Background: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), alongside NOAA Fisheries, is responsible for managing federal fisheries 3- 200 miles off the coast of Alaska. The members are nominated by the Alaska, Washington, and Oregon Governors and appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

The problem: The majority of the voting members on the NPFMC are tied to the trawl industry one way or another. This leads to industry representatives making management decisions regarding trawl bycatch and the impacts of trawl gear on the ocean floor. Governor Dunleavy nominated two people to be reappointed to the NPFMC, both having ties to the trawl industry. He did this without any public input. The appointments by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce are due in June.

The solution: Please write to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Governor Dunleavy and the Alaska Congressional Delegation requesting rejection of these nominees and a process that is public and nominates individuals outside of the trawl industry.