Healthy salmon populations are important

To the editor:

A representative of Alaska Salmon Alliance, Arni Thomson, recently submitted a Spectrum article that made several statements about the Mat-Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission that are incorrect.

The MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission is a volunteer group appointed by the Borough Assembly to represent the interests of the borough in the preservation and allocation of fish, game and habitat. The commission holds monthly meetings that are announced on the borough calendar and are open to the public.

Thomson has attended several of their meetings and routinely engaged in discussions and providing information, which is why his misstatements are so puzzling.

The commission has been a borough entity for more than seven years, commissioners have worked with numerous groups around the Mat-Su to educate and inform citizens of the issues adversely affecting Cook Inlet salmon fisheries.

These groups include Alaska Department of Fish and Game Advisory Councils (Mat Valley, and Susitna River Advisory Committees’), Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, local Chambers of Commerce, Mat-Su legislators. Commissioners have organized a variety of public meetings with Fish and Game in the Mat-Su to learn about seasonal fisheries management practices and projections for upcoming fishing seasons. They have held fisheries information sessions for Mat-Su legislators and elected officials in the Mat-Su and in Juneau.

As chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, l met in March 2013 with Thomson and representatives from Kenai River Sportfishing Association and Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association to discuss mutual fisheries concerns and solutions. We jointly signed a letter addressed to Senate and House leaders requesting funding for acoustics surveys, genetics research and beaver dam notching, which was copied to the Governor.

Fish and Wildlife Commissioners have been long-time supporters of culvert replacement programs to eliminate barriers to fish passage conducted by Mat-Su Borough, Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners.

In 2013, the commission requested and received funds from the Legislature for culvert replacements ($900,000). We also supported an ordinance to establish culvert standards that are designed for fish passage that passed Assembly unanimously last year.

To say that Fish and Game is “has done very little beyond studying” in reference to pike problems as Thomson stated is simply false. Dave Rutz, Fish and Game Fisheries Biologist, gave a public talk about their pike suppression fieldwork at the 2013 Salmon Symposium in Palmer, which was attended by more than 100 people, including Thomson. Fish and Game pike suppression efforts have shown results in returning some salmon runs to previously infested areas.

The borough commission has support and will continue to support efforts to ensure healthy fisheries for all users -subsistence, personal use, sport, commercial both resident and nonresident. Healthy salmon populations are important for our communities, businesses and economy throughout Cook Inlet.

Bruce Knowles

Willow