Criticized fish board nominee withdraws from consideration

An Alaska Board of Fisheries nominee,

, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the post.

Gov. Bill Walker's office says Duncan Fields withdrew his name so that Alan Cain would have an opportunity to serve a second term.

Walker had

to succeed Cain, a retired Alaska Wildlife Trooper from Anchorage. But sport fishing groups saw the pick as an attempt by Walker to break an unwritten rule about the balance of power between commercial and sports fishing interests.

Fields is from Kodiak and has worked in commercial fishing and fisheries policy.

Walker's office says Cain had planned to leave the board when his term ended this summer, but now wants to seek re-appointment.

Cain's nomination is subject to legislative approval.