The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Alaska’s commercial setnet fishermen have the same right to harvest salmon as any other group. Setnet fishermen are pleased with the ruling.
The court reviewed a proposed ballot proposition that called for a ban on commercial setnet fishing in all non-subsistence areas. The justices decided the initiative was unconstitutional because only the Alaska Legislature and the Board of Fisheries have the power to divide fish amongst different groups of fishermen.
Andy Hall is president of the Kenai Peninsula Fishermen’s Association and he’s also a setnet fisherman.
“There’s no conservation in here. The claim is that this was an effort to conserve fish. This would’ve put fish into the river for other people to catch,” said Hall.
The Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance sponsored the setnet ban. In court documents the nonprofit called setnet fishing, “… an antiquated method of harvesting fish that indiscriminately kills or injures large numbers of non-target species.”
The Alliance said in a press release they were disappointed with the ruling and would “press forward to promote fish conservation and encourage responsible management of our fisheries.”
Hall claims there is no evidence that fishermen on the east side of Cook Inlet are damaging the resource. He says they target sockeye and take 13 percent of king salmon that return to the Kenai River.
“Beyond that, we don’t really catch other fish. They said we’re killing sea birds and I think they referred to sea mammals. It just doesn’t happen,” said Hall.
The Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance did not return a request for comment.
