At today’s joint chamber luncheon, Lt. Gov. candidates Andrew Lee, Dan Sullivan, and Byron Mallott discussed their opinions of the proposed set net ban.
Sullivan said fish sciences are about as accurate as meteorology.
Sullivan: “The bottom line is King salmon is the symbol of the Kenai and we gotta get those runs back to the areas they were a decade ago and I’d have to say that my job would be to make sure that I got the best science in fron of me, that I know whether or not the set net ban is good science or not and at this stage I really count not say I know which way I would rule.”
Lee said those big issues that affect locals should be controlled by locals.
Lee: “I believe that locals should be in charge of their own hunting and fishing regulations. If the city of Kenai, the people around this area want to have certain gear outlawed or certain hunting and fishing limits they’re the ones that would be harmed or helped by those regulations and so those regulations should be based at a local level.”
And Mallott…
Mallott: “I don’t believe that its public policy I think it even violates the intent of our constitution if not the plain language of our constitution. Management decisions of our natural resources be made by referendum or by ballot, it needs to be left to managers and based on scientific principle.”
Current Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell struck down that ballot initiative to ban set netting in urban areas however it was upheld with an appeal and is aimed at being on the ballot in the future.