Public forum ahead of much-anticipated fishing conference tonight at Cabela's in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — The Kenai River Sportsfishing Association (KRSA) is hosting a public forum tonight at 6 p.m. at Cabela's in Anchorage on 174 submitted proposals by the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF). Among them are four Mat-Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission (MSBFWC) proposals.

The BOF will hold its Upper Cook Inlet Finfish Conference Feb. 23-March 8 at the Sheraton Hotel in Anchorage. Thursday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 25 is earmarked for oral public testimony, including advisory committee reports.

MSBFWC's proposals center around: restricting commercial fishing near the Little Susitna River and Knik Arm when the sport fishery is closed to bait; closing commercial fishing near the Little Susitna when more than half the Northern District streams with king salmon are closed to sport harvest; establishing sport fishery closure times on Larsen Creek drainage; and creating a Deshka River king salmon management plan.

A committee of the whole will consider 10 proposals each for northern district commercial salmon and Susitna River sports fisheries. Committee discussion includes the four from MSBFWC. Thirteen proposals for the Knik River--Anchorage area will be on the table. The following includes Mat-Su related proposals and number under consideration.

Northern District

Northern District Commercial Salmon: 209--Repeal the Northern District King Salmon Management Plan. 211--Close the Northern District commercial set gillnet fishery until the first regular period after June 24, if the Susitna River sport fishery is restricted by emergency order. 210--Repeal and readopt management plan to fully utilize surplus salmon stocks based on the abundance of salmon returning to the Northern District. 212--Close the commercial set gillnet fishery in the Northern District on August 15. 213--Close commercial fishing within one mile of Little Susitna River when the Little Susitna River sport fishery is restricted to no bait.

214--Close commercial fishing within one mile of the Little Susitna River when more than half of Northern District streams with king salmon escapement goals are closed to sport harvest of king salmon or when the Little Susitna River sport fishery is restricted by emergency order. 215--Close commercial fishing within one mile of the Little Susitna River, if the Little Susitna River king salmon sport fishery is restricted to harvest less than 7 days per week and artificial lures by emergency order. 216--Close waters within one-statute mile of the Little Susitna River to commercial fishing.

217--Remove the Eastern Sub-district of the Northern District from commercial set gillnet restrictions that apply July 20–August 6.

Susitna River

230--Create a Deshka River King Salmon Management Plan. 231--Create a Susitna River King Salmon Management Plan. 219--Allow an un-baited, single-hook, artificial lure, no retention fishery on resident species when waters of Montana Creek are closed to fishing for king salmon. 221--Prohibit harvest of king salmon in units 2, 3, 5 and 6, except Willow Creek. 223--Prohibit king salmon fishing in Unit 2 if no retention is allowed. 220 Establish sport fishery closure times in the Larsen Creek drainage.

222--Prohibit fishing for king, sockeye, and coho salmon in the Larson Creek drainage. 226--Create a bag limit of one hatchery king salmon in the Susitna River drainage. 227--Allow harvest of hatchery king salmon when emergency orders restrict the sport fishery. 229--Reduce the maximum legal size for rainbow trout in Byers Creek from 20 to 16 inches.

Knik River

233--Extend the area closed to sport fishing downstream of the Little Susitna weir. 225--Reduce the bag limits for salmon, other than king salmon, and prohibit releasing coho salmon. 232--Modify the Fish Creek personal use fishery to accommodate a new Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) range. 228--Increase the hours open to fishing in Fish Creek. 235--Increase the hours open to fishing on Cottonwood Creek. 236 Increase the hours open to fishing in the Wasilla Creek / Rabbit Slough drainage.

234--Open waters in a closed area on Wasilla Creek within 300 feet of Palmer Fishhook Road to sport fishing. 224--Restrict hours and dates open to fishing on Jim Creek. 237--Amend the regulations for the Anchorage Bowl Drainages to allow harvest of salmon, other than king salmon, that are less than 16 inches in length. 238--Add Lower Sixmile Lake to the list of stocked lakes. 240--Close all fishing on a portion of Campbell Creek when that portion is not open to coho salmon fishing. 239--Create a youth-only fishery on Ship Creek. 241--Extend the area closed to sport fishing on Ship Creek.

For more information on tonight's meeting and links to the BOF agenda, complete proposals list and roadmap, visit: us11.campaign-archive1.com

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