Evans Becomes North Pacific Fisheries Management Council’s Fifth Executive Director
Photo Credit: North Pacific Fisheries Management Councilame
A longtime veteran of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council in Anchorage is the federal regulatory body’s new Executive Director. Diana Evans becomes the council’s fifth leader since it was established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976.
Evans has been employed by the council since 2002 and served as the deputy director since 2017. She replaces David Witherell, who retired in October 2025 after serving thirty-three years with the council. As the Executive Director, Evans oversees a staff of fourteen from the Anchorage office, coordinating public input for regional decisions by US Department of Commerce fisheries managers.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to serve the council process in this role,” Evans says. “I am proud of the work that we’ve accomplished to sustainably manage fisheries in federal waters off Alaska and am honored that the council selected me to continue to build on that success.”
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Evans received undergraduate degrees in geography and linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley and has a master’s degree in geography from the University of London.
“We’re excited that Ms. Evans will be assuming this role,” says Council Chair Angel Drobnica, who is also the director of fisheries and government affairs for Aleutian-Pribilof Island Community Development Association. “She brings a wealth of knowledge about fisheries in Alaska and has the skills and abilities we were seeking to lead the organization.”
Council Vice-Chair Rachel Baker, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, adds, “Ms. Evans has worked hard to improve access to the council process, and I’m confident her commitment to public engagement will be a cornerstone of her approach in this position.”
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