A committee on coastal erosion impacts to setnet operations is seeking public comment for its meeting on January 4.
The Alaska Board of Fisheries formed the temporary committee which was chartered by a policy(2015-279-FB) to assist members when deliberating on proposals involving coastal erosion impacts on setnet operations.
This summer, East side set netters on Salamatof Beach were washed out by strong winds and unusually high tides. Fisherman Richard McGahan spoke about what he saw on July 17.
McGahan: “When I got up this morning and saw the wind coming out of the southwest, I knew we were in trouble. I ran to the beach and from the time I hit Salamantof Road beach site, Waggoners, Mumfords, my site, Darchs, Kornstads on down south, as far as I can see down south, we’re all scrambling trying to get rigged up again for tomorrow. Lines broke and there’s garbage everywhere.”
The Board of Fisheries is encouraging any set gillnet operators affected by coastal erosion to provide public testimony either in person, via teleconference, or in written form.
The Committee on Coastal Erosion Impacts on Set Gillnet Operations will convene January 4, 2016, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Individuals wishing to testify at the Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau locations must be present and those commmenting via teleconference must contact Glenn Haight by 5pm, Friday, January 2, 2016.
Written comments are due by January 2 and can be submitted by:
- Mail to:
Boards Support Section
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
- Email to dfg.bof.comments@alaska.gov (PDF only)
- Fax to: (907) 465-6094.