The Alaska Board of Fisheries statewide meeting begins this Saturday in Anchorage, and will include proposals relevant to Cook Inlet anglers.

The meeting was pushed back to March 26 through April 2 because of scheduling complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board members will not only discuss fishing issues in Cook Inlet, but also in Kodiak and Prince William Sound. These fisheries include westward and arctic shellfish, shellfish general provisions, Prince William Sound shrimp, and supplemental issues.

According to the agenda, Saturday and Sunday, as well as part of Monday, are reserved for public testimony.

Additionally on Monday, the committee will begin to work through 10 proposals related to sport fishing in Cook Inlet, personal use fishing and subsistence clams. Board deliberations for those proposals will begin the morning of Tuesday, March 29.

Another 16 proposals, some of which are pertinent to the Cook Inlet region, will be discussed Wednesday, March 30.

On Thursday, March 31, the Board will deliberate on proposal 283, a contentious fishing issue on the Kenai Peninsula. This proposal would amend the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan to allow a 600-foot set gillnet fishery by emergency order once a certain number of large kings have made escapement goals.

Last summer, king salmon sport fishing closures on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, as well as Cook Inlet north of Bluff Point, shut down the east side setnet commercial fishery. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game made the call to shut down the fisheries because of projected data that kings would not reach their escapement goals by the end of last season’s late run.

The full proposal 283 can be viewed on the ADFG website by clicking on the “Proposal Book” link on the Board of Fisheries webpage.

Friday, April 1, the Board will deliberate on the proposals, including 283. The meeting ends April 2.

The full agenda for the Cook Inlet meeting can be found by clicking on the “Meeting Information” link on the Board of Fisheries webpage. Board of Fisheries meetings can be attended in person at the Egan Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, or livestreamed at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.main.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.