Alaska Board of Fisheries Members

Group photo October 2025; board members at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage

The Board of Fisheries members in October 2025.

Märit Carlson-Van Dort - Anchorage

Term expires 6/30/2027

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 at marit.carlson-vandort@alaska.gov

Mike Wood - Talkeetna

Term expires 6/30/2029

Mike started working in Talkeetna Alaska in 1990 as a climbing guide and carpenter. He lives and builds remotely from his home on the Susitna river in Chase. During the summer he has a small scale commercial set net operation at the mouth of the Susitna river selling fish to locals. Throughout his life in Alaska he has been involved with many borough and state fish, wildlife and habitat issues.

Mike can be reached by email at mike.wood@alaska.gov

Tom Carpenter - Cordova

Vice Chair - Term expires 6/30/2028

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.

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Tom can be reached by email at tom.carpenter@alaska.gov