Board Of Fisheries Seeking Comments Over Fishing Proposal Changes

Photo by Tony Ensalaco

Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Board of Fisheries is seeking public comment over a series of proposed regulation changes for sport, subsistence and commercial fishing in the state. Here’s the press release:

This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES that was issued on October 20, 2023, hereby incorporated by reference, concerning proposed regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code. This SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE is being issued to notify the public of the following changes to the procedures for receiving public input for the remaining meetings of the 2023/2024 meeting cycle for the Alaska Board of Fisheries (board).

The board invites additional public input as it relates to Traditional Knowledge (TK) of the fishery resources under consideration for the Kodiak and Upper Cook Inlet management areas.

During a meeting of the board’s Committee on Process, Management, and Research, held on November 21, 2023 and during the board’s regulatory meeting on Lower Cook Inlet Finfish issues held on November 28-December 1, 2023, the board developed a definition of TK and procedures to be used for its upcoming meetings.

The board considers Traditional Knowledge to be knowledge, or a way of knowing, that is unique to a given culture or society, and, often through language, encompasses a worldview that defines specific relationships between humans and nonhuman attributes of the world. As knowledge that derives from both personal and the cumulative experiences of one’s forbearers, it is grounded in generational knowledge but also subject to change and refinement. It is characterized by a long time scale. It is usually local in scale and often provides a counterpoint to more broad-based, scientifically produced knowledge. 

The board welcomes TK reports in written and/or oral format. Written reports specific to TK can be submitted at any time during the written comment periods previously specified in the October 20, 2023 NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES. Oral TK reports will be received as a new agenda item following STAFF REPORTS and before PUBLIC TESTIMONY and persons interested providing an oral TK report must sign up with Boards Support staff in person no later than noon on the first day of the upcoming January 9-12, 2024 meeting for Kodiak finfish or the February 23-March 6, 2024 Upper Cook Inlet finfish meetings.

All other provisions posted in the October 20, 2023 NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES remain the same, including the public comment period and tentative meeting schedule. However, the public is encouraged to check the meeting information website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo

If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodation in order to participate in the proposed regulation process, please contact Art Nelson at (907) 267-2292 no later than two weeks prior to the meeting to ensure necessary accommodations can be provided.

or a copy of the proposed regulation changes, or for a copy of the October 20, 2023 NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES, contact the ADF&G, Boards Support Section, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK  99811-5526, phone 907-465-4110, or access the Internet at: 

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo

Anyone interested in or affected by subsistence, personal use, commercial fishing, sport, guided sport, or aquatic plant regulations are hereby informed that the Board of Fisheries may consider any or all of the subject areas covered by this notice. Under AS 44.62.200(b), the board may review the full range of activities appropriate to any of the subjects listed in this notice. The board may make changes to the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport or commercial fishing regulations as may be required to ensure the subsistence priority in AS 16.05.258. On its own motion, after the public hearing, the board may adopt, amend, reject, supplement, or take no action on these subjects without further notice. In addition, the board may adopt other regulations necessary to implement, administer, or enforce the regulations adopted. THE BOARD IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OR CONFINES OF THE ACTUAL PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC OR ADF&G. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED. 

Statutory Authority:  AS 16.05 – AS 16.20; AS 16.40

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific:  AS 16.05

Fiscal Information:  The proposed regulatory actions are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Board of Fisheries also listed the specific regulations that are up for proposed changes:

1. IN THE COOK INLET (INCLUDING THE KENAI PENINSULA, KENAI RIVER DRAINAGE, COOK INLET–RESURRECTION BAY SALTWATER, ANCHORAGE BOWL DRAINAGES, KNIK ARM DRAINAGES, SUSITNA RIVER DRAINAGE, AND WEST COOK INLET SPORT FISH MANAGEMENT AREAS) AND KODIAK AREAS FINFISH FISHERIES REGULATIONS OR OTHER POSSIBLE SUPPLEMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING ISSUANCE OF BOARD FINDINGS, DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY FROM THE BOARD OF FISHERIES, OR MANAGEMENT OF HATCHERY OPERATIONS;

A. In the commercial, sport, guided sport, personal use, and aquatic plant fisheries: fishing seasons, periods, and opening and closing times; bag, possession, size, sex, age, and harvest limits; harvest levels, thresholds, goals, and quotas; definitions; bycatch provisions; districts, subdistricts, sections, subsections, areas, and other management boundaries; locations open and closed to fishing; methods and means; gear and vessel restrictions, including marking and operational requirements; registration and permit requirements; registration areas (including nonexclusive, exclusive and superexclusive registration areas); recordkeeping and marking requirements; management plans for conservation and development, including escapement, inriver, and other management goals; landing requirements; provisions for development and allocation among beneficial uses; guiding principles; provisions to regulate, require, restrict or prohibit the retention, tendering, transportation, dispatch, possession, sale, release, or purchase of fish; methods of release; registration, licensing, reporting, and other requirements for sport fishing guides and operators, guided anglers, catchers, processors, buyers, and transporters; onboard observer requirements; fish storage and inspection requirements.

B. In the subsistence fisheries: identification or modification of customary and traditional subsistence uses and amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence; fishing seasons, periods, and opening and closing times; bag, possession, size, sex, age, and harvest limits; definitions; districts, subdistricts, sections, subsections, areas, and other management boundaries; locations open and closed to fishing; methods and means; gear and vessel restrictions, including marking and operational requirements; registration and permit requirements; recordkeeping and marking requirements; management plans for conservation and development, including escapement, inriver, and other management goals; regulations for the subsistence priority; landing requirements; provisions for development and allocation among beneficial uses and users, including creating and regulating tier II fisheries; guiding principles; otherwise establish, regulate, change, or adjust subsistence fisheries.

2. The following topics are added to the Lower Cook Inlet Finfish meeting in Homer, November 28–December 1, 2023:

A. IN THE BRISTOL BAY AREA SPORT FISHERY: Repeal the no bait regulation and allow the use of non-roe bait for salmon, other than king salmon in the Togiak River drainage (newly assigned Proposal 256, formerly ACR 9).

B. IN THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA SPORT AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES: Amend the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan to align with new methods to set catch limits adopted by the Pacific Salmon Commission including potential changes to 5 AAC 29.060. Allocation of king salmon in the Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area. (newly assigned Proposal 257, formerly ACR #11).

C. IN THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA SPORT AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES: Amend the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan including potential changes to 5 AAC 29.060. Allocation of king salmon in the Southeastern Alaska-Yakutat Area.to align with changes adopted by the Pacific Salmon Commission to maintain the troll and sport fishery allocations (newly assigned Proposal 258, formerly ACR #12).

D. IN THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA SPORT AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES: Manage the Southeast Alaska king salmon sport fishery to not exceed the annual sport fishery harvest allocation (newly assigned proposal 259, formerly ACR #13).