Controversial Board Of Fisheries Appointee Withdrawls From Consideration
KRSA Applauds Walker's Appointment To the Board Of Fisheries
3/29/18
The governor’s decision comes after 16 Alaska outdoor-sporting organizations expressed opposition of the nominee and hundreds of … – https://t.co/CATPgnB5ay pic.twitter.com/250uMPBTHB— KSRM Radio 92 (@ksrmam) March 30, 2018
Alaska Governor Bill Walker's Board of Fisheries appointment of another commercial fisherman, Kodiak-based Duncan Fields, for the seat formerly held by an Anchorage sport fisherman would remove the voice of more than 30,000 personal use permit holders… https://t.co/TUeAqOb8Te
— KRSA (@KRSA907) March 24, 2018
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO SIGNED THE LETTER IN SUPPORT OF DUNCAN FIELDS. ALAN CAIN WILL RETAIN HIS SEAT AND DUNCAN HAS WITHDRAWN HIS NAME.
SEE PRESS RELEASE BELOW-Alan Cain re-appointed to Alaska Board of Fisheries… https://t.co/kGRMINvoro
— Alaska Seiners (@AlaskaSeiners) March 29, 2018
Learn about candidate for Alaska House of Representatives, Duncan Fields. https://t.co/zWAv778Z4Y pic.twitter.com/QJGsZhmUKL
— KMXT Kodiak News (@KmxtNews) August 26, 2016
Criticized fish board nominee withdraws from consideration https://t.co/9Fab21ul6m via @newsminer
— Fairbanks News-Miner (@newsminer) March 29, 2018
Alan Cain Re-Appointed to Alaska Board of Fisheries – https://t.co/Dc6FBciv4k pic.twitter.com/2yafSshtDm
— Alaska Native News (@AKNativeNews) March 29, 2018
Duncan Fields, a commercial fisherman whose appointment from Gov. Bill Walker to be added to the Alaska Board of Fisheries sparked plenty of controversy, has withdrawn his name from consideration, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:
Gov. Bill Walker has reappointed retired Alaska Wildlife Trooper Alan Cain for another term on the board instead.
Walker’s nomination of Fields was met with opposition from Alaska sport-fishing groups who felt the nomination upset the power balance between the commercial and sport-fishing interests of the board.
Walker’s office said Fields withdrew his nomination so that Cain could serve a second term.
“There was definitely some pushback on Duncan, there’s no question about that,” Walker said in a meeting with the Daily News-Miner editorial board Thursday. “I don’t believe he would have been confirmed because it took it out of balance.”
Walker noted that while his original appointment took the board out of balance, the choice was not intentional.
“It’s a very sensitive appointment and I’m respectful of that,” Walker said.
The sport fishing community praised the withdrawal of Fields after speaking out regarding the original nomination last week.
“This outcome will restore Anchorage’s representation on the board and maintains the balance among commercial, sport, personal-use and subsistence interests on the board,” said Ricky Gease, executive director at Kenai River Sportfishing Association. “We applaud Alaska sporting groups, anglers and personal-use dip-netters across the state for reaching out to policymakers about fair and balanced representation on the Board of Fisheries.”