Board of Fish Adopts Game-Changing Regs

Beginning this summer, Mat-Su residents will likely see tens of thousands of more coho and sockeye salmon in local streams and rivers, which recently have been devoid of fish. Game-changing regulations were adopted today by Alaska’s highest fish board that add restrictions to the drift gillnet commercial fishing, allowing more salmon to pass through Cook Inlet to their northern spawning grounds.

After hours of testimony and debate on this subject, in a 7 to 0 vote, the Alaska Board of Fisheries agreed on a new framework for the drift gillnet fleet. The proposal was brought forward by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish & Wildlife Commission, a group of volunteers, including two retired State fisheries biologists.

"This is a historic day for the Mat-Su, similar to the banning of fish traps at statehood,” said Jim Colver, Fish Commission Vice Chair and a Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly Member. “We will look back on this action to implement conservation measures, as a game-changer in restoring the once robust salmon runs in the Valley," Colver said.

Here's some of the assessment news that the Mat-Su Borough's fish team took into the meeting, helping sway the Board. The number of days anglers sportfish in Mat-Su has fallen to its lowest in 37 years due to fewer fish. And 7 out of the State's 11 Stocks of Concern are in the Mat-Su. A Salmon Stock of Concern is designated when a fish stock is having trouble sustaining itself.

Mac Minard, a retired Alaska fisheries biologist himself, is working with the Mat-Su Fish Commission at the marathon 13+ day, Board of Fisheries meeting at the Egan Center in Anchorage.

“This represents a significant change in the framework of the management of commercial fisheries in Cook Inlet,” Minard said, of the adopted proposal 135. “We moved from a mixed-stock fishery with large open areas to a terminal fishery management system with targeted stocks,” Minard said.

A terminal fishing area is an area close to the waters of origin for the returning fish. The recent action by the Board will focus Cook Inlet commercial fishermen on Kenai and Kasilof stocks in an effort to leave the Mat-Su-bound fish alone. The Mat-Su Commission has made the case that the Central District commercial fleet should fish this terminal area rather than Inlet-wide in late July to allow northernbound coho and sockeye salmon a corridor to pass

However, both sides gain ground. Commercial fishermen will be allowed to fish harder for Kenai and Kasilof sockeye Inlet-wide earlier in July before the Mat-Su fish have arrived in Upper Cook Inlet.

The map above illustrates in red the Terminal Harvest fishing area and in blue the corridor that will allow northernbound fish to pass in late July.

Alaska Board of Fisheries Member Tom Kluberton gave balance to board debate when a heavy contingent of commercial fishermen tried to place all the blame for low salmon runs on habitat.

Kluberton reminded the Board of its number one priority: conservation.

Board of Fish Chairman Karl Johnstone said in efforts to provide opportunity for the central district drift net fleet, the Board seems to have forgotten the obligation to address

For more information call Mat-Su Borough Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at 907.355-0103 or Fisheries Consultant Mac Minard at 406.439-2059. Or email

Image at right: Awaiting testimony time, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss and members of the Mat-Su Fish Commission who camped at the marathon meeting over the past week: front Jehnifer Ehmann, back left Acting Chair Larry Engel, and Howard Delo.

Audio provided by Media Designer Stefan Hinman. Photos Patty Sullivan/MSB.

-end-