Photo Credit: © Matthias Breiter
[ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 26, 2026]
THE NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD (NPRB), is seeking nominations to fill a new seat on the Board representing Alaska Natives. The deadline for nominations is August 28, 2026 (4:00 PM AKST). The new seat was established by Congress through a change in NPRB’s enabling legislation in December 2025. The legislation states:
The Board shall be comprised of the following representatives or their designees… (O) one member who shall represent Alaska Natives and possesses personal knowledge of, and direct experience with, subsistence uses and shall be nominated by the Board and appointed by the Secretary.
This new seat is nominated by the Board and subject to approval and appointment by the Secretary of Commerce. This is a three-year term that will commence once the appointment is made by the Secretary of Commerce and may be reappointed for a second term.
Consistent with the legislation, the following criteria will be used by the Board in making a selection from among nominees for the seat representing Alaska Natives .
- Personal knowledge of, and direct experience with, Alaska subsistence uses;
- Knowledgeable by education, training or experience regarding fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands or Arctic Ocean (including the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas);
The Board meets twice each year, generally in April and September. While there is no pay associated with serving on the Board, expenses for travel, food, and lodging are covered. The Board anticipates that the successful nominee will begin Board service at the first regular meeting of the year, in April 2027.
To submit a nomination: Please include a resume of not more than three pages, and full contact information including phone number and email address. Up to three letters of reference or support may be submitted by the deadline. Please visit the Board’s web site at http://www.nprb.org for more information about the Board and its activities. The Board and all its panels follow strict conflict of interest procedures during the proposal selection process. Implications of this policy should be considered when making nominations.
The deadline for receipt of nomination materials is August 28, 2026. Nominations, self-nominations, or any related questions may be submitted to the Board by email to lily.frey@nprb.org, or by regular mail to:
Lily Frey
North Pacific Research Board
1007 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99501
ABOUT THE NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD
The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was created by Congress to recommend marine research activities to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, to be supported by earnings of the Environmental Improvement and Restoration Fund. NPRB promotes a comprehensive science program of the highest caliber to provide a better understanding of the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean ecosystems and their fisheries. The Board gives priority to cooperative research projects that are designed to address pressing fishery management or marine ecosystem information needs.
Enabling legislation defines the membership of NPRB to include ten ex-officio members representing various agencies and organizations, nine members that are nominated by the governors of the states of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, and two members nominated by the Board itself and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. One of the two Board-nominated seats represents fishing interests, and the second, new seat represents Alaska Natives.
The Board meets twice each year, generally in April and September. In the annual round of activities, Board members determine the content and amount of funding available for annual requests for proposals (RFPs) as well as design and select integrated ecosystem research programs, long-term monitoring programs, and graduate student research awards. The Board is assisted by a Science Panel, an Advisory Panel, and a small staff. While there is no pay associated with serving on the Board, expenses for travel, food, and lodging are covered. The Board anticipates that the successful nominee will begin Board service at the first regular meeting of the year, in April 2027.