Cook Inlet setnet fisheries were closed by Fish Board regulations because of the low number of king salmon escaping into the Kenai and Kasilof rivers. Commercial fishers are out of work.
Voluntary setnet permit buy-backs have been suggested, but would have an economic impact on the value of all permits.
And salmon other than kings are inundating Kenai and Kasilof river spawning grounds. Speculation is that allowing this large escapement could overtax the Kenai Peninsula spawning grounds and ruin the fisheries in total. Sport and commercial fishers could all suffer.
Perhaps the Board of Fish could allow setnetters to harvest some of the abundance by lowering the size of kings counted for escapement. Oceanographic magazine published a study stating the size of all returning Alaska salmon is shrinking. Counting a smaller size could give a more realistic picture of the number of kings returning.
If an opening were allowed, commercial fishers that want to work could do so, spawning grounds might be protected and sportfishing could still continue. To me, it seems like a winning possibility.
— Carol Bridges
Anchorage
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