U.S. Takes Over Subsistence Fishing in Alaska

Federal authorities took back a treasured prize of Alaska’s statehood Friday, seizing partial control of the state’s rich fisheries to protect the rights of rural Alaskans who depend on fish for food.

Federal law requires the subsistence fishing priority for rural residents--including Eskimos, Indians and other native people--freeing them from many regulations that govern sport hunting and fishing. Opponents contend that discriminates against urban residents who also rely on fish and game.

The federal takeover came after eight Republican state senators blocked an attempt to send voters an amendment to the state constitution that would allow the rural subsistence fishing priority.

“This is about protecting subsistence fishing for villages in Alaska and the people who live there,” said Marilyn Heiman, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt’s top aide in Alaska.

The subsistence priority applies to about 20% of Alaskans, or about 120,000 people, who are classified as rural. Slightly less than half of those people are Native Alaskans.