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From left, Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, east side setnetter Ken Coleman and Konrad Jackson present information about a bill establishing a voluntary buyback program for east side setnet fishery permits during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Senate committee hears setnet buyback bill

The East Side of Cook Inlet Set Net Fleet Reduction Act is sponsored by Nikiski Sen. Jesse Bjorkman

From left, Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, east side setnetter Ken Coleman and Konrad Jackson present information about a bill establishing a voluntary buyback program for east side setnet fishery permits during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Orion Willis, a student of Soldotna Montessori, holds up a rainbow trout he caught during Salmon in the Classroom ice fishing at Sport Lake in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Fish on!’

Students try ice fishing during Fish and Game’s ‘Salmon in the Classroom’ event

Orion Willis, a student of Soldotna Montessori, holds up a rainbow trout he caught during Salmon in the Classroom ice fishing at Sport Lake in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Public comment open for Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries meeting

Nearly 200 proposals will be deliberated upon during the meeting

Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Todd Smith, who sits in a commercial fishing set net seat, discusses proposals during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory committee supports dipnets, shorter nets for commercial fisheries

The meeting was among a series scheduled to set recommendations ahead of the Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meeting next month

Todd Smith, who sits in a commercial fishing set net seat, discusses proposals during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)

State responds to proposed Cook Inlet EEZ management

A proposed rule would implement federal management on commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone

Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)
Cook Inlet Coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game Matt Miller and Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee Members Greg Springer and Monte Roberts discuss proposals to the the State Board of Fisheries at a committee meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory committee tackles sport fishing in latest meeting

The meeting was among a series slated to set recommendations on nearly 200 proposals to the State Board of Fisheries

Cook Inlet Coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game Matt Miller and Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee Members Greg Springer and Monte Roberts discuss proposals to the the State Board of Fisheries at a committee meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Scott Daletas, Monte Roberts and Jerry Strieby, all of whom sit in sport fishing guide seats, discuss proposals during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Optimal escapement goal supported at advisory committee meeting

How many king salmon does it take to rebuild a run, and what restrictions should be in place to protect king salmon? Those were questions… Continue reading

Scott Daletas, Monte Roberts and Jerry Strieby, all of whom sit in sport fishing guide seats, discuss proposals during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A freshly stocked rainbow trout swims in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game accepting comment on sport fish stocking plan

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is accepting public comment on its 2024 Statewide Stocking Plan for Sport Fisheries until the end of the… Continue reading

A freshly stocked rainbow trout swims in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An 86 pound Kenai River king salmon is measured by fishing guide Jeff Moore in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 1995. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion File)

A stock of concern: Board of Fish to consider action plan for king salmon management

Kenai River late-run king salmon have failed to meet the board-set optimal escapement goal in the four years it has been in place

An 86 pound Kenai River king salmon is measured by fishing guide Jeff Moore in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 1995. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion File)
Doug Vincent-Lang is commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (Courtesy Photo)

Opinion: Banning Russian seafood imports is good for Alaska

Alaska has been under attack for almost a decade by Russia’s lack of sustainable fishing practices and artificially low prices

Doug Vincent-Lang is commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (Courtesy Photo)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion) Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Fish makes changes to Lower Cook Inlet king salmon and rockfish regs

The State Board of Fisheries met in Homer last month

Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion) Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory committee supports protections for lake trout and king salmon

Advisory committee recommendations will be weighed by the State Board of Fisheries alongside public testimony as they deliberate on each proposal

Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Silver salmon, personal use fishing discussed by advisory committee

The group set their recommendations on a variety of proposals to the State Board of Fisheries

Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Lower Cook Inlet fishing regs discussed at committee meeting

The proposals to the State Board of Fisheries were considered during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee on Monday

Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Betty Hatch wades out into the mouth of the Kenai River with a dipnet in hand on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Report: Kenai dipnetting participation was about average in 2023

Kenai collected around $483,000 in revenue from the fishery

Betty Hatch wades out into the mouth of the Kenai River with a dipnet in hand on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish regulation recommendations to begin Monday

The committee will discuss nearly 200 proposals set for consideration that would impact the Upper Cook Inlet region

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion: Helicopter fishing a detriment to fish and fishers

Proposal would prohibit helicopter transport for anglers on southern peninsula

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Fish and Game releases preliminary data from commercial fishing season

The harvest continued to fall below historical averages

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)
Tony Eskelin, Jenny Gates and Israel Payton listen to questions at a “Town Hall Style Meeting” held at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sport Fish division fields questions at town hall

The town hall meeting discussed the sport fisheries of the Northern Kenai Peninsula

Tony Eskelin, Jenny Gates and Israel Payton listen to questions at a “Town Hall Style Meeting” held at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sockeye salmon are caught in a set gillnet at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly calls for economic disaster declaration for east side setnet fishery

The resolution is in response to this year’s unprecedented closure of the fishery by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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