Commercial fishers speak to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission during a public hearing on a proposed regulation change to add dipnets to the east side setnet fishery at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

CFEC hears from setnetters on dipnet proposal at Kenai hearing

The CFEC gave emergency approval to the gear in May but decided in June not to approve dipnets as permanent gear

 

Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Fish to consider set beach seines for east side setnet fishery

Seines were tested on local beaches this summer in effort helmed by Lisa and Brian Gabriel

 

Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Fish to consider expansion of commercial dipnetting fishery

Discussion of expanded time, days and season of commercial dipnet fishery scheduled for March

 

A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska Board of Fisheries hears public testimony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 18, 1999. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)

Board of Fisheries again declines to hold Upper Cook Inlet meeting on Kenai Peninsula

The State Board of Fisheries this week rejected calls from the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the cities of Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Seward, Seldovia and Kachemak… Continue reading

The Alaska Board of Fisheries hears public testimony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 18, 1999. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)
Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

CFEC to again consider dipnets as gear for commercial setnet fisheries

The commission is responding to “new petitions” for the gear to be added

Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Poster for the 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival. (Promotional image courtesy International Fly Fishing Film Festival)

Fly fishing film fest set for Monday

The event will feature the familiar silent auction and Kenai River Brewing’s Two-Timing Trout Ale

Poster for the 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival. (Promotional image courtesy International Fly Fishing Film Festival)
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Spend plan moves forward for 2021 and 2022 setnet fishery disasters

The National Marine Fisheries Service in June allocated $11,484,675 to address losses from the 2021 and 2022 fisheries

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game comments on local proposals to Board of Fisheries ahead of work session

The requests ask the board hear fishing regulation proposals outside of their three-year cycle

Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Council throws support behind beach seine request to Board of Fisheries

Agenda change requests are proposals to the board to hear an issue outside of the board’s three-year cycle

Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seats are filled as the Alaska Board of Fisheries meets at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 24, 1999. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)

Borough, cities again ask State Board of Fisheries for local meeting

The board has declined to host an Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meeting on the central peninsula for over 25 years

Seats are filled as the Alaska Board of Fisheries meets at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 24, 1999. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Coho fishing ‘poor’ on Kenai, Kasilof, Russian rivers

Fish and Game releases final Northern Kenai Fishing Report

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

1st of 3 local fishery disasters gets funding after year-long delay

After being delayed for more than a year, disaster funds will soon be disbursed for the 2018 East Side Setnet Salmon and 2020 Upper Cook… Continue reading

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Carter Romero is awarded a $1,000 novelty check for landing the youth grand-prize salmon in the Eighth Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday.

Dell, Romero win 8th Kenai Silver Salmon Derby

This year’s number of participants is up from only 79 last year

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Carter Romero is awarded a $1,000 novelty check for landing the youth grand-prize salmon in the Eighth Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Fish requests tackle commercial dipnets, beach seines, bait restrictions

The proposals are meant to address fishing regulation outside of the board’s three-year cycle

Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Coho bag limit again reduced to 1 per day on Kenai River

The restrictions are motivated by weak runs of coho salmon throughout Cook Inlet

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel prepares to spin one of the wheels that determine the magic weight at the closing ceremony of the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Silver Salmon Derby returns Tuesday

The derby is unlike others because the winning fish is not the largest

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel prepares to spin one of the wheels that determine the magic weight at the closing ceremony of the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Mary Peltola delivers closing remarks at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fisheries issues tackled at annual Kenai Classic Roundtable

Organizers said the event was an opportunity for Alaska and Lower 48 experts to shed light and share knowledge on fisheries

Rep. Mary Peltola delivers closing remarks at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker is seen at the outlet of Skilak Lake near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker is seen at the outlet of Skilak Lake near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council expresses opposition to Endangered Species listing for chinook

The letter comes only a week after Kenai’s city council made the same move

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)