United Fishermen of Alaska, an organization representing 37 commercial fishing groups, is hiring a new executive director.

Mark Vinsel, who has held the position for eight years, is transitioning to the newly-created administrator position. He says it's recently become clear that the organization needs more than one employee.

“You know, during this eight years we’ve seen a proliferation of the number of different agencies, especially on the federal level, with which we need to be keep up to date with what’s going on that might affect fishermen.”

Vinsel says splitting up the administrative and advocacy responsibilities should give the new executive director more time to focus on dealing with the big-picture issues. UFA hopes to fill the director position later this summer.

UFA also recently elected several new executive board members. Kathy Hansen, director of the Southeast Alaska Fisherman’s Alliance is the organization’s new secretary-treasurer. Jerry McCune, a former UFA lobbyist, is now the group’s statewide chair.

The new appointments took effect on June 15.