The United Fishermen of Alaska, a statewide commercial fishing industry trade association representing 36 member organizations, announces the election of Jerry McCune of Cordova District Fishermen United as president.

"It is a privilege once again to be the UFA president," says McCune in a UFA news release. "My concerns are access to the statewide fisheries, Board of Fish, and the Legislature. With our new Executive Committee and our new executive director [Julianne Curry], we can turn the corner to be a political powerhouse. I look forward to helping protect Alaska's fishing families."

Joining McCune on the Executive Committee are Paul A. Shadura II of the Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association, who will serve as vice president, and Lindsey Bloom of the Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association, who will chair the Fish Farm and Environmental Committee. Bruce Wallace will hold the position of past president.

McCune, Shadura and Bloom will complement existing committee members Kathy Hansen of the Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance (secretary/treasurer), Duncan Fields of Cape Barnabas Inc. (administration chairman), Stephanie Madsen of the At-sea Processors Association (national chairwoman), Brian Lynch of the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association (subsistence chairman), Mark Gleason of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers and Kevin Adams (co-chairmen PR/membership), Bruce Schactler (marketing chairman) and Gary Fandrei of the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (enhancement chairman).

New at-large board representatives Clay Bezenek of Ketchikan and Victor Jones of Cordova began their tenure on June 15. They join Kevin Adams, a Bristol Bay gillnetter who resides in Anchorage, and Schactler, a salmon and herring seiner of Kodiak, who were both re-elected to UFA at-large board seats. UFA's four at-large board seats help represent the association's 400 individual and lifetime members on the UFA board.