A pink salmon fights to escape an angler’s hook Aug. 24, 2016, near the Soldotna Visitor’s Center in Soldotna. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Congress appropriates $200M for fisheries disasters

Commercial fishermen across the Gulf of Alaska might finally receive some checks from the federal government after the pink salmon disaster in 2016. The most… Continue reading

A pink salmon fights to escape an angler’s hook Aug. 24, 2016, near the Soldotna Visitor’s Center in Soldotna. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Anglers try their luck for king salmon on the Anchor River on Saturday, May 20, 2017 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing license sales drop in 2017

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s sportfishing license sales fell last year, even while its revenue from license sales increased. The department was expecting… Continue reading

Anglers try their luck for king salmon on the Anchor River on Saturday, May 20, 2017 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Local governments try again for central peninsula fish board meeting

Editor's note: This story has been changed to clarify the Board of Fish's meeting location decision at their October 2017 worksession. Advocates are again seeking… Continue reading

Fish and Game looks to spread use of rockfish deepwater release devices

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the fact that nonpelagic rockfish experience barotrauma no matter how fast they are reeled up by anglers.… Continue reading

Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Cuts in commercial fishing budgets lead to reductions in staffing

Budget cuts at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have led to reductions in staffing in the commercial fishing division, leading to a potential… Continue reading

Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Low silver returns to Seward in 2016 mean fewer to stock in 2018

The coho salmon returns to Seward may be slow next year, though Homer may see a boost in returns to the fishing lagoon on the… Continue reading

Gary Fandrei, the executive director of Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, stands for a portrait on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. After 27 years with the organization, Fandrei is preparing to retire. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

CIAA director looks back at career

Out in the Alaska wilds, it’s easy to miss the subtler goings on: a wolverine passing through the underbrush, the sound of a bear snuffling… Continue reading

Gary Fandrei, the executive director of Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, stands for a portrait on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. After 27 years with the organization, Fandrei is preparing to retire. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai council discusses dipnet vendors

Kenai council discusses dipnet vendors

As Kenai’s city government more actively attempts to make the summer dipnet fishery a boost to the local economy, beach vendors may be getting some… Continue reading

Kenai council discusses dipnet vendors
Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Bill would authorize east side setnet permit buyback

The Legislature is set to consider a buyback program for commercial fishing permits in Cook Inlet’s east side setnet fishery. The east side setnet fishery… Continue reading

Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Mary Sattler Peltola, one of the Alaska Humanities Forum’s inaugural group of Alaska Salmon Fellows, speaks to the attendees at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Salmon Fellows program seeks to broaden fish conversations

The Alaska Humanities Forum is trying to cool some of the heated tension between salmon fishermen in the state. The nonprofit, which operates a number… Continue reading

Mary Sattler Peltola, one of the Alaska Humanities Forum’s inaugural group of Alaska Salmon Fellows, speaks to the attendees at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Pink salmon mill in the shallows of Resurrection Creek near its confluence with Cook Inlet on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 in Hope, Alaska. Pink salmon can return to the river in large numbers in the late summer and early fall. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

A look at the salmon habitat ballot initiative

The deadline for a ballot initiative to revise Alaska’s salmon habitat permitting laws is approaching, with deep divides remaining even among fishermen. The Stand for… Continue reading

Pink salmon mill in the shallows of Resurrection Creek near its confluence with Cook Inlet on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 in Hope, Alaska. Pink salmon can return to the river in large numbers in the late summer and early fall. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association leader to retire

The executive director of Cook Inlet’s regional hatchery organization is planning to step down. Gary Fandrei, the executive director of Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, announced… Continue reading

Joint board of fish, game considers meeting

The two boards regulating fisheries and game in the state are considering a joint meeting next spring. The Joint Board, which brings together the members… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commission to consider cutting halibut catch quotas

Halibut fishermen may see a reduction in the total amount of fish they’re allowed to catch in 2018. Data presented to the International Pacific Halibut… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Hearing officer orders fines, removal of rock in Dow Island gravel case

A state hearing officer has decided that the two men accused of illegally dumping gravel in the Kenai River this summer have to remove the… Continue reading

The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This map shades in red the 7.5 miles of the Kenai River upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to classify as an impaired water body because of its high turbity, or levels of suspended sediment. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

State, feds to determine next steps after turbidity report

The state must now address the fact that excessive motor boat traffic in July has made a section of the lower Kenai River too muddy.… Continue reading

This map shades in red the 7.5 miles of the Kenai River upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to classify as an impaired water body because of its high turbity, or levels of suspended sediment. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Jim Butler, a Kenai attorney and Cook Inlet commercial setnet fisherman, addresses a question during a forum on salmon habitat policy at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association’s headquarters Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. A group of panelists discussed the merits of the current salmon habitat permitting process, contained within Title 16 of the Alaska Administrative Code, and a proposed ballot initiative that would significantly tighten restrictions on permitting for projects that impact salmon streams. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Panel opens up conversation on salmon habitat policy reform

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the two commercial fishermen on the panel did not support the Stand for Salmon ballot… Continue reading

Jim Butler, a Kenai attorney and Cook Inlet commercial setnet fisherman, addresses a question during a forum on salmon habitat policy at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association’s headquarters Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. A group of panelists discussed the merits of the current salmon habitat permitting process, contained within Title 16 of the Alaska Administrative Code, and a proposed ballot initiative that would significantly tighten restrictions on permitting for projects that impact salmon streams. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Gary Dawkins, owner of Gary’s Auto Electric, removes an old headlight from a customer’s van Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at his shop near Soldotna, Alaska. After more than 30 years in the business, Dawkins will close Gary’s Auto Electric on Friday with one additional clearout opening scheduled for Jan. 15. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

After 3 decades, Gary’s Auto Electric to close

A mismatched collection of items welcomes visitors to Gary’s Auto Electric. A dog the size of a black lab puppy but with grey hair around… Continue reading

Gary Dawkins, owner of Gary’s Auto Electric, removes an old headlight from a customer’s van Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at his shop near Soldotna, Alaska. After more than 30 years in the business, Dawkins will close Gary’s Auto Electric on Friday with one additional clearout opening scheduled for Jan. 15. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A smartphone user interacts with the Dipnet Kenai app — created by the city of Kenai for the 2017 dipnet fishery — on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Peninsual Clarion office in Kenai. In its debut year, the app had 8,474 downloads. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnet Kenai app looks back on debut year

Kenai is shifting the emphasis of how it manages the roughly 20,000 personal-use dipnet fishermen who come to town from July 10–31 from merely keeping… Continue reading

A smartphone user interacts with the Dipnet Kenai app — created by the city of Kenai for the 2017 dipnet fishery — on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Peninsual Clarion office in Kenai. In its debut year, the app had 8,474 downloads. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai reviews 2017 dipnet

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the number of dipnet transactions in 2013. When the Kenai city council took its annual look… Continue reading