The Kenai City Council will discuss a resolution on Wednesday asking Governor Bill Walker to declare an economic disaster for the Upper Cook Inlet Fisheries following this summer’s low fish returns.
Kenai Council Member Bob Molloy helped develop the resolution that will request the declaration and support a state-issued recovery plan.
Cm. Molloy: “In effect it encourages the Borough to also do so, through Mayor [Charlie] Pierce and the Assembly, to declare an economic disaster in the Upper Cook Inlet region Fisheries and at the state, implement a recovery plan. And that would give the opportunity for financial assistance through grants and loans to individuals and families and businesses that participate in that fishery and perhaps others that are impacted by it.”
In past years, such as 2011-2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Division has granted disaster determinations which led to pay-outs for those affected. The 2011-2012 Alaska Chinook Salmon Disaster Determination yielded $20,797,524 in payments.
Wednesday’s resolution is up for public comment at the Kenai City Council regular meeting that will be held in council chambers at 6:00 pm.