JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A Senate committee has advanced a bill prioritizing personal use fisheries.
Senate State Affairs heard public testimony Tuesday mostly in support of committee chair Bill Stoltze’s bill to prioritize personal use fisheries over sport and commercial fisheries when there is a management concern. Subsistence would remain the highest use.
The committee heard from residents of Fairbanks and Chugiak who were in support of the bill, as well as one Kasilof resident who opposed it.
Wasilla Sen. Charlie Huggins said he supported the bill, but would like more information about the history of personal use fisheries when the bill is heard in Senate Resources, the committee expected to discuss the bill next.
The state’s largest personal use fisheries are in Cook Inlet and the Copper River region.
