For years, the Federal Subsistence Board—a body of federal bureaucrats—has increasingly shut down federal public lands in Alaska to all but local, rural hunters.  The Board has ignored science provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and exceeded the scope of the authority to close non-subsistence hunting provided under federal law.

SCI is calling on members like you to support key reforms to strengthen Alaska’s Federal subsistence management program and ensure fair, science-based wildlife management. 

The goal of these reforms is straightforward: improve the Federal Subsistence Board’s decision-making so that federal management is transparent, grounded in science, and true to the intent of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).  These reforms do not eliminate or erode the rural subsistence priority.  That can only be changed by Congress.  Instead, SCI’s suggested reforms focus on making the federal subsistence program more effective and equitable for everyone who depends on Alaska’s wildlife resources.

SCI is urging the Department of the Interior to act on several key improvements, including:

• Returning membership of the Federal Subsistence Board to the five land management agency representatives, strengthening the legal foundation of its decisions;
• Enhancing Regional Advisory Councils so that local Alaskans—subsistence, sport, and commercial users—have stronger regional representation instead of prioritizing the preferences of DC-based bureaucrats;
• Ensuring federal decisions rely on State science and expertise, the backbone of effective wildlife management;
• Eliminating duplicative regulations that create confusion and unnecessary red tape; and
• Limiting the misuse of “emergency” and “temporary” special actions that bypass public involvement and maintain closures to all but local users well after any “emergency” has passed.
   

These improvements will support sustainable wildlife management, promote the conservation of fish and wildlife resources for all users, protect hunting opportunities, and ensure Alaskans are treated fairly.  Your participation will show federal decision-makers that these improvements have broad support.  Together, we can help ensure that Alaska’s wildlife resources are managed fairly, transparently, and with the scientific integrity they deserve. 

Thank you for standing with SCI and for your commitment to conservation and sustainable use!  Please use this form to make your voice heard.  We offer suggested language as a starting point, but we strongly encourage all members to personalize their comments by sharing their experiences and stories.  This personalization helps demonstrate the real-world importance of fair, science-based wildlife management.  Your experience matters—please take a moment to submit your comments to the Department of the Interior and help ensure these much-needed reforms receive the broad support they deserve.  Together, we can strengthen Alaska’s subsistence management program for current and future generations!