Learning about Mat-Su salmon fisheries

Wednesday December 7 starting at 5 p.m. in the Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly Chambers participate in a public opportunity to get the latest updates on Mat-Su salmon. This will be a 2022 summary meeting with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) providing fishery information updates and answering questions about Mat-Su fisheries from the Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. In addition there will be opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about Mat-Su fisheries and express their concerns. According to Ted Eischeid ( Borough Staff member for the Commission), “For the fishing public this may be the best meeting of the entire year to learn what is happening in Mat-Su fisheries, and at the same time to voice concerns about Mat-Su fisheries to both the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Fish and Wildlife Commission.”

During previous years Mat-Su Valley legislators and / or their staff members have attended this meeting. This column provides a formal invitation for them to attend this year’s meeting — to both get updates on Mat-Su fisheries and hear from constituents about fishery issues.

In addition to learning summary information from the 2022 season, this meeting will likely provide some indication as to what management approaches ADF&G may use during the upcoming 2023 season. During past meetings this has included updates on potential king salmon regulations, and updates on Mat-Su weir operational plans.

In the past Mat-Su weirs have provided important management information for subsistence, sport, personal use, and commercial fisheries harvesting king salmon, sockeye salmon, and coho salmon returning to Mat-Su and other Northern Cook Inlet streams. Recently, with reduced operating budgets caused at least partially by the Covid -19 pandemic, some Mat-Su weirs have been providing only partial season data or in the case of two Mat-Su weir projects, no data at all for the past 3 years.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has caused serious budget shortfalls affecting multiple Alaska fishery management projects, it has for all practical purposes created and expanded many opportunities to attend and participate in public meetings online rather than in person. While inperson meetings can provide more opportunity to interact with multiple people both during and after a meeting, having an online opportunity has allowed many people to participate from remote areas or when travel or weather concerns pop up at inopportune times. Several members of the Fish and Wildlife Commission have used an online opportunity to participate in meetings they could not attend. It can take a bit of trial and error, and getting used to the format, but the public is encouraged to participate both in person and through the online option. Below is the Borough calendar listing for this meeting:

MSB Fish & Wildlife Commission Special Meeting Re: Fisheries Season Summary

When: Wed, December 7, 5 pm – 7pm

Where: Assembly Chambers, 350 E Dahlia Ave, Palmer, AK 99645, USA & Teams Meeting ID: 228 746 250 053 Passcode: 323h64

For people wanting more specific or additional information on how to participate online contact Ted Eischeid with the Mat-Su Borough at 907-861-8606. Note: it is usually best to contact Ted during business hours on Monday or Tuesday.

Note: in last week’s fishing column I mentioned an incorrect start time for this Dec. 7 meeting — as mentioned above the correct start time is 5 p.m.

Please join me in participation at this meeting. I plan to participate online.

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su fishing guide and Mat-Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission member.