Fish Factor: Controversial selections to state Board of Fisheries to get legislative hearing in early fall; public comments being accepted

Governor Dunleavy’s controversial selections to the state Board of Fisheries (BOF) will get a legislative hearing in early fall and the call is out for public comments.

The board oversees management of the state’s subsistence, commercial, sport and personal use fisheries. Appointments were made on April 1 and would normally go through a vigorous vetting process by the Alaska legislature with public input. But COVID-19 sent lawmakers home early from the last session, leaving the confirmation process in limbo.

Now, Representative Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) has set the date for a hearing.

“I tried...