Alaska Board of Fisheries Members

Group photo October 2023; board members at the Egan Center in Anchorage
The Board of Fisheries members in October 2023.
Marit Carlson-Van Dort

Märit Carlson-Van Dort - Anchorage

Term expires 6/30/2024

Märit Carlson-Van Dort is Sugpiaq from the village of Chignik Bay. She was born in Alaska and raised in Southeast Alaska and the southern Alaska Peninsula where she commercial fished for nearly fifteen years. Marit has a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduate work in Fisheries Science and Secondary Education. Märit has spent the past several years working in both the public and private sectors in public and government affairs with an emphasis on state and federal regulation, environmental policy, permitting, resource development, and community outreach and engagement. Currently she is employed as the President & CEO of Far West, Inc. an Alaska Native village corporation formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). In addition to her work at Far West, she has served on the board of directors of STAR of Anchorage, a local non-profit providing advocacy and support services to victims of sexual trauma, and was a proud volunteer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska.

Märit can be reached by email.


Gerad Godfrey

Gerad Godfrey - Eagle River

Term expires 6/30/2026

Photo and bio coming soon.


Mike Wood with processing gloves on

Mike Wood - Talkeetna

Term expires 6/30/2026

Photo and bio coming soon.


John Wood

John Wood - Willow

Chair - Term expires 6/30/2024

After earning his Juris Doctorate from LSU in 1971, John immediately moved to Alaska. His first job was working for the Alaska Superior Court as a law clerk and standing master. In 1973 John opened the doors to his law firm and practiced through the mid 90s before retiring. He has served in numerous appointed and elected positions including over 9 years on the Anchorage Assembly. Currently lives in Willow nestled in Hatcher Pass between two salmon streams and can be seen frequently during the summer fishing Southcentral waters either floating, wading or on his riverboat. John became intrigued by the unique approach of the BOF while employed as legislative staff in the 2014 cycle and welcomes the opportunity to help find solutions to some of long standing issues that seem to divide our community year after year. John’s highest priority will be to protect and enhance the strength of our stocks both in the numbers and size of the returns and harvests.

John can be reached by email.


Tom Carpenter

Tom Carpenter - Cordova

Vice Chair - Term expires 6/30/2025

Tom has lived in Cordova for 30 years. Tom attended Lincoln College and Baylor University, served 4 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, owned and operated a sporting goods business in Cordova and commercial fished Area E for over 20 years. Tom spent 22 years as the Co-Chair of the Copper River Prince William Sound Advisory Committee as well as many other local and regional boards.

Tom can be reached by email.


Stan Zuray

Stan Zuray - Tanana

Term expires 6/30/2025

Stan Zuray was born in Boston, Massachusetts and moved to Tanana, Alaska in 1973. He is married with four children. His first occupations were trapping with his dog team and running a chum salmon instream incubation program on a spawning stream where he lived. He later began a research effort into the declining size and numbers of Chinook Salmon and the disease of Ichthyophonus (Rapids Research Center). For many years he has been chairman of his local ADF&G advisory committee and secretary of the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association. Locally he is involved with the fire and search and rescue departments, dog mushers association, and he ran a teen center for village youth. Stan has mostly made his living from work as a subsistence and commercial fisherman until recently and now works as a mechanic and equipment operator in Tanana.

Stan can be reached by email.


Greg Svendsen

Greg Svendsen - Anchorage

Term expires 6/30/2026

Greg Svendsen was born in Anchorage and is married with one daughter and one grandson. He worked for the Anchorage School District from 1970–1983 as a teacher and coach. He has also been self-employed as a builder and developer, but is otherwise retired aside from being a residential landlord. Greg has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree of Teaching with an emphasis in Health, Physical Education and Recreation and a minor in Biology from Alaska Methodist University (currently APU). Greg is a member of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, Alaska Outdoor Council, NRA, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Pheasants are Forever, and the Elk Federation (but he has never held a policy-making position within any of these organizations). He is an avid hunter and fisherman with other interests being skiing, basketball, tennis, flying his Super Cub, and playing bridge. Greg strongly believes in conservation of the fishery through sportfishing, subsistence and commercial advocacy. His dream is to watch his grandson catch a king salmon in southcentral Alaska!

Greg can be reached by email.


Board Committee Assignments 2023-2024 (PDF 136 kB)

Previous Board Members (Since 1975)

Contact

Please contact the Boards Support main office at (907) 465-4110, or see detailed contact information.