New area sportfish manager moved into job from commercial fisheries

Whether locals or visitors, newbies or experienced sportsmen, recreational fishers who cast their lines in the Petersburg-Wrangell management area have a new resource for all things sportfishing.

After spending the past 18 years working in the commercial fisheries division, Jeff Rice has accepted a new position as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area management biologist for sportfishing in Petersburg and Wrangell.

Despite his considerable experience with Fish and Game in Petersburg, Rice has found his new role “very interesting” since officially transitioning on Dec. 12. One of his favorite parts of the job so far has been the high volume of new information he’s exposed to each day. He loves “the idea that I could spend so much time working for ADF&G … and change jobs and have everything be so challenging and exciting.”

He runs a team of employees who inspect the catches of returning sport fishermen to ensure that state regulations are being met. His team also gathers data on area fish populations so that the state can keep track of key metrics like “catch per unit of effort,” a measurement of “how many fish you caught in what time period you had your line in the water,” Rice explained.

But he doesn’t just assist in the effort to keep salmon runs sustainable. He also sees himself as a community advocate for recreational sportfishing.

“I help (fishermen) by answering the questions people have about the management areas,” Rice said. “I encourage people to contact me,” he added, particularly about where and when to fish, which species to fish for and the minutiae of the state’s laws. He’s already gotten lots of calls about fishing regulations, especially from out-of-state fishermen who need assistance interpreting these requirements.

Rice is a liaison between the state and the fishing community, helping as many people as possible get out on the water safely and responsibly, so that fish populations can be maintained for future generations.

Advocating for responsible outdoor recreation has been a lifelong mission for Rice. Growing up in the Midwest, he developed a love for the outdoors after spending his youth “fishing for everything (he) could catch.” In the early 2000s, he taught environmental education to students in Kazakhstan with the Peace Corps for two years. Today, he still takes advantage of “any opportunity for outreach with encouraging people to fish” in his job with ADF&G. He and his wife are currently teaching the skill to their 12-year-old son.

“My goals haven’t really changed all that much throughout my life,” he said.

For those who may be new to fishing, Rice has words of encouragement. “The learning curve on fishing is pretty sharp,” so patience is a virtue. “Fishing is not always catching,” he said. “Some of the best days I’ve had have not included catching fish but just being out. … It’s a great way to get outside and spend time with friends and family.”

To learn more about area fishing opportunities and state regulations, email Rice at jeff.rice@alaska.gov or call him at (907) 772-5227.

 

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