Department Mission Statement: The Natural Resources Department is dedicated to protecting, maintaining and preserving the land, ecosystems and natural resources of Bristol Bay; while empowering our Tribes to enhance their subsistence, cultural and economic opportunities as described in the Bristol Bay Vision.
The purposes of the Natural Resources Department
- Protect the rights of Bristol Bay Tribes to choose how to continue to meet their subsistence, cultural, and economic needs; and
- Further natural resource management goals of Bristol Bay Tribes, consistent with traditional stewardship, sustainability, and self-reliance.
- Ensure effective participation from the Bristol Bay Region in all state and federal regulatory processes that effect subsistence resources.
Staff and Contact Information
- Phone: (907) 842-5257
- Toll Free: 1-800-478-5257
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBNANaturalResources
- Gayla Hoseth, Director of Natural Resources Email: ghoseth@bbna.com
- CaSandera Johnson, Environmental Program Manager Email: cjohnson@bbna.com
Vacant, Tribal Environmental Response Program Coordinator Email:
Jorjana Dray, Program Activities Coordinator Email: jorjana.dray@bbna.com
Cody Larson, Subsistence Fisheries Scientist Email: clarson@bbna.com- Michelle Smith, Pollution Prevention Specialist Email: michelle.smith@bbna.com
BBNA’s Comments for EPA Revised Proposed Determination 9/6/22
Programs within the Natural Resources Department
Bristol Bay Regional Vision Project
The Department is guided by the Bristol Bay Regional Vision Project, a region-wide vision statement that was created after Bristol Bay leaders listened to the opinions and concerns of nearly 1,400 participants from across the Bristol Bay region. There was strong agreement across the region about the most important aspects of people’s lives and goals for the future, including sustaining our region’s natural resources by protecting our land, waters, and way of life. For more information, please visit www.bristolbayvision.org.
Current Issues We Are Working On
- Wildlife and Fisheries Issues in the Bristol Bay Region
- Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Southwest Alaska
- Subsistence Fisheries
- Marine Mammal Conservation
- Nushagak Peninsula and Mulchatna Caribou Management
- Migratory Bird Co-Management
- Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency
- Pebble Mine and Habitat Protection
- Brownfield and Contaminated Sites
- Village-Based Environmental Programs
- And more…
Regulations
- State of Alaska ADF&G Hunting Regulations
- State of Alaska ADF&G Fisheries Regulations
- State of Alaska ADF&G Trapping Regulations
- State of Alaska ADF&G Migratory Bird Regulations
- Federal Wildlife Regulations
- Federal Fisheries Regulations
- Federal Migratory Bird Regulations
Organizations and Processes NRD is Involved In
The Natural Resources Department assists tribes and residents for public meetings with proposals, testimonies and regulatory process with the following agencies.
Fish and Game Management (State)
- Alaska Board of Fisheries
- Alaska Board of Game
- Alaska Regional Fish and Game Advisory Councils (Chignik, Lake Iliamna, Lower Bristol Bay, Naknek/Kvichak, Nushagak, Togiak)
Fish and Game Management (Federal)
- Federal Subsistence Board (FSB)
- Bristol Bay Regional Advisory Council (BBRAC)
- North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC)
Joint State and Federal Wildlife Management and Research Entities
- Western Alaska Landscape Conservation Cooperative (WALCC)
- Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Advisory Committee
- Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council (AMBCC)
- Western Alaska Salmon Coalition (WASC)
Marine Mammals
- Bristol Bay Marine Mammal Council (BBMMC)
- Qayassiq Walrus Commission (QWC)
- Ice Seal Committee (ISC)
- Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (ABWC)
- Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC)
- Indigenous People’s Council on Marine Mammals (IPCoMM)
- The Alaska Sea Otter and Stellar Sea Lion Commission
Environmental/Habitat
- EPA Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC)
- Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust (BBHLT)
- Nushagak Mulchatna Watershed Council (NMWC)
- Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership (SWASHP)
- Wood-Tikchik State Park Management Council
- National Tribal Air Association (NTAA)
- National Tribal Operations Committee (NTOC)
- Aniakchak National Monument Subsistence Resource Commission
Questions about the Natural Resources Department?
Contact Gayla Hoseth
Director of Natural Resources
ghoseth@bbna.com