Alaska bycatch advisory council urges state engagement, dedicated staff and wider public outreach

The Alaska Bycatch Advisory Council told the House Special Committee on Fisheries on May 1 that it has prioritized management, research and state engagement and is seeking a dedicated state staff position to serve as a public contact and maintain bycatch information.

The council, formed after the 2022 Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force, reviewed the task force recommendations and met publicly throughout 2023–2025. "The commissioner has been extremely responsive to the meeting requests that have already occurred," former council chair Linda Kozak told lawmakers, adding that the council had focused in 2024 on management and research priorities and in 2025 on state engagement.

The advisory council said it has held virtual public meetings with a high attendance of about 45 people at its largest meeting and that it has forward progress reports and links to its materials publicly available. The council recommended continuing to develop a public-facing bycatch website, offering pre-council public input opportunities and pursuing more town halls and regional outreach.

At the committee hearing, members described the council’s work as a way to keep the 2022 task force recommendations active rather than allowing them to “sit on a shelf.” The council forwarded a utilization subcommittee report to the commissioner but made no recommendation to adopt regulatory bycatch utilization at this time, citing logistical, economic and political challenges at processors and concerns that utilization could incentivize bycatch.

Council members told the committee they want improved coordination across state, federal and tribal research and better tracking of who is funding or conducting bycatch research. The council proposed an annual virtual research meeting to reduce duplication and to share results more broadly.

The council also recommended a staff position to “be the primary contact for bycatch related information,” Kozak said, noting current duties are distributed among staff who have other responsibilities. The council said a dedicated staff member would assist website development, meeting planning and public communications.

The presentation and the committee discussion made clear the advisory council is intended as an ongoing forum for prioritizing bycatch work and advising the Alaska Department of Fish and Game rather than itself enacting regulation. Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang said he intends to keep the council in place for the remainder of his tenure and that the department is working to make bycatch information more accessible in one place for the public.

Committee members asked the department and council to consider more in-person outreach in regions such as Bethel and Southeast Alaska and suggested coordinating with large regional gatherings to improve attendance.

The council’s next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, the presentation noted.