News

Joint board of fish, game considers meeting

The two boards regulating fisheries and game in the state are considering a joint meeting next spring. The Joint Board, which brings together the members… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commission to consider cutting halibut catch quotas

Halibut fishermen may see a reduction in the total amount of fish they’re allowed to catch in 2018. Data presented to the International Pacific Halibut… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Hearing officer orders fines, removal of rock in Dow Island gravel case

A state hearing officer has decided that the two men accused of illegally dumping gravel in the Kenai River this summer have to remove the… Continue reading

The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This map shades in red the 7.5 miles of the Kenai River upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to classify as an impaired water body because of its high turbity, or levels of suspended sediment. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

State, feds to determine next steps after turbidity report

The state must now address the fact that excessive motor boat traffic in July has made a section of the lower Kenai River too muddy.… Continue reading

This map shades in red the 7.5 miles of the Kenai River upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to classify as an impaired water body because of its high turbity, or levels of suspended sediment. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Jim Butler, a Kenai attorney and Cook Inlet commercial setnet fisherman, addresses a question during a forum on salmon habitat policy at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association’s headquarters Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. A group of panelists discussed the merits of the current salmon habitat permitting process, contained within Title 16 of the Alaska Administrative Code, and a proposed ballot initiative that would significantly tighten restrictions on permitting for projects that impact salmon streams. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Panel opens up conversation on salmon habitat policy reform

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the two commercial fishermen on the panel did not support the Stand for Salmon ballot… Continue reading

Jim Butler, a Kenai attorney and Cook Inlet commercial setnet fisherman, addresses a question during a forum on salmon habitat policy at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association’s headquarters Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. A group of panelists discussed the merits of the current salmon habitat permitting process, contained within Title 16 of the Alaska Administrative Code, and a proposed ballot initiative that would significantly tighten restrictions on permitting for projects that impact salmon streams. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Gary Dawkins, owner of Gary’s Auto Electric, removes an old headlight from a customer’s van Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at his shop near Soldotna, Alaska. After more than 30 years in the business, Dawkins will close Gary’s Auto Electric on Friday with one additional clearout opening scheduled for Jan. 15. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

After 3 decades, Gary’s Auto Electric to close

A mismatched collection of items welcomes visitors to Gary’s Auto Electric. A dog the size of a black lab puppy but with grey hair around… Continue reading

Gary Dawkins, owner of Gary’s Auto Electric, removes an old headlight from a customer’s van Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at his shop near Soldotna, Alaska. After more than 30 years in the business, Dawkins will close Gary’s Auto Electric on Friday with one additional clearout opening scheduled for Jan. 15. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A smartphone user interacts with the Dipnet Kenai app — created by the city of Kenai for the 2017 dipnet fishery — on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Peninsual Clarion office in Kenai. In its debut year, the app had 8,474 downloads. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnet Kenai app looks back on debut year

Kenai is shifting the emphasis of how it manages the roughly 20,000 personal-use dipnet fishermen who come to town from July 10–31 from merely keeping… Continue reading

A smartphone user interacts with the Dipnet Kenai app — created by the city of Kenai for the 2017 dipnet fishery — on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Peninsual Clarion office in Kenai. In its debut year, the app had 8,474 downloads. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai reviews 2017 dipnet

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the number of dipnet transactions in 2013. When the Kenai city council took its annual look… Continue reading

Clayton Hamilton is one of five fishermen in the inaugural class of Fishing Fellows sponsored by the Alaska Marine Conservation Council in partnership with the Alaska Young Fishermen’s Network. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Pushing back against the greying of the fleet

The average age of an Alaska fisherman today is more than 50 years old. That number is growing statewide, according to a November report, as… Continue reading

Clayton Hamilton is one of five fishermen in the inaugural class of Fishing Fellows sponsored by the Alaska Marine Conservation Council in partnership with the Alaska Young Fishermen’s Network. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this September 2017 photo, pink salmon swim up a drainage ditch at Beluga Slough in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Data shows Prince William Sound pink salmon in Homer streams

The wash of pink salmon that showed up in streams across Lower Cook Inlet this year weren’t all local stocks — in some streams, up… Continue reading

In this September 2017 photo, pink salmon swim up a drainage ditch at Beluga Slough in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file) Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period July 28 in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

As council looks to public for Cook Inlet salmon plan, UCIDA stays wary

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is looking for input from Cook Inlet fishermen on how it should develop a management plan for the area’s… Continue reading

Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file) Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period July 28 in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A pair of personal-use dipnet-caught sockeye chill out in a cooler on the Kenai Beach before being packed off for the day Tuesday, July 11, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Forecast predicts another below-average sockeye year

Next year’s sockeye salmon forecast for Upper Cook Inlet looks only slightly rosier than this year’s forecast. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released… Continue reading

A pair of personal-use dipnet-caught sockeye chill out in a cooler on the Kenai Beach before being packed off for the day Tuesday, July 11, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Top: Trisha Whitney, an employee of Tustumena Smokehouse, stands just past the doorway between the smokehouse and the office, which features a wall lined with trophies of summer’s past.

Summer’s bounty, winter’s feast

Just like a fisherman with his perfect spot, it’s easy to fall into a trap of the perfect recipe for the catch. This summer’s bounty… Continue reading

Top: Trisha Whitney, an employee of Tustumena Smokehouse, stands just past the doorway between the smokehouse and the office, which features a wall lined with trophies of summer’s past.
Frances Leach, pictured here in this undated photo, has been named the new executive director of the United Fishermen of Alaska, effective Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo courtesy the United Fishermen of Alaska)

UFA names new executive director

The biggest commercial fishing organization in the state will have a new executive director in January. The United Fishermen of Alaska, a statewide umbrella trade… Continue reading

Frances Leach, pictured here in this undated photo, has been named the new executive director of the United Fishermen of Alaska, effective Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo courtesy the United Fishermen of Alaska)
Southcentral commercial fishing jobs inched up in 2016

Southcentral commercial fishing jobs inched up in 2016

More people worked in commercial salmon fishing in Southcentral Alaska in 2016 than in 2015, even as total catch declined. Salmon harvesting jobs fell in… Continue reading

Southcentral commercial fishing jobs inched up in 2016
Study reviews potential climate impacts on Kenai River salmon

Study reviews potential climate impacts on Kenai River salmon

Though the Kenai River’s salmon populations are still healthy compared to other Pacific salmon populations, a number of climate change-influenced factors could threaten them in… Continue reading

Study reviews potential climate impacts on Kenai River salmon
Study reviews potential climate impacts on Kenai River salmon

Study reviews potential climate impacts on Kenai River salmon

Though the Kenai River’s salmon populations are still healthy compared to other Pacific salmon populations, a number of climate change-influenced factors could threaten them in… Continue reading

Study reviews potential climate impacts on Kenai River salmon
Ninilchik Traditional Council employees Daniel Reynolds (left) and Darryl Williams (right) remove a sockeye salmon from the tribe’s subsistence gillnet in the Kenai River in August 2016 near Soldotna, Alaska. The tribe first fished its subsistence gillnet, for which all rural residents of Ninilchik are qualified, in 2016 and completed its second season in September 2017. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Ninilchik fishes Kenai gillnet for second year

The gillnet operation in the Kenai River run by the Ninilchik Traditional Council this summer concluded its season with only one king salmon caught and… Continue reading

Ninilchik Traditional Council employees Daniel Reynolds (left) and Darryl Williams (right) remove a sockeye salmon from the tribe’s subsistence gillnet in the Kenai River in August 2016 near Soldotna, Alaska. The tribe first fished its subsistence gillnet, for which all rural residents of Ninilchik are qualified, in 2016 and completed its second season in September 2017. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Board declines request to cap Kodiak sockeye harvest

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct an error about the sampling area of the Kodiak Management Area sockeye salmon genetic study. The… Continue reading

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Alaska Wildlife Troopers do more with fewer officers

The Alaska Wildlife Troopers are spread thin across the state and asking the boards of fisheries and game to consider that when making regulations. The… Continue reading