Fish Factor: What does the future hold for setnets? By LAINE WELCH - A one handed clap best describes the reaction to the 43,000 signature drop off by anti-salmon setnet advocates at the Division of Elections last week.

It means enough signatures were gathered to include the question on the 2016 primary election ballot, and let Alaska voters decide whether to ban setnets at Cook Inlet, Mat-Su, Anchorage, Juneau, Valdez, Ketchikan, and any communities designated as “urban” and “non-subsistence” in the future.

The ban is being pushed one-handed by the Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance (AFCA), whose board of directors delivered stacks of signature booklets, followed by a press conference rife with talking points, table pounding, bravado and buzzwords.

“I believe now more than ever that Alaskans want to end the devastating and outdated mode of commercial fishing called setnetting,” exhorted Jim Connors, AFCA president, and a Kenai lodge owner and sport fishing guide. “I spent six years as a setnetter in Upper Cook Inlet and during that time I caught a lot of red salmon. However, my nets also caught sharks, birds, ducks, flounders, dolly vardens and a lot of king salmon. Setnets are decimating other species in Alaska.”

“Urban, commercial setnet fisheries are unhealthy and unmanageable,” echoed AFCA member Derek Leichliter.

“Setnets are a predatory means of fishing that kill or maim most anything that gets in their path. It’s time to put the fish first and end this setnet bycatch,” said AFCA founder, Bob Penney, to the sound of loud duck quacking from an errant cellphone in the background. “We strongly support commercial fishing; it’s just this one gear type that we oppose.”

If salmon setnets are such indiscriminate killers, why aren’t they banned statewide? “That’s what we’re trying to do,” the AFCA group retorted with hearty chuckles.

Better hold that laughter.

Over the last 10 years the harvest by Alaska’s 2,200 setnetter was 99.996 percent salmon, according to data from the AK Dept. of Fish and Game. - More...
Friday PM - June 12, 2015

Southeast Alaska: Business leaders to Congress: Start investing more in Tongass National Forest tourism and recreation programs - A prominent group of tourism business leaders who operate in southeast Alaska are calling on Congress to prioritize tourism-related investments in the Tongass National Forest. They delivered their message in a letter sent to Congress in advance of expected action in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on the Forest Service budget. Appropriations Committees in both bodies are expected to take action next week on legislation which will set fiscal year 2016 funding levels for Forest Service trails, visitor facilities, and the agency’s Recreation, Wilderness, and Heritage program.

In their letter, the business leaders expressed concerned about years of declining investment for the recreation program, trails, and visitor facilities in the 17 million acre Tongass National Forest, a coastal rainforest that is the country’s largest national forest. Eighty percent of southeast Alaska’s land base is within the boundaries of the Tongass making the Forest Service the region’s predominant landowner.

Over the last six years, the level of funding Congress has set nationally for the Forest Service to manage recreation in the country’s 155 national forests has dropped by 15 percent. The decline has been even steeper for the Tongass which has suffered nearly three times the level of reductions over the same period. During a congressional budget hearing earlier this year, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell acknowledged that the Alaska Region had “taken a greater than their proportionate share of the reductions in recreation funding.”

“The Tongass’ budget for recreation directly impacts our industry from small businesses to a company as large as Princess Cruises. We all rely on the Forest Service to administer special use permits, maintain safe trails, and work with us to accommodate the growing demand from our guests for experiencing the Tongass National Forest. Tourism is one of our most important industries in this region and it needs to be built up, not neglected,” said Kirby Day, Chair of the Visitor Products Cluster Working Group (VP-CWG). The VP-CWG brings the region’s private recreation and tourism industry together with federal, state and local agencies, trade associations, economic development organizations, and other stakeholders to collaboratively identify and address industry challenges and opportunities. - More...
Friday PM - June 12, 2015

Alaska: Alaska Legislature Passes Budget; Avoids possible shutdown - Governor Bill Walker (I) praised the Alaska Legislature Thursday for passing a fully funded FY 2016 budget, and for passing the Alaska Safe Children’s Act. The move comes after months of negotiations between both legislative bodies, and now ends the possibility of a government shutdown, while holding the line on $800 million of spending reductions.

“I commend the legislature for coming together to make an agreement on the budget,” said Governor Walker. “The state employs over 15,000 hard working men and women, and provides essential services to each and every Alaskan. Now that a budget has been passed, we can all get back to work and not worry about the harmful impacts of a potential government shutdown.”

Passed Thursday afternoon by both the House and Senate, HB 2001 provides funding to the state operating budget for the coming year. Governor Walker said he was pleased with the compromises that were made in the bill, and that this would allow lawmakers to focus more on the state’s larger fiscal challenges in the year ahead.

“Alaska is facing a $3.5 billion budget deficit, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work on that,” said Governor Walker. “We need all hands on deck to fill that gap. Now that the budget negotiations are out of the way, I look forward to working with the legislature to continue this important conversation.” - More...
Friday PM - June 12, 2015

Alaska: Erin’s Law and Bree’s Law Passed - The Alaska Legislature approved House Bill 44 yesterday, which includes both Erin’s Law and Bree’s Law.

Erin’s Law requires public schools in Alaska to offer students an age appropriate sexual assault awareness and prevention curriculum that will give them important, critical personal body safety information to protect themselves from sexual abuse. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) has championed Erin’s Law in Alaska for 2 years as a way to address the silent epidemic of child sexual abuse.

“The process to get Erin’s passed has been challenging, with roadblocks at nearly every turn. However, it’s worth it if this bill can protect future generations of Alaskans from being abused,” said Rep. Tarr. “The scope of the problem of child sexual abuse demands action and Erin’s Law can help. I’m thrilled we can send this bill to Governor Walker for his enthusiastic signature.”

House Bill 44 also includes Bree’s Law, which is named for Breanna Moore who was shot to death last year in Anchorage in a tragic case of dating violence. Bree’s Law requires dating violence education be provided to middle and high school students in Alaska’s public schools. - More...
Friday PM - June 12, 2015