Alaska Board Of Fisheries Increases Fishing Opportunity For Upper Cook Inlet Sockeye
Juneau, AK - On Monday, July 19, at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's request, the Alaska Board of Fisheries ("the board") adopted emergency regulations to allow greater flexibility in managing the commercial fisheries to harvest very large sockeye salmon returns to the Kasilof and Kenai rivers.
Based on the numbers of fish entering the Kasilof and Kenai rivers, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) managers may:
- Reduce the mandatory closure to 12 hours per week for both set nets and drift nets in the Kasilof, Kenai, and East Forelands Sections.
- Allow up to 12 additional hours of fishing per week for drift nets in portions of the Central District.
These emergency regulations are effective through July 31, 2004.
The board approved these regulations because the Kasilof River has already exceeded its escapement goal, with one-third of the run still to come. In addition, escapement to the Kenai River is very large for this time of year. The board expressed a desire to allow no more than 18 hours of commercial fishing in one day unless circumstances warrant additional time, such as significantly exceeding the upper end of the escapement goal ranges. The local area manager will use the added flexibility as needed to harvest fish in an orderly manner and to control escapements.
In addition to providing an increased opportunity for commercial fishermen, the limitations on sport and personal use fisheries have been relaxed. Kasilof River sockeye salmon sport fish bag and possession limits have been increased, and the personal use fishery area and periods have also been liberalized. The Kenai River sockeye salmon sport fish bag and possession limits have increased as well.