An interesting twist in the Cook Inlet fish wars

I was planning to continue with Christmas gift ideas, but breaking news compels me to mention this new story first.

Here’s a little background information. If you’re an angler around Cook Inlet, you’re familiar with the unending allocation battles between both the setnet and the driftnet commercial salmon fisheries and the sport, guided sport, personal use, and subsistence fisheries in the Inlet. In 2013, the United Cook Inlet Drift Association filed a lawsuit in federal court to get the feds back into salmon fisheries management in Cook Inlet. UCIDA figured they would get a better deal under federal management than they felt they were getting under state management.The judge sided with UCIDA and ordered the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council to develop a new Fisheries Management Plan governing the Cook Inlet area.

The old FMP gave the state full authority to manage salmon fisheries in Cook Inlet, even in the federal waters (EEZ or exclusive economic zone). These waters range from 3 miles to 200 miles offshore. Meetings began as the feds tried to figure out how to comply with the court order. The area under consideration was fished by the drift fleet with virtually no other participants, so that group was the only fisheries group represented in the various meeting and discussion groups.The NPFMC came up with four alternatives.

These options ranged from full management control by the federal managers, to various combinations of shared management authority between the feds and the state, to total closure of the federally managed waters to any commercial salmon fishing.

The feds were not interested in assuming full management authority.The state argued that the salmon populations could easily be managed, biologically, through commercial fisheries in state waters, and any split management authority would cost both agencies more money. They refused to accept any split management authority. Given the increased funding costs and the nonexistence of any management partner, the NPFMC voted unanimously, with one abstention, to close the federally designated waters of Cook Inlet below Kaligin Island to commercial salmon fishing.

I would never have expected this in a million years. This closure brings all federally managed waters around Alaska into the same management scenario, namely, there is no commercial salmon fishing allowed. This vote makes life as a federal manager easier since all the federal EEZ waters around Alaska are now being managed the same way. There is no additional cost involved and the NPFMC has complied with the court order to develop a new FMP for the area.You can well imagine the outrage by the drifters.

They sued to get a bigger piece of the pie and now lost almost the entire pie. This is a classic example of: “Be careful what you wish for!” I’m sure this will be an ongoing court battle which will take years to finally resolve if it ever is.

But let’s talk about some gift ideas in the meantime. Fishing items number in the thousands, ranging from a new rod or reel and line, to a wide range of lure types. Landing nets, hip boots and untold “gadgets” to make fishing easier and better are out there. Prices range from a few dollars to, literally, hundreds or even thousands to purchase top-end equipment. If you have the opportunity, browse the sporting goods stores in their fishing sections or go online to see the almost unlimited array of gift ideas.

One much appreciated gift would be a new fishing license and king stamp for the new year. Another would be a fly-tying class or materials and equipment to make that style of fishing lure. There also are other equipment set-ups available for making spinning lures and for assembling spoons and other terminal tackle. A kit to make a new fishing rod is an option if your angler is a do-it-yourself type and is looking for an indoor, winter project.

One gift idea that would serve hunting, fishing, camping and everyday living is a good multi-tool with carry pouch. I have a couple of different kinds I keep with my hunting and fishing gear. My favorite is the Leatherman Wave brand and model. When I bought mine, a small kit which attached to the Wave and contained the mounting device and interchangeable screwdriver bits was available. It came in a small plastic case. I bought it. While looking at other items online recently, I found an upgraded version of this same screwdriver attachment kit. It’s currently on my wish list for my next order.