May 21, 2026 Matt Alward, UFA President
For Immediate Release (907) 586-2820
Juneau, Alaska- United Fishermen of Alaska Applauds Acting Attorney General’s Decision to Void Board of Fisheries Actions That Impacted Area M
United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA) strongly supports the decision by the acting Alaska Attorney General to void Board of Fisheries (Board) decisions on Area M salmon proposals 126, 127, 141, 147, and 148 that were adopted at the February 2026 Area M Board meeting.
Immediately after the conclusion of that meeting, a formal complaint was filed to the AG’s office alleging the Board ignored conflict of interest rules by allowing conflicted members to deliberate and vote on proposals. This complaint was the result of an entire region of the state and six native tribes organizing to sue both the Board and file ethics complaints based on ethics violations and process related issues.
Representative Louise Stutes and impacted communities, stakeholders, and tribes are calling on the Alaska Legislature and the Office of the Governor to commission an independent, public review of the Board’s adherence to its own policies, ethics disclosure requirements, public process obligations, and to deliver enforceable recommendations to the Legislature and the public.
“UFA is thrilled to see the Area M Board of Fisheries proposals dismissed. It was the right call by the acting Attorney General. This is the first time in Alaska’s history that the AG has disapproved regulations adopted by the Board,” said UFA President Matt Alward.
“We are eagerly awaiting an independent audit of the Board’s adherence to its own policies, and also the results of the additional complaints submitted to the AG from meetings following the Area M meeting.”