Fish Board: Spotter planes out, Chinook actions on hold for now

The Alaska Board of Fisheries voted to ban spotter planes in Southeast salmon fisheries and provided some relief to struggling commercial troll fishermen on Friday, the first full day of deliberations for the board.

Though the board made significant changes to Southeast finfish regulations, Juneau fishermen were left with a cliffhanger: salmon action plans aimed at protecting struggling Taku and Chilkat river Chinook — which could leave fishermen docked for a significant part of the season — won’t be voted on until at least Saturday morning.

Those are proposals are Nos. 130-134.

Here’s a rundown of the finfish proposals passed Friday:

Proposal 135 requires gillnet subsistence fishers in Yakutat Bay to be in control of their nets or to tie them up. Gillnetters were previously allowed to keep nets out while not around them, but that had become a “feeding station” for marine mammals, leading waste.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Proposal 138 allows fishermen to retain all species of king salmon during the period they’re allowed to fish with two poles, Oct. 1 through April 1. Fishing effort during this time of the year is minimal and few salmon are around in Southeast besides Chinook, which are much more difficult to catch in winter and fall than spring and summer.

Proposal 139 eliminates some language requiring a rotation of gillnetters, seiners and trollers in the Southeast Cove Terminal Harvest Area and allows Alaska Department of Fish & Game to manage the area with the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA).

Proposal 141 changes the rotation gillnet and seine fishermen have to fish in Deep Inlet, next to Sitka. Gillnetters and seiners normally take turns in Deep Inlet, with one group fishing two days before the other group gets two days. The rotation is now one day for each.

Proposal 144 provides an increase in fishing opportunity for commercial trollers in Deep Inlet. Commercial trollers will likely be hit hard by Chinook action plan proposals. This proposal was drawn up in an attempt to help make up for the money trollers lost on Chinook by allowing them more access to chum fisheries.

Proposal 149 extends the closing date for commercial salmon harvest in Deep Inlet to align with neighboring Bear Cove. Commercial fishers can now catch coho in Deep Inlet until Oct. 31.

Proposal 150 provides more opportunity, like proposal 144, for commercial trollers. Trollers are allowed to fish an additional area near Crawfish Inlet.

Proposal 151 establishes a Terminal Harvest Area for commercial gillnet, troll and seine fishers in Carroll Inlet.

Proposal 152 regulation language for the Anita Bay Terminal Harvest Area wasn’t accurate before. It was updated to describe the current commercial fishing markers actually in place.

Proposal 157 changes when seine fishers would be allowed to fish for sockeye in Amalga Harbor, north of Juneau.

Proposal 159 prohibits the use of all aircraft used to locate salmon in Southeast commercial fisheries. This proposal passed narrowly with a 4-3 vote. Fishers are using aircraft, proposal author John M. Johanson wrote, to spot salmon in closed areas, then dispatch jet skis to herd the fish into open areas, a practice which could endanger salmon runs.

Proposal 160 allows fishing near a stream in Boat Harbor Terminal Harvest Area.

Proposal 161 corrects a typo.


• Contact reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 and kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @KevinGullufsen.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Dec. 29

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Stikine River Flats area in the Tongass National Forest viewed by helicopter. The nearby community of Wrangell has received federal funding, through the Secure Rural Schools Act program, designed to assist communities impacted by the declining timber industry. (Alicia Stearns/U.S. Forest Service)
Rural schools in Southeast Alaska face funding shortfall after U.S. House fails to pass bipartisan bill

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is aimed at schools near federal lands.

Commercial fishing boats are lined up at the dock at Seward’s harbor on June 22, 2024. A legislative task force has come up with preliminary recommendations to help the ailing Alaska seafood industry. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Legislative task force offers possible actions to rescue troubled Alaska seafood industry

Boosting international marketing, developing new products, more support for workers, other steps.

Rep. Sara Hannan (left) and Rep. Andi Story, both Juneau Democrats, talk during a break in floor debate Sunday, May 12, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Bans on cellphones for students, abortion, styrofoam food containers among Legislature’s first prefiled bills

Two members of Juneau’s delegation reintroduce bills for students, public employees, crime victims.

A combined crew from the Yakutat City and Borough and Tongass National Forest began pilot treatment of willows to improve moose browsing habitat in August of 2023. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Tongass Forest Plan Revision draft released, starting clock on 45-day comment period

Plan seeks to balance range of tribal, environmental, industrial and climate goals.

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau School District not impacted by nationwide PowerSchool data breach

The Juneau School District was notified on Friday by PowerSchool, the company… Continue reading

An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Affordable Housing Fund approves two apartment projects

Guidelines have been refined since Ridgeview sold at market price.

Kids take part in ski lessons this week at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Eaglecrest’s new GM: “Something drastic needs to happen or that team is going to crumble from the inside”

Employees’ struggles acknowledged as leaders responding to critical report say future holds promise.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Juneau Empire relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in