Fisheries discussions a big part of the offseason

Last week’s meeting with the two Fish and Game fisheries divisions went about like I had imagined it would. The department answered all the questions they received prior to the meeting, in writing, and gave some updates on the genetics work being done around Cook Inlet.

I don’t recall hearing any earth shattering information or revelations. There will always be disagreement between the Northern District sport fishing interests and the Central District commercial fisheries in how they are managed. While the various management plans mandate managing the commercial fisheries to minimize problems in the sports fisheries, it seems that is rarely actually done. Or so it appeared this past season.

To broadly summarize, the 2016 season showed below average catches and returns in both the commercial and sport fisheries for kings, silvers, and sockeyes. There were plenty of both pinks and chums to go around, but there two species are not normally the main targets of either sport or commercial fishing effort.

When asked why certain management actions were taken in the commercial fishery – the glaring one being allowing extra fishing time based on a known overestimate of sockeye run strength in the Central District — the answer basically went two ways. First, the management plan was followed to the letter of the law; and second, “we’ve always done it that way and won’t change even when we know we’re wrong.”

The fisheries management plans governing how Cook Inlet fisheries are to be managed are based on science but written to allow the managers to apply the “art” of fisheries management, depending on the specific situations encountered each season. The plans are written loosely enough to allow discretion in management decisions by department biologists. Most of the disagreements in management actions arise from how this discretion is, or is not, applied at any particular time during the season, as things develop.

While we’re talking fisheries, I want to remind you that the Ninth Annual Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium will be held in Palmer at the train depot on November 17-18. It’s too late to register, but if you have some free time between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m each day, stop by anyway. You’ll be amazed at what you will hear and learn. I’m sure the folks sponsoring this event can figure out some way you can attend for the time you have. Evening activities are scheduled for both evenings as well.

The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habit Partnership is the sponsoring group and they are an amazing group of individuals and private and public sector agencies (over 60 at last count) which have come together to study, improve, and protect fish habitat throughout the Mat-Su area.

The first time I attended this symposium, I was “blown away” with the diversity and amount of fish habitat related research, improvement projects, and critical habitat protection efforts going on here in the Valley. Several federal and state agencies have committed large amounts of money toward these efforts. Private sector individuals and companies are equally as committed. I was very impressed, to say the least!

Shifting to dry land topics, the Alaska Board of Game has issued a call for proposed changes to regulations for general and subsistence hunting seasons and bag limits for moose and caribou in the Copper Basin Area, Units 11, 12, and 13, including Tier I, Tier II, and community subsistence hunts, and amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence uses.

Quoting from the news release, “You are encouraged to submit proposals at the earliest possible date on Board of Game proposal forms available from the Boards Support Section regional offices and on the website at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.proposal. All proposals must contain an individual’s name or an organizational name if appropriate, contact telephone number, and address.”

Continuing, “Providing clarity on the proposal form helps the board, advisory committees, and the public more fully understand the proposed regulatory changes. Proposals that are incomplete or unclear may be omitted from the proposal book. You are encouraged to contact the Boards Support Section staff if you have questions or need assistance with completing the proposal form.”

Proposals must be received by 5 pm Monday, Nov. 28, 2016 at the Boards Support Section office in Juneau. (A postmark is not sufficient for timely receipt). Proposals received per this deadline will be considered by the Board of Game at a special meeting scheduled for March 2017. Dates and location for the meeting have not yet been set.