Every voice counts
Fishing allocations in Alaska are constantly changing tides, and we’ve heard rumblings for quite a while now about what’s ahead regarding halibut. All we need to do is look behind us to look ahead: the commercial fishery changed dramatically when it switched to Individual Fishing Quotas. Further reductions in allowable catch have followed periodically even [...]
Group wants jet ski use back in Bay
Given a changing technology for watercraft that includes better emissions and less noise, a group is asking the state to open Kachemak Bay State Park to their use.
A public meeting by the Kachemak Bay State Park Advisory Board is set for 6-9 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center. The Personal Watercraft Club has asked to make a presentation to the board on new technology now available that wasn’t around at the time when
State misses Chuitna response deadlines
A lawsuit against Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration will be the next step if a legal process for protesting the Chuitna coal development continues to go unanswered.
Under hard-rock mining laws, Unsuitable Lands Petitions cannot be filed, such as in the case of the Pebble Project. But under soft-rock mining for coal, a provision exists for citizens and groups to petition the government arguing that a particular area should be deemed unsuitable, said Cook InletKeeper Executive Director Bob Shavelson.
Chamber members vote to oppose one-halibut rule
Business members of the Homer Chamber of Commerce voted Sunday night in favor of a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service that asks for another look at how halibut are allocated.
The vote, 78-6, was a nod to add a third point to the letter director Monte Davis is asked to write. Members request NMFS Catch Share Plan allocation to closely approximate the Guideline Harvest Level for Area 3A, the central Gulf of Alaska including Cook Inlet and Homer.
Genetic sampling provides information on king salmon
As much as we might wish them to, fish simply don’t talk. Though biologists and fishery managers in Cook Inlet are constantly trying to learn more about king salmon, especially those from the Kenai River, pulling a chinook alongside a boat and asking it, “Where you from?” “Been here long?” or “Where you headed?” does not elicit a response. At least, not in so many words.
But advances in genetic testing make it just about that easy to get much better acquainted with king salmon.
Death of owner causes lodge hardship
Driving the sparse stretch of Sterling Highway, there doesn’t seem to be much between Kasilof and Ninilchik, just the blinking red star atop of the Clam Shell Lodge to serve as a beacon to weary travelers.
As the area’s only restaurant, motel, bar and liquor store, snow machiners in the winter making their way down from the Caribou Hills could stop in for a warm meal, while in summer, tourists and fishermen could poke in for a cool drink. But the establishment has been much more than just a food stop or watering hole.
Community News: tanner closure, Goodbye, Latitude 59, Vet’s picnic Sept. 18
Burning Basket Public Art Facilitator Mavis Muller gives a presentation Sept. 10 at the Mariner Theatre, along with other TED-X events. Soon it will be time for the community to help build the burning basket, set to begin on Sept. 11. Kachemak Bay Tanner crab season closes Tuesday By Randi Somers Homer Tribune Tanner crab [...]
Fish allocation grab
I recently attended the Homer Chamber of Commerce emergency meeting on Aug. 24. The meeting was triggered as a result of the controversial Catch Sharing Plan mandated by NMFS encompassing a large volume of information pertaining to halibut charter GHL’s, bag limits, etc.
I am not a chamber member, but I am a lifelong Alaskan, born and raised in Homer, and I own a home located in the city limits. It is my understanding that the chamber receives funding from the city and as a result I felt I was entitled to attend. On top of this, I am also a commercial fisherman who makes his house and city/borough tax payments through longlining halibut in the now controversial NMFS/IPHC Area 3A.
Are our heads in the sand?
Just before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last summer, basing it’s conclusion that a massive oil spill was “unlikely” in the area, the Department of the Interior decided not to impose a full review of potential environmental impacts of the drilling operation. Now that it is clear that unpreparedness was one of the factors leading to the tragic loss of life and economic and environment impacts from in the Gulf oil blowout, one would think that we would have seen that last of “unlikely to happen” as a prevention strategy.
Letters – Aug. 31
Catch sharing plan discriminates The proposed halibut catch sharing plan discriminates against poor sport fishermen in favor of wealthy sport fishermen. After purchasing a daily Alaska fishing license for the same fee the wealthy sport fisherman, while fishing from his own boat, can catch and keep two halibut per day. The poor sport fisherman, fishing [...]
