Company Profile
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Company Overview
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages approximately 750 active fisheries, 26 game management units, and 32 special areas. Our operating budget is approximately $200 million annually. We work to foster the highest standards of scientific integrity and promote innovative sustainable fish and wildlife management programs to optimize public uses and economic benefits. From making policy and management decisions to providing education and outreach programs, interacting with and involving the public is vital to our mission and goals.
Mission
To protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the state, and manage their use and development in the best interest of the economy and the well-being of the people of the state, consistent with the sustained yield principle.
Guiding Principles:
Seeking excellence in carrying out its responsibilities under state and federal law, the department will:
1.Provide for the greatest long-term opportunities for people to use and enjoy Alaska’s fish, wildlife, and habitat resources.
2.Improve public accessibility to, and encourage active involvement by the public in, the department’s decision-making processes.
3.Build a working environment based on mutual trust and respect between the department and the public, and among department staff.
4.Maintain the highest standards of scientific integrity and provide the most accurate and current information possible.
5.Foster professionalism in department staff, promote innovative and creative resource management, and provide ongoing training and education for career development.
Core Services:
•Provide opportunities to utilize fish and wildlife resources.
•Ensure sustainability and harvestable surplus of fish and wildlife resources.
•Provide information on Alaska fish and wildlife resources to all customers.
•Involve the public in management of fish and wildlife resources.
•Protect the state's sovereignty to manage fish and wildlife resources.
•Protect important fish and wildlife habitat during permit and project review.
Goals:
•Optimize economic benefits from fish and wildlife resources.
•Optimize public participation in fish and wildlife pursuits.
•Increase public knowledge and confidence that wild populations of fish and wildlife are responsibly managed.
Company History
Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959, and Governor William Egan named C.L. "Andy" Anderson as the first Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
In 1949, the Territorial Legislature created the Alaska Territorial Fishery Service in an attempt to influence federal management practices that had decimated salmon populations in Alaska. The Territorial Fishery Service had no authority, but they commented on federal regulations, conducted research, and tried to influence the federal managers.
In 1957, in anticipation of statehood, the Territorial legislature expanded and renamed the Alaska Fishery Service to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. C.L. "Andy" Anderson had been director of the Territorial Fishery Service since 1949 and continued as director for the new organization. Andy hired Jim Brooks to organize the Game Division, Walter Kirkness to organize the Division of Commercial Fisheries and Ed Marvich to develop a Sport Fish Division. These four men began to hire staff in 1958 and decide how the department would be organized.
In 1959, the first state legislature established the Department of Fish and Game. However, full authority could not be granted until January 1, 1960, when the regulations and statutes were in place. They gave the commissioner great authority to manage the fish and game resources. Alaska Statute 16.05.020 stated the commissioner shall: (1) supervise and control the department and may employ division heads, enforcement agents, and the technical, clerical and other assistants necessary for the general administration of the department; (2) manage, protect, maintain, improve, and extend the fish, game and aquatic plant resources of the state in the interests of the economy and general well-being of the state; and (3) have necessary power to accomplish the foregoing including, but not limited to, the power to delegate authority to subordinate officers and employees of the department.
The first state legislature also created the Board of Fish and Game and the fish and game advisory committees system. The Board of Fish and Game consisted of nine citizens appointed by the Governor and confirmed by a majority vote of the legislature. In spring 1975, the legislature separated the Board of Fish and Game into separate Boards, which continues today.
The Boards have responsibility and authority for establishing regulations and allocating the fish and game resources among the various user groups. The Boards do not have any responsibility or authority for personnel or budget decisions in the Department of Fish and Game. This authority and responsibility is reserved for the Department Commissioner.
Benefits
Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits.
Insurance Benefits: Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental.
Optional Insurance Benefits: Group-based insurance premiums and employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses.
Retirement Benefits: Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program, contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security, and option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program.
Paid Leave & Other Benefits: Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served and eleven paid holidays a year.