Home cooking for fish board

March 30' 2007

By MATT TUNSETH

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Gov. Sarah Palin has named a retired fisheries biologist from Big Lake to serve on the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Howard Delo, who currently serves as chair of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee, was tabbed Thursday to fill one of two vacancies on the board, which sets regulations and makes allocative decisions for fisheries statewide.

Also named to the seven-member board on Thursday was Vince Webster of King Salmon.

Palin said Delo's history of close involvement in fisheries management issues will make him a great addition to the board.

“We're very honored he's willing to serve,” Palin said.

Palin is an advocate of managing Alaska's fisheries for abundance, and said she believes Delo will help further her goal of reducing conflicts between user groups.

“Howard has a grasp of the need to manage Alaska's resources for abundance so there are not the squabbles between user groups,” Palin said.

Delo was named to fill the seat previously held by outgoing board vice chair Art Nelson of Anchorage. Webster will fill the seat previously held by Robert Heyano of Dillingham. The other members of the board are Jeremiah Campbell of Seward, Larry Edfelt of Auke Bay, Bonnie Williams of Fairbanks, John Jensen of Petersburg and Chairman Mel Morris of Kodiak.

According to a press release issued by the governor's office, Webster is the co-chair of the Naknek/Kvichak Fish and Game Advisory Committee. He works for the Lake and Peninsula School District as facilities and maintenance director and is a recreational hunter and fisherman.

An avid hunter and fisherman who retired from the Department of Fish and Game in 1999 after 21 years of service, Delo is now an educator who teachers classes on hunting, bowhunting and boating safety. He holds a master's degree in wildlife management from the University of Maine, and also writes a weekly outdoors column for the Frontiersman.

Palin, who is from Wasilla, said it was important to her to name someone from Mat-Su to the board.

“We want fairness and to have all regions represented,” she said.

Wasilla's Cliff Judkins is the current chair of the Alaska Board of Game and preceded Delo as chair of the local fish and game advisory committee. He said he believes Delo is a strong choice both because of his knowledge of the issues and a willingness to keep an open mind.

“I think it's what you need on these boards is someone who isn't biased either way,” Judkins said.

As for Delo's Mat-Su connection, Judkins said the addition of a Valley representative is something that's needed on the board.

“There's a lot of users up here, both sport and commercial,” he said.

Judkins said he believes the choice of Delo was the right one.

“I think he'll do a great job,” Judkins said. “He'll represent the Valley really well.”

Both Delo and Webster must still be confirmed by the Legislature before officially taking their seats. Once confirmed, each will serve a three-year term on the board.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com