Only one is a commercial fisherman
Governor Mike Dunleavy has announced three new members to serve for three-year terms on the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
They are Gerad Godfrey of Eagle River, Greg Svendsen of Anchorage and Mike Wood of Talkeetna.
Of the three nominees, only Mike Wood is an active commercial fisherman. He fishes for salmon at Upper Cook Inlet and is chair of the Mat-Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. Wood also is vice chair of the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Upper Susitna Advisory Committee and co-founder of the Susitna Salmon Company.
Greg Svendsen is an active recreational angler and has advocated for a shift of allocation from commercial to recreational in Cook Inlet. He is a third generation Alaskan, according to the Governor’s press release. Svendsen is a member of the Barker Ranch Board of Directors and leads sponsored duck hunts for combat veterans.
Gerad Godfrey is a reappointment to the Board of Fisheries having first served a three year term starting in 2019. He an Alaska Native from Kodiak Island and is chairman of the FirstNet Tribal Working Group. Godfrey also is on the board of Kizhuyak Oil Sales, an officer of native Public Media, and director for the Connecting Alaska Consortium.
All members must be confirmed by the Alaska Legislature. If approved, Godfrey, Svendsen and Wood will replace outgoing members John Jensen from Petersburg, McKenzie Mitchell of Fairbanks, and Mike Heimbuch of Homer. Their terms end June 30, 2023.
Other members include Marit Carlson-Van Dort of Anchorage, John Wood of Willow, Tom Carpenter of Cordova and Stan Zuray of Tanana.
The Board of Fisheries sets policy and direction for the management of Alaska’s subsistence, commercial, sport and personal use fisheries.
