Murkowski Speaks Out on Ex-Aide’s Lobbying Job

Jay Barrett/KMXT
Last month we reported that Arne Fuglvog of Petersburg has turned lobbyist and launched the Washington State-based Coastal Resource Strategies just weeks after being released from federal prison last fall. He served five months after pleading guilty to illegally misreporting the catch of about $100,000 worth of sablefish.
His former boss, Alaska senior Senator Lisa Murkowski, had been largely silent on Fuglvog’s new job, but did address the issue while on Kodiak Island last week.
“We all know that Arne has gone through the legal process and has paid, essentially the price for his misdoings," she said. "And he’s now back at work.”
Murkowski, who at the time had strong words about feeling betrayed after finding out about Fuglvog’s federal indictment the day before it was made public, did acknowledge his skill in the area of fisheries policy.
“He is an individual that I think those who know him recognize that he has a significant understanding of the fisheries and the research and Alaska’s fisheries," she said. "And he’s going to be working with folks to help them as they seek to advance their priorities.”
However companies wishing to “advance their priorities” in Murkowski’s office, should consider sending someone other than Fuglvog to lobby her.
“We won’t be seeing him in our office," Murkowski said. "We’ve got a policy that if you have worked for me that there needs to be a separation between work and any access in terms of lobbying of two years, and so, that will be in place in our office.”
Fuglvog lists as clients four companies that operate catcher-processors in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska; they are Aleutian Spray Fisheries, Blue North Fisheries, Fishermen’s Finest, and Glacier Fish Company, all based in Seattle.