Statewide BOF Meeting: Day three

Thursday March 19, 2026 — The Board of Fisheries (BOF), with a plethora of public testimony, has been running a bit behind the Tentative Agenda provided for the meeting. However, public testimony concluded this afternoon and the Board worked through the Committee of the Whole process where anyone in attendance could provide new information on Group 1 (Commercial) proposals. After completing Group of the Whole public participation for Group 1, it was announced this evening that any new RCs (record copies) should be submitted by 8 a.m. for distribution on Friday morning. Announcing a change from the Tentative Agenda, BOF Chair Marit Carlson-Van Dort announced that the board deliberations on Group 1 proposals would start at 9 a.m. Friday March 20, 2026. Proposal 186 (seeking change of the Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan for Northern Cook Inlet coho salmon conservation) is in Group 1, however, 10 proposals will be heard before 186 —including 4 proposals about trawling in State of Alaska waters. Depending upon how quickly the BOF works through proposals it is possible the BOF could finish deliberations on Group 1 proposals before the lunch break. In addition to attending the meeting in person to watch board decisions in real-time, anyone with computer internet access may also watch and hear the decisions being made through clicking on a red YouTube link found on the following Alaska Department of Fish and Game webpage starting at 9 a.m. or shortly after on Friday March 20: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.main

Feel welcome to join some of the Matanuska - Susitna Borough staff and Fish and Wildlife Commission members in witnessing the outcome(s). Thank You to all who have participated in this Board of Fisheries process for this meeting, and I hope we can celebrate enough coho salmon returning to Northern Cook Inlet and Mat-Su streams to attain all of our coho and sockeye salmon sustainable spawning escapement goals during the 2026 season!