1. How anyone can participate in the regulatory process

2.  The Board of Fisheries (BOF)
 7 members with 3 year terms
 Appointed by Governor
 Confirmed by legislature
 Meets every year
 Has 3 year cycle
 Decides on how resource is allocated to user groups

3.  The BOF meets in a 3 year cycle
 They meet every year but not for every region of the
state
 In the 3 year cycle the cover all of the regions and
fisheries
 Under exceptional circumstances they will consider
proposals out of cycle
 The Bristol Bay meeting will be this December

4.  There are 82 Advisory Committees (AC)
 They provide local knowledge and expertise on
issues
 They also provide a local forum to discuss issues
 Their testimony is important in the BOF process

5.  AC’s meet generally once a year in Bristol Bay
 They get reports form the department and other
agencies
 Members are elected by the public
 They can generate proposals for BOF or Board of
Game

6.  The AC is likely to generate proposals
 The AC comments on all relevant proposals
 The AC provides written testimony to the BOF
 The AC may send a rep to provide oral testimony
to the BOF and participate in the meeting

7.  Any individual or group can submit a proposal
 The proposals can change regulations
 Statutes are changed by the legislature
 View the form in reading materials as well as
example proposals

8.  Proposals are solicited with a call for proposals
 Proposals need to be submitted by the deadline
usually in the spring
 Proposals are sorted to the appropriate area
 Area M, Bristol Bay, AYK,
 Department staff are given the proposals to
comment on

9.  The Department submits written reports and
written proposal comments to the BOF
 Individuals or groups are also welcome to submit
written comments
 All comments are public record

10.  The BOF meeting begins with department oral
reports
 The next part of the meeting is public testimony
 The BOF then can form committees to discuss
proposals by groups e.g. herring, sport fish
 The BOF can hear proposals as committee of the
whole

11.  Committees consist of members of the public and
members of the BOF
 Public signs up to be on committees and the BOF
selects individuals trying to get a representative
from all stakeholders
 The committee meets and discusses the proposals
assigned to it

12.  The committee may reach consensus or not
 They may make a recommendation to the BOF
or not
 The department writes a report with the Board
members for public distribution
 Public can comment on the reports

13.  After the committee reports are out the BOF will
decide on proposals
 The BOF has a formal public meeting
 Each proposal is introduced
 The BOF members discuss and debate the
proposals
 Then vote to approve, or amend and approve

14.  If a proposal is not approved that is it
 If a proposals is approved or amended and
approved
 Staff and department of law work to get the
correct language into regulation.
 The BOF approves the idea but the specific
language that is in regulation can take some
work

15.  The public may submit written and oral
comments
 The public may also talk with and lobby
individual BOF members
 The committee process is also an important
place to advocate for or against proposals
 A proposal opens any regulation to debate

16.  Once a proposal brings up a regulation for debate
 Proposal can be amended to do anything with
regulation
 Example 2009: Proposal remove protection for Togiak
District Bristol Bay
 Protection prevents permit holders from transferring
into Togiak prior to July 24
 The proposal was amended such that the protection
was extended until July 27