Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Spend plan moves forward for 2021 and 2022 setnet fishery disasters

The National Marine Fisheries Service in June allocated $11,484,675 to address losses from the 2021 and 2022 fisheries

A final draft spend plan for federal funds responding to a disaster determination for the 2021 and 2022 Upper Cook Inlet east side setnet fisheries was forwarded by the State Department of Fish and Game to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission on Wednesday. The commission will distribute the funds once the grant is approved.

A public notice from the department says that the National Marine Fisheries Service in June allocated $11,484,675 to address losses from the 2021 and 2022 fisheries. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce made the disaster determination in April, responding to an October request from Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The ESSN has faced significant restrictions in recent years to protect king salmon. Those restrictions culminated in a complete season closure announced months before their scheduled start in 2023. This year, the fishery is again entirely closed, but some openings have been allowed with dipnets — which received approval by the State Board of Fisheries and emergency approval by the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.

Since July, the department has completed three revisions of a draft spend plan responding to a total of 73 written comments. The draft plan says that 62% of the money, around $7 million, will be dispersed to harvesters. Around $3 million will go to processors, $1 million to research, $300,000 to communities and $11,000 for program support.

Funding for harvesters is separated into two pools. The larger share, 90%, will go to permit holders who have a valid and registered S04H permit with the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission and who purchased a buoy sticker for 2021 or 2022. The plan says there are 422 eligible permits in 2021 and 402 eligible permits in 2022.

Crew will receive the remaining 10%. To receive payment a crew member must have held an annual crew license or a CFEC permit for any fishery. They must provide information to show they participated as crew in either the 2021 or 2022 seasons, and someone cannot qualify as both permit holder and crew in the same year.

Communities that “may be eligible” for funds are Homer, Kenai, Soldotna and the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Research “suggested” in the plan include increasing understanding of “specific mechanisms” that drive productivity of Kenai River late-run king salmon, improvements to forecasting of king salmon, exploration of the impacts of large sockeye salmon escapements and evaluation of “alternative gear types aimed at reducing harvest of weak stocks.”

The department writes that the plan has been forwarded to the commission, “once the grant is approved, PSMFC can begin the fund distribution process.”

A draft plan was previously submitted to the commission for the 2018 ESSN and 2020 Upper Cook Inlet salmon fisheries in September 2023. Funds have not yet been distributed for either of those disasters.

The Alaska Delegation — Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Peltola — announced last month that $277 million had been allocated by the U.S. Department of Commerce to address delayed funding for fishery disasters in Alaska, including the local 2018 and 2020 disasters, but the commission says that funding still has yet to be received.

The offices of all three members of the delegation did not respond to questions about that announcement on Sept. 20.

A third local disaster determination was also recognized for the 2023 Upper Cook Inlet east side setnet salmon fishery in June. The National Marine Fisheries Service hasn’t yet allocated funds for that disaster.

The draft plans can be found at either adfg.alaska.gov or in Alaska’s Online Public Notices.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Poll worker Carol Louthan helps voters submit ballots at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Strong turnout reported as voters head to polls

Several residents said that they came out to vote because they knew this election was “a big one.”

Seward City Clerk Kris Peck, right, administers an oath of office to Seward City Council newcomer Casie Warner during a council meeting in Seward, Alaska, on Oct. 28, 2024. (Screenshot courtesy City of Seward)
Seward City Council swears in winners of October municipal election

They were sworn in two weeks after the council certified its election results

Duane Bannock speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough’s tourism industry working group takes shape

The group will explore the effects of a potential bed tax

Assembly Member Peter Ribbens speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ribbens, Cooper named new heads of borough assembly

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly reorganized during their Oct. 22 meeting

A special weather statement for the western Kenai Peninsula was issued Monday by the National Weather Service. The area will see strong gusty winds and rain late tonight and through Tuesday morning. A winter storm warning remains in effect from 3 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday for areas of the eastern peninsula. (Image via weather.gov)
Windy weather heads for western Kenai Peninsula

The western Kenai Peninsula will experience some windy and wet conditions Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board of Fish to consider set beach seines for east side setnet fishery

Seines were tested on local beaches this summer in effort helmed by Lisa and Brian Gabriel

Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board of Fish to consider expansion of commercial dipnetting fishery

Discussion of expanded time, days and season of commercial dipnet fishery scheduled for March

The Alaska Board of Fisheries hears public testimony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 18, 1999. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)
Board of Fisheries again declines to hold Upper Cook Inlet meeting on Kenai Peninsula

The State Board of Fisheries this week rejected calls from the Kenai… Continue reading

Most Read