Fish and Game decision upsets fishermen

June 17, 2010

Fish and Game is allowing set nets to raise money for its sockeye fishery assessment for the upper Cook Inlet commercial fishing season in July. (KTUU-DT)

by Lori Tipton
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

ANCHROAGE, Alaska -- The Department of Fish and Game's decision approving set net fishing near the mouth of the Kenai does not sit well with some fishermen.

Fish and Game is allowing set nets to raise money for its sockeye fishery assessment for the upper Cook Inlet commercial fishing season in July.

The Kenai River Sportfishing Association says Fish and Game is targeting early run Russian River Sockeye to pay for their assessment program.

A Fish and Game representative says, that's not the case and the Russian River Sockeye run should not be affected by the set nets.

"We're not targeting Russian River Sockeye, mostly we are targeting Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon, because that's the river that actually has the most fish," said Tracy Lingnau, Fish and Game.

"We're very upset about it. People wait with baited anticipation to go up to the Russian River ferry area and go fishing and yet we're harvesting stocks here at the mouth of Kenai bound for that fishery," said Ricky Geese, Kenai River Sportfishing Association.

Board members of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association are asking the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the governor to look into the set net decision in hopes of having the decision overturned.

Contact Lori Tipton at ltipton@ktuu.com.

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