John Hilsinger, state commercial fisheries director, will retire Dec. 1, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman confirms.
That is the same date Hilsinger's boss, Commissioner Denby Lloyd, plans to step down, as previously reported.
News of this second departure highlights a big problem Hilsinger himself has addressed — the struggle to attract and retain top biologists and other staff in the Division of Commercial Fisheries.
You'll recall we reported just last week that the state's crab manager at Dutch Harbor, Forrest Bowers, is leaving for a new job with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau.
Lloyd appointed Hilsinger to the position of commercial fisheries director on Feb. 18, 2007.