Bristol Bay fisheries management should continue this summer despite Gov. Bill Walker’s veto of about $47 million to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s operating budget.
On Tuesday, the governor vetoed much of the operating budget passed by the state Legislature this spring, because it didn’t have a funding source.
Jeff Regnart from Fish and Game’s division of commercial fisheries said the department is still drafting a summer management plan under the newest budget scenario, but that funding fisheries management in places like Bristol Bay will be a priority.
“We don’t exactly have the road mapped out for the next few months, but we acknowledge and are very aware of the size of the Bristol Bay fishery, how quickly it comes, and we’ll do our very best to make sure that the budget crunch, the budget issue, we’re going to try to minimize the impact on big industry in the salmon fisheries,” Regnart said.
Lawmakers are now negotiating a new operating budget and funding source.
Dillingham Rep. Bryce Edgmon said he thinks the Legislature will pass a budget before the new fiscal year starts in July, so those cuts won’t be realized.
“My colleagues both in the House and the Senate are working on this every day and we’re looking at every opportunity to find somewhere we can compromise,” Edgmon said. “So I’m fairly confident that we’ll get things resolved and hopefully that there won’t be any time off and hopefully that there won’t be any time off for anyone who’s, you know, a state employee.”
The Legislature is continuing its work on the budget in Anchorage.