A lawsuit brought by the United Cook Inlet Drift Association led to a Monday decision by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to close commercial salmon fishing in the federal waters of the Cook Inlet. If the decision is not impacted by legislative action within the next year, the impact will be seen beginning in the 2022 fishing season.
The Council had four options to choose from when making the decision, one of which would have provided the U.S. government oversight over the salmon fishery while delegating in-season oversight to Alaska.
Rachel Baker, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s deputy commissioner noted that Alaska was unwilling to accept that delegated management authority. She said that the added burden of oversight would cost more than its actual value to the state: “Those conditions are just unacceptable in terms of our ability to participate in that process.”
The decision passed with ten yes votes and one abstained vote. It passed despite multiple council members expressing concern about the impact on the Kenai.
Counselor Nicole Kimball explained why the state’s decision forced the Council’s hand on the vote: “Given that the State of Alaska, who’s managed salmon since statehood, is unwilling to take on a delegated management role… I think that brings our alternatives to a much narrower scope… It’s very challenging for me on this issue because the near-term impacts are so negative for so many Alaskans.”
The State Legislature will have an opportunity to change the Fishery Management Plan which could reverse the effects of Monday’s decision before there are actual changes to the fishery. Also, there will be an opportunity for public comment within a calendar year.