Haines’ sole wildlife trooper could be vacating town this summer, a possibility that has the Public Safety Commission concerned about enforcement of new and old fishing and wildlife regulations.
Wildlife trooper Ken VanSpronsen said he was recently notified that he might be relocated for all or some of the summer to the Bristol Bay commercial fishery, one of the world’s largest fisheries. Trooper enforcement during the fishery is historically short-staffed, he said.
“The long and short of it is state troopers get sent to the needs of the state,” VanSpronsen said.
VanSpronsen said he could be transferred for several days or several months.
“They don’t have to give me any notice, to be honest with you,” VanSpronsen said. “I could get a call on Friday saying, ‘You’re on a plane on Monday.’”
Wildlife issues and enforcement would likely go “pretty much” unhandled in the event of his transfer, VanSpronsen said, because statewide troopers are basically on a travel ban except in the case of emergencies due to budget cuts, meaning Juneau wildlife troopers wouldn’t be readily available.
Haines’ state trooper Andrew Neason also isn’t signed off to use the boat VanSpronsen uses to patrol waters around Haines.
Public Safety Commission member Bob Duis raised the issue at Monday’s meeting, expressing concern about how regulations put forth by Fish and Game this spring would be enforced.
Fish and Game officially declared last week that sport fishing and subsistence fishing for king salmon would be closed in Chilkat Inlet until July 15. In addition, the king salmon bag and possession limit in Lynn Canal will be one fish 28 inches or longer.
Commercial fishing north of Seduction Point will be closed through the second week of the season, and fishing on the west side of Lynn Canal south of Seduction also will be managed conservatively, the state said.
Fish and Game biologist Randy Bachman said he talked with VanSpronsen about the possible transfer. “It is significant if they leave. It would be nice to have somebody keeping an eye on the rules and regulations, especially this spring with the conservative approach we are taking on the Chilkat side with the kings,” Bachman said.
The commission voted to have chair Jim Stanford send a letter of concern to troopers.
VanSpronsen’s superior Sgt. Andrew Frenzel wouldn’t confirm whether VanSpronsen would be transferred this summer. “I don’t want to publicize to everybody when I am going to have troopers in Haines or not,” Frenzel said.