Dersham’s resignation was made public Friday. He began his new job as a project coordinator with Fish and Game’s commercial fisheries division Sept. 1. According to a press release issued by the state, his new job will focus on developing policies for commercial fisheries, including examining options for restructuring Alaska’s salmon fisheries and working with the department and the Board of Fish on groundfish fisheries policy.
Dersham said Monday he will be based in Homer, although he will often be traveling to Anchorage, Juneau and outside the state. Fish and Game will decide whether he has an office at the department’s building on Douglas Place or in space at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, he said.
Dersham said the opportunity to work on the policy side of things was what drew him to the job.
“It’s more of a policy-level place to be rather than a regulation-making place,” he said.
Dersham served for more than eight years on the Board of Fisheries, including some time spent as the board’s chair. At the time of his resignation, Dersham was the board’s vice chair.
A sport fishing guide by trade, Dersham said his time on the board has prepared him for the issues he’ll face working with commercial fisheries.
He said he enjoyed his time on the board but had tired of the constant fisheries allocation fights that routinely take place at the board level.
“I won’t miss the allocative battles of the board,” he said.
Fish and Game Commissioner McKie Campbell said in the press release that he believes Dersham will serve the state well in his new job.
“I have enjoyed working with Ed as a board member and I look forward to working with him in his new role as a department employee,” Campbell said.
Dersham’s resignation leaves a hole to fill on the seven-member Board of Fisheries, which oversees and shapes all commercial, sport and personal-use fisheries within state jurisdiction.
Board of Fisheries Executive Director Diana Cote said the search for a replacement will begin immediately. The governor is responsible for naming Dersham’s successor and Cote explained that anyone can apply.
“Basically, interested folks need to turn in a resume to the governor’s office,” she said.
Once a replacement is named, the new member will serve until the Legislature reconvenes in January. The new appointee will then be subject to legislative approval.
Cote said she’s hopeful that a replacement will be named by Oct. 13, when the board is scheduled to meet for four days in Girdwood.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the opening on the board can visit the Board of Fisheries’ Web site at www. boards.adfg.state.ak.us/ or call (907) 465-4110.
Chris Eshleman contributed to this story.
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