Alaska

The Commission:

  • Name: Alaska Boards of Game and Fisheries
  • Regulatory or advisory: Regulatory
  • Number of voting members: 7 on each board
  • Term length: 3 years
  • How selected: Appointed by Governor
  • Senate confirmation required: Yes
  • Selection criteria per statute:

“The governor shall appoint each member on the basis of interest in public affairs, good judgment, knowledge, and ability in the field of action of the board, and with a view to providing diversity of interest and points of view in the membership. The appointed members shall be residents of the state and shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or geographical location of residence.”

“The Board of Game‘s main role is to conserve and develop Alaska’s wildlife resources. This includes establishing open and closed seasons, areas for taking game, setting bag limits, and regulating methods and means. The board is also involved with setting policy and direction for the management of the state’s wildlife resources. The board is charged with making allocative decisions, and the Department of Fish and Game is responsible for management based on those decisions.”

“The Board of Fisheries‘s main role is to conserve and develop the fishery resources of the state. This involves setting seasons, bag limits, methods and means for the state’s subsistence, commercial, sport, guided sport, and personal use fisheries, and it also involves setting policy and direction for the management of the state’s fishery resources. The board is charged with making allocative decisions, and the department is responsible for management based on those decisions.”

The Agency:

  • Name: Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • Type: Standalone agency
  • Title of Agency Director: Commissioner
  • Mission statement from agency website:

“To protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the state, and manage their use and development in the best interest of the economy and the well-being of the people of the state, consistent with the sustained yield principle.”

Revenues for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, FY2021:

† Other: Interagency Receipts (8.5%), EVOSS (0.8%), IA/OIL HAZ (0.04%), Capital Improvement Project Receipts (1.6%), Statutory Designated Program (2.8%), SFEntAcct (0.3%)

Source: State of Alaska FY2023 Governor’s Operating Budget, Department of Fish and Game

Find Your State

America’s Wildlife Values was an extensive 2018 nationwide survey led by Colorado State University of public attitudes towards wildlife. Findings were compared with a 2004 survey to identify trends. Researchers also surveyed personnel at state wildlife agencies. Reports are available for national, state and agency results. (Some state agencies did not participate.)

State Report

Agency Culture Memo

National Report