The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reminding residents who utilized the Upper Cook Inlet personal-use fisheries this year to turn in their permits by Friday.
This includes permits used for dipnetting on the Kenai, Fish Creek and Kasilof rivers, as well as personal-use setnetting on the Kasilof River.
Even if a permit holder did not use the personal-use fisheries, or was not able to catch fish, the permits must still be returned.
Sport Fish Area Management Biologist Robert Begich said permit holders that fail to comply can be subject to a $200 fine.
Anyone who does not return the permit will receive a reminder after Aug. 15.
“It is important to collect or receive permit returns to give the department estimates about the harvest of salmon by species and by location,” Begich said.
“The harvest information is used to estimate the total number of salmon in runs to various rivers where personal use fisheries occur which is important to managing the salmon stocks for sustainability.”
Permit information is also used in the Board of Fisheries regulatory process, Begich said.
There are options for permit holders whose permit was lost or damaged, and Fish and Game has specific directions for properly documenting how the permits were used this season.
Permits can be turned in at local offices, or mailed to the Fish and Game Anchorage office.
Kelly Sullivan can be reached at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com.
