The broad variety of fish issues for the Kenai Peninsula are a year round discussion, especially during election season.
Rep. Mike Chenault(R) discussed fish frustrations on KSRM’s Tall, Dark, and Handsome Show.
Rep. Chenault: “It’s unfortunate that the Kenai River and the Kasilof River here have become the state’s playground as far as getting their fish, and when I say playground, sports fishing with kings and silvers and even reds and then the personal use. The state has put almost all of the personal use dip net fishery on the Kenai Peninsula and we haven’t done a very good job of helping the city of Kenai and the folks in Kasilof with the problems that are associated.”
He said he knows much of the public is also frustrated with the Board of Fisheries and is working to craft a legislation to change board member qualifications.
Rep. Chenault: “Putting together a piece of legislation like that is that you have to figure out first what your criteria are going to be for those board members and how do you make that fair across the spectrum between person use, sports fishing, commercial use and the different user groups without making it political and that’s the hard part.”
Rep. Chenault is running for reelection to for House District 29 against Democrat Rocky Knudsen.
Knudsen: “I’m running because I think its very important that people have a choice and although I don’t have any experience some people might think thats what we need.”