- Mission [1]
- Since Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980, Title VIII has provided for the continuation
of subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources on Federal public lands by rural residents in Alaska. Title VIII required
the creation of Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils to enable rural residents to have a meaningful role in Federal subsistence
management. The Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture subsequently established the Federal Subsistence Management
Program. The Program is a multi-agency effort that includes the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of
Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the USDA Forest Service. These agencies manage the Federal public lands where
subsistence activities take place, including waters running through or next to Federal public lands and limited marine jurisdiction.
The Secretaries delegated management authority for subsistence uses in Alaska to the Federal Subsistence Board, which is comprised
of the regional directors of the five Federal public lands managers in Alaska and a representative appointed by the Secretaries
to serve as chair. The Board is the decisionmaking body that oversees the Federal Subsistence Management Program.The ten Subsistence
Regional Advisory Councils provide recommendations and information to the Board, review policies and management plans, provide
a public forum, develop proposals, evaluate current and anticipated subsistence needs, appoint members to the National Park
Service subsistence resource commissions, and perform other duties required by the Board. The Councils make recommendations
to the Board regarding proposed changes to fish and wildlife regulations; management plans; policies, standards, and guidelines;
determinations of customary and traditional use of subsistence resources; fisheries research projects; determinations of rural
status; subsistence use allocations; and other matters related to subsistence take of fish and wildlife. The Council meets
at least twice each calendar year; however, individual members represent the Council and the Secretaries to their constituency
throughout the year and may be called upon by the Board at any time to serve on a committee or working group. Council chairs
attend at least two Board meetings a year to represent the recommendations of their Council and provide knowledge and advice
to the Board.
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