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Commercial sport fishing guides aren't willing to take a potential new stipulation regarding personal flotation devices lying face down.

Guides may be asked, as part of their stipulation agreement, to require anglers in their boats to wear class III PFD's at all times.

One of the requirements in obtaining a Kenai River Commercial Guide Permit from the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is that guides sign off on a set of stipulations they must adhere to.

The stipulations largely address guide conduct both on and off the river.

As part of U.S. Coast Guard requirements, all guide vessels already carry class I PFDs.

Dave Goggia, vice president of the Kenai River Professional Guide Association, said he's been receiving calls from worried members left and right.

"We've just been inundated with calls and e-mails from various guides in and outside the state," he said. "They're very concerned."

Goggia said the new stipulation would be a costly burden to place on business owners in a season of economic woes.

"If we were to put life jackets on all boats to handle all our clients, from children to 350-pound adult males, it would cost an awful lot," he said.

Goggia doesn't understand where the stipulation came from.

"If there was some historical background or real concern then we could understand," he said.

Goggia said he supports making the river a safer place but thinks this is going a little bit too far.

"As guides we pride ourselves on being the safest, most knowledgeable people on the river as result of the guide academy," he said. "We try to ensure safety on the river and we're all about trying to be safe, but we don't want to overdo it."

Additionally Goggia said some clients might not like wearing vests as they're uncomfortable or might impede their ability to fight fish.

"To get comfortable ones that fit everyone wouldn't be cost effective," he said.

Fueling more frustration within the industry is the fact that some guides feel that DPOR singled them out.

"Some of the guides just don't like being singled out; that really gets there dander up," Goggia said.

Ricky Gease, executive director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, said his group advocates safety, but didn't know if targeting guided anglers was the solution.

"I understand how people in the guiding community could feel separated out," Gease said. "If it truly is a public safety issue it should apply to all people."

Gease said if there was enough public and official support, the requirement should be mandated at a state level.

Jack Sinclair, area superintendent for DPOR, said he sees the stipulation as the first step in setting a precedent.

"From my standpoint, they're the leaders in the industry. They show the standards in safety. If they always wear them, even if they have low risk, they're not the only one's on the river. They lead the industry in what they do and people tend to follow that," he said.

Eventually he does see the potential to require all users on the river to wear PFDs.

"I think the intent is that eventually the public will have to do something to this nature as well," he said. "We want to have the safest river."

Sinclair said he understands that the new stipulation carries with it a costly price tag.

"For this to be laid down right now, that's a considerable additional investment at this time and we have to see what we can do to make this less of an impact," he said.

Sinclair said the 2009 stipulations haven't been made public yet as they are still in the process of discussing them.

This potential stipulation, though it's raised many eyebrows, may not even be included this year.

"Some of the guides are thinking that this is what's happening, but I want to caution that we're still discussing how we're implementing it, and whether it happens this year or the next or the next, is yet to be decided," he said.

Goggia, who said his organization was planning to meet with Sinclair today, was open to different ideas.

He noted that some members have even stepped forward and offered to test out the stipulation this year.

"We feel pretty confident that we can work things out with state parks," he said.

Sinclair said a decision will be made by the next KRSMA meeting Feb. 12. The stipulation letter is sent out to guides no later than mid-February.

Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com