This week, the Federal Subsistence Board will consider a proposal to declare Ketchikan a rural area under federal laws. This would allow Ketchikan residents to access federal subsistence hunting and fisheries.
Ketchikan, Juneau and Juneau are two of the Southeast communities that have been designated as urban.
At its October meeting, the Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council voted in favor of moving forward with this proposal. After hours of public testimony, and a push from the Ketchikan Indian Community (the local tribe), this vote was unanimously approved.
The council determined that Ketchikan fulfilled all requirements for rural designation. A vote by the Federal Subsistence Board this week could begin a long-term dive into the possibility of changing Ketchikan’s status. The proposal is being recommended by federal officials from the Office of Subsistence Management.
Both Native and non-Native hunters could become federally qualified subsistence consumers if Ketchikan was redesigned. Wildlife officials would also be required to prioritize commercial and sport users.
The meeting of the board will begin Tuesday at noon in Anchorage and continue through February 3.
