Federal Subsistence Board approves changes to Federal subsistence regulations

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) met February 3 - 7, 2025 to consider proposed changes to Federal subsistence fishing and shellfish regulations, two wildlife proposals, and a proposal to reconsider the nonrural status of the community of Ketchikan. The Board also conducted Tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation consultations on regulatory proposals, closure reviews, and other issues of importance.

After hearing staff analyses and comments from the public, Regional Advisory Councils, Tribes and ANCSA Corporations, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Interagency Staff Committee, the Board adopted 12 out of the 21 proposals and deferred 3 proposals. The Board acted on four fisheries closure reviews, voting to maintain status quo on three of them.

No changes will take effect until they are published in the Federal Register. Once the changes are published, some of the more significant decisions that will be implemented in the 2025–2027 regulatory years (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2027), included:

• The change of the status of Ketchikan Area to rural for subsistence purposes. (NDP25-01)
• The addition of fishing gear types in the Bristol Bay Area and within the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. (FP25-11 and FP25-14, respectively)
• The restriction of gear types to rod and reel for subsistence in the previously closed to subsistence areas of Afognak Bay and Delta River. (FP25-05 and FP25-17, respectively)
• The restriction of gear types and specification of harvest limits for salmon in Russel Creek and Trout Creek in the Alaska Peninsula Area. (FP25-07)
• An adjustment to allow the use kegs or buoys of any color (including red) to mark subsistence gear in all fisheries management areas of the state except the Kotzebue and Norton Sound-Port Clarence areas. (FP25-09)
• The prioritization of communities eligible to hunt caribou under Federal subsistence regulations in portions of Units 11, 12, & 13 in a may be announced season once a harvestable surplus becomes available. (WP25-01)
   

The Board deferred fisheries proposal FP25-01 requesting salmon seasons, gear types, and harvest limits in the Taku River. This deferral gives staff time to work with the Transboundary River Panel and Pacific Salmon Commission on a recommendation for this cross-jurisdictional fishery.

The Board deferred action on fisheries proposal FP25-02 requesting a closure of the Unuk River to non-federally qualified users. The adoption of NDP25-01 substantially changed the information that the Board was provided on this proposal, and the deferral gives staff time to adjust the analysis and the Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council an opportunity to provide recommendations on the update analysis.

The Board again deferred wildlife proposal WP24-01 requesting the sale of brown bear hides statewide until the Board’s summer 2025 work session. This deferral gives the Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils an opportunity to provide recommendations on the updated analysis.

Lastly, the Board approved a revision of the Federal Subsistence Board Meeting Guidelines and confirmed the 2025 Summer work session to take place on July 23 & 24, 2025.

Transcripts from the February 4 - 7 meeting will be posted at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/library/transcripts/federal-subsistence-board when available.

Information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

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News Release