From Voices of the Peninsula, Aug. 20, “Sometimes Fisheries Must Change with the Times,” I offer some timely rebuttal.
Commercial fishermen were limited to protect the resource on the heels of the same laws introduced in Washington and Oregon. The law was also enacted to ensure that permit holders could earn a livelihood. Guides remain unlimited. Dipnetters remain unlimited. Charters are now limited, somewhat. Area H extends from Seward to Susitna. If the permit card spoke it would say salmon, all species!
In 1978 there were not 400-plus guides in a slot limit hook and release king fishery taking place where kings spawn. There wasn’t 50,000 dipnetters. There was no commercial fishery on early Kenai kings, the start of the original Cook Inlet Management Plan. There was no charter fleet. The Deep Creek marine fishery was skiffs launched from the beach. There was no tractor launch. There was no horsepower restriction on the Kenai River. There were no guides on the Kasilof River. There was no hook and release. There were no 4 stroke motors. There were no slot limits. There was no staggered starts for the beaches. There was no drift fishery corridor. There was no Kenai Classic. There was no Ricky Gease in the paper every week. The board of fish would meet in Soldotna. The governor was not afraid to have a picnic on the Kenai Peninsula. The fish and game commissioner had a degree in biology/fisheries management! The chairman of the board of fish did not reside in Prescott, Arizona half the year. Mr. Johnson makes Rip Van Winkle look like a piker. He has taken a 30 year snooze. While he addresses time he has turned a blind eye to profound changes and reallocations in the Cook Inlet fishery and the Kenai River in particular. He, at best is a finger pointer, not a problem solver. How about some honesty for a change?!
Comments (5)
Add comment50,000 dipnetters? Guess again
John, if you were looking for embellishment, I guess you got it. There were only 30,000 household permits issued last year for dipnetting. As for Mr. Gease, I don't recall seeing him quoted every week like you say. We used to churn butter in wooden urns too but time marches on. All users must share and if slot limits help the resource, so be it. If you don't like the Governors choice of Mr. Johnstone, Let the Governor know. He appoints those on the BOF. Of course you know that, being a comfisher and involved with the BOF process. I hear your frustration but please have your facts correct
Dipnetters
Thewhop2000,
Speaking of something that needs to change with the times, you quoted how many dipnet permits that were issued last year. How many were issued this year? How many fish did they actually take this year? I believe those numbers are still unknown...
We do know the commercial harvest, broken down by species, gear type, and stat area. Matter of fact, those numbers were available within 24 hours of each fishing period!!!
All users must share the resource. They must also be responsible with it. I would have no problem with Mr. Gease being in the media all the time if he told the truth. Unfortunately, darn near every number that comes out of his mouth is either manipulated or false.
end salmon bycatch petition
Don't forget what started all this mess. The pollock trawlers are still fishing and killing chinook, chum, & silver salmon while we all got shut out. They are from Seattle & not Alaska! sign this petition: http://signon.org/sign/end-salmon-halibut-bycatch
Join with US and make a stand against them in Oct. in Anch
Facts: https://www.facebook.com/EndTrawlerSalmonBycatch
As far as the dipnetting. Last years 30,000 household permits. Household. That means perhaps 2 to 8 people per permit. This also means you will see them there more than 1 day. We went 4 times. So what you see isn't what the reality is.
Socialism at its Worst
Since when are "permit holder" entitled to earn a living - no one else is?
Alaska's commercial fishers have defaulted on loans, raped the resource when ADF&G looked the other way, and take most of OUR resource money out of state. They deserve our disgust. In addition, they attack the average Alaskan who wants to take their kid fishing. I hate the way the comm fishing interests OWN Juneau. I've been there, I've seen it.
Honest Living
Permit holders are entitled a chance to harvest the abundance of fish. This year many did not make a living. Alaska's commercial fishers are families all around you, and contribute to one of the largest industries in the state.
I took my kids fishing last night, and we waved at every boat on the river. I don't know what made you so bitter towards hard working families who respect and harvest a renewable resource, but maybe it'll help you to know that 80% of commercial permits in Cook Inlet belong to residents. That means LOCAL jobs and LOCAL money.