National Park Service officials have issued a final rule amending their regulations for hunting and trapping in Alaska’s national preserves, removing prohibitions adopted in 2015 on harvest practices otherwise permitted by the state and federal law.
“The amended rule will support the department’s interest in advancing wildlife conservation goals and objectives, and in ensuring the state of Alaska’s proper management of hunting and trapping in our national preserves, as specified in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA),” said NPS Deputy Director David Vela. “It will also more closely align hunting and trapping regulations with those established by the state of Alaska by providing more consistency with harvest regulations between federal and surrounding non-federal lands and waters.”
The National Park Service announcement of Wednesday, May 20, drew kudos from Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Alaska’s congressional delegation, and the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
Dunleavy said the announcement “confirms the sovereign authorities the state has with respect to managing wildlife on our national preserve lands.”
“This is a step towards acknowledging Alaska’s rightful control over fish and wildlife resources all across the state,” he said.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chair of the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee, said the final rule protects Alaska’s hunting and fishing traditions and upholds longstanding states’ rights, by bringing into alignment with Alaska’s statues and regulations, and by restoring the state’s authority to determine best practices for wildlife management on all Alaska lands.
According to Victor Joseph, chief and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, the previous rule was implemented without adequate tribal consultation, in disregard to rural Alaska’s dependence on wild food resources.
“The previous limitations enacted in 2015 threatened our way of life and our centuries long sustainable management practices,” Joseph said.
The Tanana Chiefs Conference, which represents 42 member tribes in Alaska’s Interior, supports these revisions, he said.
