Alaska Department of Fish and Game

The department's mission is to protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the state, and to manage their use and development in the best interest of the economy and well-being of the people. ADF&G is organized into several divisions: the Division of Wildlife Conservation, the Division of Commercial Fisheries, the Division of Sport Fish, the Division of Subsistence, and the Division of Administrative Services. Each division focuses on specific resource management and research activities, with field offices spread across the state to address regional needs.¹

ADF&G manages all hunting and trapping seasons, sets bag limits, and conducts population surveys for species such as moose, caribou, and brown bears. The department also regulates commercial fisheries, including the famous Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery, and issues permits for sport fishing. A unique aspect is the Division of Subsistence, which works with local communities to ensure that rural residents have priority for customary and traditional uses of fish and wildlife, as mandated by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and state law.²

ADF&G operates the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, a law enforcement branch that enforces hunting and fishing regulations. The department also runs the Wildlife Information Network, a public resource for viewing harvest data and research reports. A lesser-known fact is that ADF&G manages the state's only marine mammal program, focusing on species like sea otters and walruses, which are not typically managed by state agencies elsewhere. Additionally, the department's genetic research on salmon has been instrumental in understanding stock identification, aiding in sustainable management.³

ADF&G faces ongoing challenges, including balancing predator control with conservation, managing the impacts of climate change on wildlife, and addressing conflicts between subsistence and commercial uses. The department's predator control programs, which involve aerial wolf hunting, have been controversial and have drawn criticism from animal welfare groups. Additionally, the department has been involved in legal battles over the use of salmon hatcheries and the allocation of fish between user groups. Despite these issues, ADF&G remains a key player in Arctic and subarctic wildlife management.

Subsistence

The use of wild resources for food, clothing, and other personal or family needs, often with cultural significance.

ANILCA

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, a 1980 federal law that established subsistence priority for rural Alaskans.

Predator control

Management actions taken to reduce predator populations, often to increase prey species for human harvest.