 7, 15, and 19.
 
F. REGULATORY DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS including: Definitions for wounded game and certain archery/crossbow equipment; agenda change request policy; harvest tickets and reports for black bear, and general application of the statewide regulations chapter.
 
G.  CUSTOMARY AND TRADITIONAL USES OF GAME POPULATIONS including but not limited to: Amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence uses for furbearers and fur animals.  
 
You may comment on the proposed regulations, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes by submitting written comments to the Alaska Board of Game, Boards Support Section at P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526.  Comments may also be submitted by fax to (907) 465-6094.
 
Written comments may be submitted to the Board of Game at any time before the proposal is taken up by the board in deliberations, but as a practical matter, written comments should be submitted to the Boards Support Section office at the above address or fax number by 5:00 pm Friday, December 30, 2011 to ensure inclusion in the board workbooks.
 
Written comment over 100 single sided or 50 double sided pages in length from any one individual or group relating to proposals will not be accepted.  Written comments submitted after December 30, 2011 will be limited to 10 single sided or 5 double sided pages in length from any one individual or group.  Written comments that are submitted are public record and are subject to public inspection.
 
The public hearing portion of the meeting will begin immediately after staff reports and continue until everyone who has signed up and is present when called has been given the opportunity to be heard.  However, state advisory committee representatives may elect to provide testimony at a later portion of the meeting.  The deadline to sign up to testify will be announced at the meeting.  The board will take oral testimony only from those who register before the cut-off time.  The length of oral statements may be limited to three to five minutes, or less.
 
Additional public hearings may be held throughout the meeting just before consideration and adoption of proposed changes in the regulations. A live audio stream of the board meeting is intended to be available and can be accessed on the Board of Game website at: www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov .
 
Tentative Meeting Schedule
 
Statewide Regulations, Cycle B Schedule
Anchorage Hilton Hotel
500 West 3rd Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska
January 13-18, 2012
 
An agenda will be posted daily during the meeting.  Any changes to meeting locations, dates or times, or rescheduling of topics or subject matter will be announced by news release.  Please watch for these announcements in the news media or call (907) 465-4110.
 
If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodations in order to participate in this process, please contact Scott Crass at (907) 465-4110 no later than December 30, 2011 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
 
The proposed regulation changes are available on the Board of Game website at www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov; or through the ADF&G Boards Support Section Office at (907) 465-4110.
 
Anyone interested in or affected by subsistence and general hunting or trapping regulations is hereby informed that, by publishing this legal notice the Board of Game may consider any or all of the subject areas covered by this notice. THE BOARD IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OR CONFINES OF THE ACTUAL PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC OR STAFF.  Pursuant to AS 44.62.200, the board may review the full range of activities appropriate to any of the subjects listed in this notice.  The board may make changes to the hunting and trapping regulations as may be required to ensure the subsistence priority in AS 16.05.258 including reexamining customary and traditional use findings and determinations for amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence use.
 
After the public hearing, the Board of Game may adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or amend, reject, supplement, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  You should comment during the time allowed if your interest could be affected.
 
Statutory Authority:   AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.270
 
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.256;
AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.407; AS 16.05.346; AS 16.05.340; AS 16.30.010 – .030;
AS 16.05.330, and AS 16.05.783
 
Fiscal Information:  The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
 
9.  Date:  December 8, 2011                                                   Prepared by:              
                                                                                                Kristy Tibbles
                                                                                                Executive Director, Board of Game
                                                                                                907-465-4110