Residents of the Seward Peninsula are invited to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (RAC), taking place April 1–2 at the Mini Convention Center in Nome. The meeting begins each day at 9 a.m. and is open to the public both in-person and online.
The RAC advises the Federal Subsistence Board on subsistence hunting and fishing issues. The Seward Peninsula RAC currently has eight local members from Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Nome, Golovin, Brevig Mission, and Stebbins. Two seats are vacant.
Among the key items on the agenda are several wildlife closure reviews that may affect access to moose hunting for non-federally qualified users in Units 22A, 22B, 22D and 22E. These proposals could directly impact who can hunt in certain areas of the Seward Peninsula.
Also on the docket is a deferred proposal on the statewide sale of brown bear hides and a call for new federal wildlife proposals.
On April 1 at 1 p.m., the Council will hear a presentation on an environmental impact statement regarding chum salmon bycatch, a growing concern for many communities facing declining salmon runs.
The agenda also includes updates on the Caribou Traditional Ecological Knowledge Project, salmon genetics research in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, and reports from tribal governments, state agencies, and federal partners such as the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.
Community members will have several opportunities to speak, either during designated public comment times or on specific agenda items. Written comments can also be submitted by email to subsistence@ios.doi.gov.
For those unable to attend in person, the meeting can be accessed by calling 1-833-436-1163 and entering conference ID 502 546 179#, or virtually via a Microsoft Teams meeting.
The Council will also elect new officers, review its annual report, and discuss future meeting dates.
