A map of Kachemak Bay State Park shows proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)

A map of Kachemak Bay State Park shows proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)

Opinion: Rep. Vance’s bill is anti-fishermen

House Bill 52 burdens 98.5% of Cook Inlet fishermen.

It authorizes Exclusive Right and Privilege for Tutka pink hatchery to exploit Kachemak Bay’s State Park and critical shellfish Habitat.

Vance knows full well 590 setnet and 502 drift businesses are denied access to participate in this exclusive, privileged, inaccessible Lower Cook Inlet Tutka Hatchery fishery.

HB52 sanctions Cook Inlet Aquaculture’s self-serving appropriation of $20 million in 2% Salmon Enhancement Taxes (SET). This annual tax fleeces 1092 Inlet businesses, valuable wild sockeye harvest.

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In exchange for CIAA’s failing no-benefit boondoggles, fishermen are bamboozled with misleading PR lip service, glossy annual reports, future promise, failed inaccessible hatcheries, disease and damage to wild systems and species of concern.

Yet CIAA’s annual $4.5 million hatchery expense allows only 17 out of 1109 Area H fishermen access.

Vance’s HB52 Tutka hatchery bail-out campaign endorses CIAA’s delusional empire to use as its own private ATM machine. This malfunctioning ATM is hemorrhaging $17,000,000 out-of-control debt loans to resuscitate failed inaccessible diseased Tutka hatchery. Holding hostage all limited entry permits.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul, HB52 obscures misdealings of Cook Inlet Aquaculture’s insolvency. Using this fiscally irresponsible swindle swop House bill squarely burdens 1092 fishermen, who physically have no access, and have no preference for pink salmon.

CIAA’s use of public trust wild fishery nurseries as an ATM machine for self-service must cease.

HB52 demands scrutiny to expose Rep Vance’s deceptive intentions on this misguided fiscally irresponsible exclusive comrade privilege.

Tutka Hatchery is illegal, makes other hatcheries look bad, and needs to go away.

Wes Humbyrd, Homer

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