Members of the Alaskan House have responded following last week’s decision from the Federal Subsistence Board to allow for subsistence gillnetting in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers.
Representative Les Gara of Anchorage submitted his public comments on the issue and stated: “Our fish unites Alaskans of all backgrounds, whether they sport, subsistence or commercial fish. This week’s ruling unnecessarily puts Alaskans at each other’s throats.”
Representative Mike Chenault also weighed in.
Rep. Chenault (R-Nikiski) : “I agree with Les on this issue that this is not the place to be putting gillnets, especially in a time of low king salmon returns and so on I don’t think that we ought to put any more pressure on that river system than we currently are.”
He also encouraged the public to submit public comments to the Federal Subsistence Board since the decision is subject to reconsideration.
Rep. Chenault (R-Nikiski) : “They’re still taking some public testimony and I think that the public should weigh in on it if they’re concerned about having that proposal move forward then they ought to be weighing in, I think the vote was 4-3, three agencies that voted against it and four that voted for it, people ought to weigh in on that on a federal level and make sure their voices are heard.”
The proposals passed by the board allowed for sockeye subsistence fishers to use gillnets in the Kenai and Kasilof rivers.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game spoke with us before and voiced concern over the last few years’ low king salmon returns and how the gillnetting in the Kenai would affect various trout populations.