Alaska Attorney General Refuses to Defend Board of Fisheries, Colludes with Area
M and voids BOF regulations intended to protect Western Alaska salmon
Yesterday, the State Attorney General announced its action to void a set of February 2026 Alaska Board of Fisheries’ regulations to restrict the Area M fishery.
On April 3, 2026, Area M commercial fishing groups and the Aleutian East Borough filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify fishing restrictions adopted in February by the Board of Fisheries – alleging BOF members had undisclosed conflicts of interest. The regulations were a result of years of advocacy from communities across the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Bristol Bay, and Arctic regions who have experienced devastating salmon collapses.
“We strongly condemn Alaska’s Acting State Attorney General’s decision to void duly adopted Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) regulations restricting Area M chum and Chinook salmon harvest – without publicly presenting evidence, legal findings, or allowing the court process to play out,” said Martin Andrew, Chair, Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
“Our people are still suffering from the prolonged humanitarian crisis of the salmon crash. The momentum has been interrupted, and with this action, the window of hope is further diminishing. We have stood up for our region, but even so our efforts get silenced. The reality is, our rivers have no salmon – where does our region turn to now, to address these systemic inequities?” stated Vivian Korthuis, CEO of Association of Village Council Presidents.
Click link below for full press release:
About:
Association of Village Council Presidents: Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) is a regional non-profit tribal consortium comprising 56 federally recognized tribes of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. AVCP’s region is approximately 55,000 square miles, with a population of 27,000 residing in 48 communities along the Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, and Bering Sea coast. The residents of the region are primarily Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Athabascan. AVCP is dedicated to supporting the interests of its member tribes, including through community development, education, social services, culturally relevant programs, and advocacy. AVCP promotes self-determination and protection and enhancement of cultural and traditional values. As part of its mission, AVCP has long been committed to advocating for the protection of the Bering Sea and its resources.
