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The 1995 Annual Meeting of the Alaska Chapter is rapidly coming together. This year's meeting will be at the Lake Lucille Inn and begin with registration and a short course on Monday, November 13, and continue through Thursday, November 16. Committee and EXCOM meetings will be 9:00-4:00 on Sunday, November 12, and an EXCOM retreat will follow the meeting on Friday morning. If you wish to present a paper but have not yet submitted a title and abstract, please do so before October 6. Contact the session chairs or the program chair for any additions to the program. Dana Schmidt, Program Chair, 2720 Set Net Court, Kenai, AK; 260-2909; Fax 262-7646; E-mail fishak@alaska.net.
This year's program highlights a number of timely topics. On Tuesday, guest speaker Dr. Carl Walters will present: Lessons for stock assessment from the Canadian northern cod collapse. New AFS National president Jack Wingate will also speak. Following that will be a special report on status of Southeast Alaska salmon stocks, and then two sessions assessing risks and benefits of aquaculture and potential habitat impacts from development. On Wednesday, a panel will address Turf battles or conservation wars: Jurisdictional conflicts in Alaska's fisheries management, followed by a session appraising management successes in western and central Alaska. On Thursday, focus will turn to marine fisheries, and the program will finish with a variety of contributed papers. The program printed in this issue has a preliminary list of speakers. Session chairs will inform speakers of actual times of presentations before the meeting.
We have arranged to use all 50 rooms at Lake Lucille Inn (3731776). For confirmed reservations, register at least 30 days in advance and indicate you are attending the American Fisheries Society meeting. Unreserved rooms will be released October 12. Rooms are $85 deluxe, $75 without view, and $10 for extra occupants. Additional lodging is available at the Matsu Resort (376-3228), a 5-minute drive from Lake Lucille Inn. Rooms are $45 economy, $55 deluxe, $75 suites, and $55 cabins. Morning and evening shuttles will be available between the hotels.
We arranged for discounted air fares on Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines. On Delta Airlines (1-800-241-6760), mention File Ref. #X-B-0295 to get 5% off published fares or 10% off normal fares. On Alaska Airlines (1-800-426-0333), mention File Ref. #CMR1199 for similar discounts. Contact local arrangements chair Larry Peltz (745-5016) if you can help with arrangements or have questions about the Wasilla area. If you need transportation from the airport, contact Larry for when a van will be available.
Kate Wedemeyer, President
The theme of the Chapter growing and maturing has come to mind repeatedly over the past few years. I am amazed at the scope of the changes since I began serving on the Chapter Executive Board in 1990. Last year, the Annual Meeting theme for our 21st "birthday" was The Alaska Chapter Coming of Age. Discussions of whether and how we combine science and advocacy were appropriate, and now, thanks to the many who contributed to the discussions, we have answered "Yes, the Chapter can (and should) be an advocate for the conservation of fisheries resources,as long as we do so by providing scientific information." The Chapter's new advocacy policy printed in this issue reflects that answer.
We have matured in other ways as well. We have five major ongoing projects totaling over a half million dollars,three symposium proceedings (Arctic Fish, Exxon Valdez, and Habitat Restoration), the Stocks at Risk Project, and the Key to Alaska Fishes publication. Each project has capable and dedicated Chapter members on its steering committee. Even so, each required a time extension, encountered cost overruns, or had to reduce its scope. The dedication of committee members is the principal force bringing the projects to fruition. Chapter finances have grown from a cash flow of under $25K per year in the 1980s to $200K in 1995, from one bank account to three accounts and two "endowments" (Noerenberg Award and Cultural Diversity Scholarship), and from no tax reporting to reporting yearly. As the Chapter enters this new phase of maturity, the EXCOM has come to understand that large projects can take unexpected turns.
The Fish Key is an example of how complicated these projects can become. The original estimate was $10K to help the author publish his life's work, a fish key that would be of immense value to fisheries biologists throughout Alaska. Sadly and unexpectedly, the author met an untimely death that left the project without a leader. A dedicated steering committee kept it going against great odds. Because we had a financial cushion, the EXCOM established a policy of "loaning" funds from our general accounts to keep the project going at times of low cash flow. Unfortunately, our accounting software was not up to the task of tracking transfers among multiple accounts. Some Fish Key bills were paid from general accounts, and this continued even after Fish Key grant money came in. After reviewing the books, our Treasurer found that the Chapter loan had grown over several years to $39K. Fortunately, the Fish Key steering committee was able to repay most of it.
The EXCOM has taken several steps to increase our financial sophistication and avoid future problems. We provide accounting training for each new Secretary-Treasurer, we have assigned check depositing and signing to separate persons, and we have upgraded the accounting software. The Fish Key account has been audited and is now in proper order. By this October, three of the five publications should be at the printers and an agreement signed to complete the Fish Key. To keep up with our maturing status as a Chapter, several members have begun to develop guidelines for projects of more than $15K. The guidelines can use input from all members, especially those with past "learning experience." Call me if you're able to put in your 2¢ worth on the committee!
From 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on November 13, before Annual Meeting registration at the Lake Lucille Inn in Wasilla, Dr. Carl Walters of the University of British Columbia will provide a one-day short course with a long title: Assessment and management strategies for fisheries with extreme stock size assessment errors and high variation in long-term production: moving toward refuge systems and risk management via limitation of exploitation rates. Sign up for the course on the registration form in this issue. Contact continuing education chair Mike Millard (456-0273) for more information.
Because of the dyslexia dementia of our Chapter's Webmaster, the Alaska Chapter's Home Page on the Internet is http://www.alaska.net/~fishak; NOT ~akfish as incorrectly reported in the last issue.
Jeff Booth, Fishery Biologist with USFWS in Soldotna, died approximately 3 weeks ago in a plane crash in the interior. Jeff was a fine biologist and even better educator. He will be missed by his colleagues and especially by the many children with whom he shared his sense of wonder about the aquatic environment and "neat fish and critters." Donations can be made to the Jeff Booth Memorial Fund for Fisheries Education (Account# 2100936) at National Bank of Alaska, Box 509, Soldotna 99669. Letters can be sent to his wife Rachel Booth, Box 1584, Soldotna 99669.
To increase the participation of minorities and women in fisheries sciences, travel awards have been established for them to attend the Chapter's Annual Meetings. Most minorities and women are in entrylevel positions and have few opportunities to participate in educational and professional gatherings like our Annual Meetings. The Cultural Diversity Committee, on behalf of the Chapter, is soliciting donations for establishing and maintaining these travel awards. To date, about $1,500 has been raised from the Chapter's 1994 Annual Meeting raffle and external contributions. You can help establish selfperpetuating funds to bring qualified minorities and women in contact with other fisheries professionals. Please contribute to the further development and advancement of fisheries science and practice by sending donations to: Travel Awards, Cultural Diversity Committee-J. Gordon, 101 12th Ave., Box 17, Rm. 222, Fairbanks, AK 99701. Please make checks out to "AFSAK Travel Awards." Your assistance and generosity are deeply appreciated.
Dear AFS colleagues: With deepest regret, I have resigned as Vice President of the Alaska Chapter. After a divorce this spring, I am very fortunate to have been granted custody of my three sons. However, I've found the time necessary to raise my three sons (ages 1, 2, and 5) precludes me from fulfilling the next office of President Elect. Because I cannot dedicate the time and energy necessary to uphold the duties of President Elect, I believe it is in the best interest of the Chapter that I resign. I have weighed this decision heavily, but this is the appropriate decision at this time in my life. You can be assured that I will remain a strong advocate for the Chapter, and my resignation does not diminish the importance I place on the Chapter for meeting the needs of fisheries professionals, fisheries resources, and aquatic habitats. I plan to continue serving the Chapter to the degree that my parental responsibilities allow.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Klein
The Chapter's Stocks at Risk Committee has submitted the manuscript Status of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead in Southeast Alaska to Fisheries for peer review. The paper is scheduled to be published next spring, along with results from a similar survey in British Columbia. The Alaska Chapter and the North Pacific International Chapter were funded by grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts and coordinated through National AFS. Both the Alaska and B.C. surveys went beyond tabulating stocks at risk, and analyzed all escapements in the regions. The Chapter contracted ADF&G to compile and analyze the data. The project originally had included all Alaska, but limited time and resources constrained it to Southeast. At the Annual Meeting, project manager Tim Baker will summarize findings, and Committee Chair Alex Wertheimer will moderate a session on what additional involvement the Chapter should have in evaluating status of Alaska's salmon resources.
The vote on the proposed changes to the Bylaws (ballot included in the last Oncorhynchus) was in favor of recognizing the Alaska Student Unit and establishing the Student Unit President as an EXCOM member.
The Alaska Chapter now has 475 members, composed of 353 active, 55 life, 8 retired, and 59 student members. Of these, 73 have not yet paid their 1995 National dues, and 110 have not paid Chapter dues. An additional 24 AFS members reside outside Alaska (15 states and provinces), pay Chapter dues, and receive the newsletter. Thirtyeight institutions, offices, and fisheries newsletters in 12 states receive complimentary copies of the newsletter.
Check your mailing label. For noninstitutional members, the fourdigit number at the top right tells if you're paid up. The first two digits are National dues; the second two are Chapter dues. The year shown is the year "paid through," which was updated from National in August. A "00" in the Chapter dues space means that you have not paid. If incorrect, contact Alan Johnson (4875969).
Theme: Alaska's Fisheries,Prospering or Imperiled?
Monday, November 13 - Thursday, November 16
Wasilla, Alaska
Monday
9:00 am-4:30 pm - Short Course by Dr. Carl Walters; 4:30-8:00 pm - Registration; 6:00-8:00 pm - Poster Session and Social with Refreshments. Posters will be available through Tuesday evening. Posters contributed to date: Evaluation of access-related development impacts on salmonid habitat in the Kenai River, Mary Whalen, Carl Burger, and Leslie Holland-Bartels; The relationship of the Chena River Lakes flood control dam to the outmigration of juvenile salmon, Brent Peterson and Mike Daigneault; Biological reference points for weathervane scallops, Gordon Kruse and Fritz Funk; A proposed GIS-based fisheries information management system, Steve Davis, James Bryan, and Peggy Kircher; Proposed telemetry studies on Yukon River salmon returns, John Eiler and Michael Millard; Kids and fish: a natural connection, Laurel Devaney and Belle Mickelson.
Tuesday
Morning: 8:00 - Registration continues; 8:30- Plenary Session, Jack Wingate and Carl Walters; 10:00 - Special Report: Stocks at Risk; Introduction, Alex Wertheimer; Status of Pacific salmon and steelhead escapements in Southeast Alaska, Tim Baker; 10:30-12:00 - Aquaculture,Risks Associated with Adding Value to Fisheries, Gary Fandrei, Chair; Experience of the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association in self marketing and value-added salmon products, Donald Amend; Risks and benefits associated with stocking and fertilizing barriered lakes, Bruce Bachen and Richard Crone; Disease risks associated with enhancement projects, Jill Follet; Packer's Lake: Effect of past and present enhancement activities on the lake environment, Jeff Hetrick and Gary Fandrei. 12:00 - Special luncheon Salmon stock assessment and escapement estimation workshop planning with Hal Geiger.
Afternoon: 1:30-5:00 - Special Panel Session - Fish Habitat in Alaska,Prospering or Imperiled? Bill Hauser, Chair; Introduction and overview, Bill Hauser; Status report on salmon habitat in the Lower 48, Phil Mundy; The extent of logging activity in Southcentral Alaska and potential impacts to fish habitat, Steve Albert; Logging practices: impacts on fish habitat and marine interactions, Fred Everest; Expected effects of mining practices in Alaska, Phil North; Expected effects of wetlands development in Alaska, Larry Reeder; Balancing economic development with aquatic habitat protection: a legislator's perspective, Sen. Drue Pearce; Reasonable development and aquatic habitat protection: a permitter's perspective, Janet Kowalski; Panel discussion, all speakers, What are we doing in Alaska that is different (better?) than was done in the Lower 48?
Evening: 7:00-8:00 - No-host cocktail hour and hands-on demonstration: Fishing the Internet, with an introduction to Windows 95. A brief introduction to electronic information available to the fisheries biologist, along with how to get on the Internet to use WEB browsers and e-mail.
Wednesday
Morning: 8:30 - Panel Discussion: Turf Battles or Conservation Wars: Jurisdictional Conflicts in Alaska's Fisheries Management,Do They Threaten the Conservation of Alaska's Fisheries Resources? Doug Eggers, moderator; Columbia River jurisdictional conflicts,a lesson or a prediction? Phil Mundy; State of Alaska perspective on implementation problems with Federal delegation of management authority to the State of Alaska for EEZ fisheries, Earl Krygier; Federal government perspective on implementation problems with Federal delegation of management authority to the State of Alaska for EEZ fisheries, Sue Salveson; Bifurcation of groundfish fishery management at the 3-mile boundary,opportunity for Alaskan coastal communities, Denby Lloyd; Development of an international fishery management regime for the central Bering Sea pollock fishery; Doug Eggers; Sport and charter boat/IFQ holder conflicts in the Pacific halibut fishery, Doug Vincent-Lang; Equity issues in US/Canada Treaty implementation, Jeff Koenings; Managing for sustained yield and/or biological diversity under the Endangered Species Act, Jim Seeb; Recent developments in Federal/State jurisdictional roles in interior salmon fisheries, Tina Cunning; Legal issues associated with Federal/State jurisdictional roles in interior salmon fisheries, Joanne Grace.
Afternoon: 1:00-3:20 - Successes and Failures in the Management of Central and Western Alaska's Salmon Fisheries, Hal Geiger, Chair; Fisheries partnerships on the Kuskokwim, Doug Molyneaux; Successes and failures of the Tuluksak and Kwethluk River weirs, Ken Harper; Cooperative fishery management on the Yukon, Dan Senecal-Albrecht; Genetic stock composition of chum salmon from the Yukon River District 5 subsistence fishery, Bill Spearman; Success or failure in resolving the issue of Cook Inlet sockeye salmon interceptions in the Kodiak Management Area? Linda Brannian; Why have we failed to achieve pink salmon escapement in northwestern Prince William Sound? Dan Sharp, William Templin, and Hal Geiger; Aleutian salmon: the rest of the story, Pat Holmes; 3:30-5:00 - Business meeting.
Evening: 6:00-9:00 - Banquet with entertainment, raffle, and door prizes.
Thursday
Morning: 8:00-12:00 - Management and Biology of Alaska's Fisheries of Our Marine Ecosystems, Margaret Murphy, Chair; Pilot studies on the effects of sea otter predation on Dungeness crab: Can these species coexist? Gretchen Bishop, Thomas Shirley, and James Taggart; Alternative rebuilding strategies for the red king crab fishery in Bristol Bay, Jie Zheng, Margaret Murphy, and Gordon Kruse; Patterns in the decline of shrimp in the Gulf of Alaska in the 1970s and 80s, James Blackburn; Catch patterns in the Bering Sea: Templates for area closures, David Ackley; The red sea urchin test fishery of Southeast Alaska: a successful blend of agency and industry participation, Tim Minicucci, Doug Woodby, and Robert Larson; Lost-pot ghost fishing in Chiniak Bay: An initial attempt at assessment, Ivan Vining, William Donaldson, and Bradley Stevens; Assessing the ages of geoducks in Southeast Alaska with thin sections of shell hinges, Peter Hagen and Michael Jaenicke; Postlarval red king crab density dependence in artificial collectors, Kodiak, Margaret Murphy and Forrest Blau.
Afternoon: 1:30-3:00 - Contributed Papers, Stephen Fried, Chair; Biological benefits and consequences of spill for protected salmonid stocks of the Snake River: Can spill for fish live up to its assumptions? Chris Pinney; Features of Arctic grayling overwintering habitat in the lower Saganvanirktok River, David Trudgeon, William Wilson, and Larry R. Martin; (Titles are not yet available for several additional presentations); 4:00 - Adjourn.
The ballot for officers this year is longer than usual because of Steve Klein's resignation as Vice President/President Elect. Chapter Bylaws require an election to fill the vacant position. The candidates are Joe Sullivan and Mason Bryant for Vice President and Peggy Merritt and Phil Rigby for President Elect. All ballots must be original Oncorhynchus ballots. No photo copies allowed.
Joseph R. Sullivan
Joe graduated from Auburn University in 1977 with a Ph.D. in fisheries and allied aquaculture with a specialty in fish diseases and parasites. Joe began his career with the ADF&G as a fish pathologist with the old FRED Division and currently serves as Resource Program Manager for ADF&G's Exxon Valdez oil spill restoration projects. Joe has been with the Chapter since 1980 and has been actively involved in Annual Meetings. He has presented several papers, made accommodations and preparations for local arrangements, chaired a session on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and has attended and participated in about half the Annual Meetings since 1980. Joe has also been a long-time member of the Fish Health and Fish Culture Sections of AFS. He has served as editor of the Fish Health Section Newsletter, has been Secretary-Treasurer and Chair of the Board of Certification, has been certified as a Fish Health Inspector and Fish Pathologist, and represented the Section at its Executive Committee meeting in Anchorage. Joe has not held an elected Chapter office before and welcomes the opportunity to do so.
Joe believes that Alaska's fisheries resources would benefit from a Continuing Education program for the managers, protectors, and developers of those resources. He would like to see the Chapter, in association with the University of Alaska, sponsor general fisheries short courses for university credit at opportune times of the year, particularly in places which may have small temporal windows of opportunity for continuing education, but potentially large numbers of students (e.g., Cordova). The Chapter could provide the University system with a suite of capable members qualified to teach these courses and pursue an educational outreach program for fisheries workers of this state.
Joe is interested in the demographics of who we have in our organization and how well different segments of the fisheries field are represented. He would like for us to be as broadly based as possible and would conduct a survey to determine how true this might be. Joe would then try to encourage membership from under-represented segments of the fisheries community.
Mason D. Bryant
Mason (Buck) Bryant received a B.A. from the University of Vermont in 1967, an M.S. from the University of Maine in 1972, and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1976. He has worked for the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Aquatic/Land Interactions Research Program in Juneau since 1976. His research interests and projects include ecology of salmonids in streams, response of juvenile salmonids to stream channel morphology and riparian habitat, and interactions of juvenile anadromous salmonids and resident trout. Buck has been a member of AFS since 1971 and is a Certified Fisheries Scientist. His committee assignments have included Resolutions, Environmental Concerns, Publications Review, Professional Certification, and Alaska Chapter Riparian Habitat.
"AFS is a professional organization, and its primary goal is to promote the professional development of its members through scientific and technical exchange and professional education. The individual Chapters of AFS are the primary resource for this for most members. Chapter meetings and continuing education programs provide the most visible mechanism for the Chapter. The credibility of the organization depends upon the professional expertise of its membership and upon the participation of its membership. My goals for the Chapter are to continue the growth of the continuing education program; increase access to Chapter meetings to all members; and increase participation in the development of the Chapter. The Chapter represents a diverse professional membership that includes management and research biologists from marine fisheries,including shellfish,to freshwater fisheries and aquatic habitat and a geographic range that is equally diverse. The Chapter, through its meetings and internal communication, needs to encourage and support this diversity. In the final analysis, this depends upon the participation of individuals.
The Alaska Chapter is the primary professional society advocate for aquatic resources in Alaska. The responsibility of the Society is to the resource and not to 'interest groups.' The best advocate position is scientifically sound information presented in a clear and unbiased format. Resolutions and positions must be based on sound science."
Peggy Merritt
Peggy Merritt brings to her candidacy experience in marine and freshwater fisheries, including finfish and shellfish research and management. She has been with ADF&G for 18 years and has worked for the Sport, Commercial, and FRED Divisions in locations across Alaska from Juneau to Kotzebue. She has been the Research Supervisor for Region III Sport Fish Division in Fairbanks since 1989. Her diverse experiences have familiarized her with fisheries issues and stakeholder concerns statewide. Peggy received a B.S. from the University of California, an M.S. from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. in Fisheries from the University of Alaska where her studies focused on decision analysis applied to complex fishery management problems. Her recent studies included catchage analysis, habitat suitability models, and cost/benefit models for prioritizing budget requests. She has published several papers in peerreviewed journals.
Peggy has been a member of AFS for 10 years and has presented papers and served as session chair at annual Chapter meetings. She is also a member of the American Statistical Association and the Resource Modelers Association. As affiliate assistant professor of fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she serves on a graduate committee and guest lectures.
"I am motivated to seek office by my belief in the strength the Chapter can have in shaping Alaska's future fisheries resources and their use. I would like to continue to improve our Chapter's credibility in order to increase membership. By increasing and diversifying membership, new areas of expertise will contribute to understanding diverse points of view, promote cooperation and teamwork through association, and strengthen our ability to achieve Chapter objectives. I would like to see the Chapter advance forums to define fisheries problems and feasible options. The Chapter can also help evaluate progress toward problem resolution. I believe in continuing education to support member growth and thereby contribute to the Chapter's professionalism. Most important to the future of Alaska's fisheries is the integration of biological information, management advice, economic measures, and public opinion in proposing an optimal fisheries policy."
Phil Rigby
My fisheries work experience began in Kodiak in 1964 with a summer job setnetting and several summer jobs with ADF&G before graduating from the University of Alaska in 1969 (B.S. in wildlife management). As a biologist, I have worked for ADF&G since 1970 on a number of shellfish, salmon, and groundfish research and management projects. Between 1978 and 1985, I was the Department's Groundfish Research Coordinator and since that time have worked for the Commercial Fisheries Management and Development Division's Chief Fisheries Scientist. I was an original member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's groundfish plan team and am presently a member of the council's Scientific and Statistical Committee. Continuing my formal educational along a different tack, I received an MPA from the University of Alaska Southeast in 1993. Two of my interests are the continued collection and preservation of Alaska's basic fishery data and resource policy development.
On short notice I have agreed to run for President Elect of the Alaska Chapter. It is with mixed emotions that I have done so, thinking about balancing various job-related and personal obligations. However, if elected I will devote the necessary time and effort as an opportunity to give something back to the Chapter and to Alaska fisheries. The productivity of Alaska fisheries resources and the relative success of fishery management programs has enhanced Alaska's image; while at the same time, some allocational and management issues have received national and international attention and have placed Alaska research and management programs under scrutiny. A large and diverse group of fisheries professionals deserve credit for Alaska's successes; yet the job of providing healthy fisheries resources and assisting in the resolution of allocation issues is becoming more difficult. Under such conditions, it is easy to focus on differing agency, cultural, and technical perspectives within Alaska's professional community. One function performed by the Alaska Chapter has been to provide some common ground and a bridge among professionals who often share very different views. It is this aspect of the Chapter on which I would like to focus my efforts. The chapter's present approach with technical workshops and issue-related forums provides opportunities to exchange ideas at the annual meeting. I would also like to explore other ways of increasing this exchange.
Officer Ballot
For Alaska Chapter Vice President and President Elect. Please vote for one for each office. Cut off ballot (must be original) and mail in a stamped envelope to: Kate Wedemeyer, 1941 Hamilton Dr., Anchorage 99515. Ballots must be postmarked by October 31 to be counted.
Vice President (mark one):
____Mason Bryant ____Joe Sullivan ____Write-in_____________________
President Elect (mark one):
____Peggy Merritt ____Phil Rigby ____Write-in_____________________
Kate Wedemeyer, President
Advocacy for the conservation of fisheries resources has taken on increasing importance at both the National and Chapter levels. The Chapter EXCOM is proud to announce an advocacy policy and guidelines published in this issue. The guidelines are to ensure that we actively and accurately represent the Chapter's concerns. Because the guidelines emphasize using scientific information and making sure positions are representative of the whole Chapter, advocacy actions will actually require more thought and effort than merely stating an opinion. But they will ensure that we maintain our credibility as a sciencebased professional society. Thanks to Rod Simmons and Bill Bechtol for drafting the policy, to Bill Wilson and the Past President's Committee for their thorough review, and the EXCOM for final review, and approval.
Preamble: In response to a general decline in natural diversity of many aquatic systems in North America, the American Fisheries Society has become increasingly proactive in protecting aquatic habitats and fish resources. The Society has developed positions on several national issues including wetlands legislation, reauthorization of the Magnuson Act, and mining law reform, and has published 30 official Policy Statements on a wide range of habitat, environmental, and fisheries issues. On these issues of relevance to fisheries and aquatic resources, the Society has provided legislators and other policy makers with information relevant to the decision making process.
The more than 450 members of the Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society represent a wide breadth of knowledge and experience in the field of aquatic science. Adoption of an advocacy procedure will guide the Chapter in using the expertise of its membership to provide sciencebased information to influence public policy on fisheries and aquatic habitat issues.
The following procedures are recommended to guide the Chapter in adopting advocacy positions on fisheries and aquatic resource issues. Any aquatic resource issue, in Alaska, North America, or the world, may be addressed by the Chapter. The positions taken by the Chapter are suggested by members, reviewed by the Environmental Concerns Committee, approved by the Chapter's Executive Committee and/or membership and then appropriate action is taken.
The Alaska Chapter recognizes that sciencebased information is critically important to the issue resolution process, and must be provided in a timely manner. The Chapter is committed to a policy of supporting our fisheries resources and intends to help resolve aquatic habitat and fisheries issues objectively and based on the best available scientific information.
Policy: The Alaska Chapter will publicly champion an aquatic habitat or fisheries issue if the following criteria are met: 1) The issue is pertinent to conservation of aquatic resources and habitats; 2) The issue is supported by two-thirds of the Chapter membership or unanimous consensus of the Executive Committee; 3) The Chapter can provide relevant, sciencebased information to help resolve the issue; 4) Minority opinions are solicited and included in the advocacy materials released to the public; and 5) The Chapter commits to maintain involvement in the issue until it is resolved.
The following actions may be taken by the Chapter to provide information for resolution of aquatic habitat or fisheries issues: 1) Provide written comments, recommendations, or letters to public or private policy bodies; 2) Draft and publish Chapter resolutions; 3) Prepare position or policy papers; 4) Testify at public hearings, legislative committee meetings, scientific meetings, or other forums; 5) Prepare media releases or letters to printed media editors; 6) Sponsor workshops or symposia; and 7) Prepare and file "amicus curiae" or other briefs in legal proceedings.
Procedures: The following steps shall be taken by the Chapter when a decision has been made to take a public position on an aquatic habitat or fisheries issue: 1) An Alaska Chapter member or committee raises a concern or issue through a written Request for Action submitted to the Environmental Concerns Committee. The Request for Action shall include the following information: a) A description of the issue of concern; b) Scientific information that describes how aquatic resources will be affected by the identified issue of concern; c) The action requested of the Chapter; d) A list of individuals or organizations, including addresses and phones/faxes, to whom the requested Chapter action is to be directed; e) A list of resources the Chapter can bring to help resolve the issue; f) A minority viewpoint on the issue; and g) The date by which the Chapter advocacy action must occur to be effective. 2) The Environmental Concerns Committee may deny the Request for Action or may return the Request for Action to the member or committee if additional information is needed; see Modification or Denial steps below. An approved Request for Action is forwarded to the Executive Committee. 3) The Executive Committee reviews the Request for Action and determines if the proposed action is consistent with policy. This review includes determination if, given the urgency of the concern and potential effects of the proposed action, the issue warrants review by the full membership. 4) If full membership review is warranted, the Environmental Concerns Committee either publishes the Request for Action in the next Oncorhynchus; immediately distributes the Request for Action to all members, along with a questionnaire requesting comments and recommendations by a specific date; or takes a phone poll of a random sample of members. Comments received are compiled by the Environmental Concerns Committee and addressed by the originator of the Request for Action or by the Executive Committee. If necessary, a revised Request for Action is prepared based upon review comments received. Another review process may be required before action can be taken. A two-thirds majority is required to take the proposed action. 5) If full membership review of the Request for Action is not warranted due to the issue and/or time constraints, the Executive Committee will obtain comments and advice from peer reviewers from within or outside the Chapter membership. 6) The Executive Committee takes the requested action. 7) Action taken by the Executive Committee is published in the next issue of Oncorhynchus. The Environmental Concerns Committee tracks the progress of the issue of concern, and periodically updates the membership in Oncorhynchus.
Modification or Denial of a Request for Action: The Environmental Concerns Committee or the Executive Committee may deny a Request for Action. If a Request for Action requires additional information or other modification before action can be taken, it may be returned to the originator for revision. The following steps describe this process: 1) If the Executive Committee determines the Request for Action is not consistent with Chapter or Society policy, the Request for Action may be denied. 2) If the Environmental Concerns Committee or Executive Committee determines the Request for Action requires revision before further formal review, that committee may work with the originator to modify the Request for Action. 3) If the originator does not concur with the above procedures, the Request for Action may be denied. 4) For any Request for Action that is denied, the acting committee shall issue a written statement to the originator explaining the denial. 5) When a Request for Action is denied and the originator believes the Chapter should take action, the originator shall be encouraged to place the issue before the membership as a written position in Oncorhynchus and in a debate at the next Chapter Annual Meeting. The final outcome of debated issues will be decided by two-thirds majority of the members present at that annual Chapter business meeting.