Fisheries Nominations and Appointments Announced

By Margaret Bauman

President Barack Obama announced Jan. 8 his intent to nominate James Balsiger, of Juneau, Robert Alverson, of Seattle, and Donald Lane, of Homer, Alaska, as United States commissioners on the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

Balsiger, the regional administrator for the Alaska region of the National Marine Fisheries Service, has held the position since 2000. He was also appointed as the US Commissioner on the US section of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission in 2013.

Alverson is the manager and executive secretary of the Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association, a position he has held since 1976. The FVOA will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Feb. 15.

Lane, a commercial fisherman, has owned and operated the fishing vessel Predator, and worked closely with the Alaska fishery communities, including recreational sport users, sport charters, and the commercial industry, for more than 20 years.

In Alaska, meanwhile, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, at its December meeting in Anchorage, reappointed all members of its scientific and statistical committee for another year term, and reappointed five others to the council’s advisory panel.

The five AP reappointees are Ruth Christiansen, Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, Seattle; Kurt Cochran, F/V Marathon and New Life, Siletz, OR; Alexus Kwachka, F/V No Point, Kodiak; Brian Lynch, Petersburg Vessel Owners Association, Petersburg, AK; and Jeff Kauffman, Central Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association, Wasilla, AK.

The council also appointed for three-year terms to its advisory panel Sinclair Wilt, Westward Seafoods, Anchorage, and Heath Hilyard, Southeast Alaska Guides Organization, Anchorage.

In addition, Patrick O’Donnell of Kodiak’s Golden West Fisheries was appointed for a special one-year term dealing with Gulf of Alaska fisheries.

Tom Enlow, of Unisea at Dutch Harbor, retired after 12 years on the advisory panel, nine of them as chairman.

A complete list of members of the advisory panel and scientific and statistical committee is online at the council website, www.npfmc.org