An open letter to Board of Fish Members

In response to Howard Delo’s column in the Friday, Sept. 5 edition regarding potential Board of Fisheries issues that could affect salmon fishing in the Mat-Su Valley, the following is my letter to the Board of Fish. I encourage all Valley residents who value salmon fishing in the Valley to read Howard’s column from last week and forward their comments to the Board of Fish online at 1.usa.gov/1sm5DHu.

Dear Board of Fish

Members:

I would like to express my delight in the successful outcome of this fishing season due to the wise decisions of last winter’s Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries meeting in Anchorage.

Numbers don’t lie and the fact is in the weir count. Over 23,000 Coho salmon passed through to their spawning grounds on the Little Susitna River this past summer. Last year there were approximately 13,000 that passed through the weir.

As residents of this great state for the past 35 years, now representing the senior populace on a set income, my husband and I were able to lighten the financial burden on the grocery budget by harvesting food for our freezer to assist us in getting through the winter with a healthful diet of Coho salmon.

As grandparents, we were able to pass on the joy of fishing to our 6-year-old granddaughter as we watched her catch her first and second Coho salmon. To share and teach our grandchildren about nature and the wilderness is an important legacy we should all be taking time to do before they are lost and completely consumed by technology of personal use devices.

Sport fishing has a positive effect on our local tourism industry. We had family from out of state visit this past summer. They not only had a successful once-in-a-lifetime experience with a local river guide service (Andy Couch with Fishtale River Guides), they purchased groceries, ate at our local restaurants, did some local sightseeing and visited other local points of interest with local businesses.

Thank you again, for making the important decisions you made at your last meeting. It has already made a big difference in one season. I look forward to experiencing the balance that you have brought back to our rivers and communities in the years ahead.

Lastly, I ask that you bring your next Board of Fish meeting to the Mat-Su Valley. It has been held in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. I know the Valley community would appreciate the opportunity to host the Board.

Joan C. Nininger

Wasilla