(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Recent decisions are beyond reason

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game closed the winter king salmon troll fishery in Northern Southeast Alaska inside waters on March 15 and to king salmon sport fishing on March 31, but left the outer coast open. Idaho Inlet was left open to sport fishing also. This inlet is the first stop for kings as they continue to feed on their migration route through the inside passage to the Taku, Stikine and Chilkat rivers. Idaho Inlet is about 2 miles from Elfin Cove, and about 12 miles from Gustavus making it handy for their (out-of-state clientele) charter boat fleets. On the other hand the inlet is over 25 miles from Hoonah making it an unreasonable sporting adventure due to distance and the price of fuel!

The National Marine Fisheries Service leaves the Gulf of Alaska and rearing grounds for king salmon open to the trawl industry’s bycatch slaughter of thousands of king salmon exceeding by far the total catch of the trollers on a seasonal basis!

Meanwhile, the Wild Fish Conservancy filed a lawsuit against the Alaska king salmon troll fishery in hopes of saving the Puget Sound orca.

Does the ADF&G, NMFS or the WFC take into consideration the devastating impact that their decisions make on the Indigenous and resident hook-and-line king salmon fishermen in our archipelago communities?

Floyd Peterson,

Hoonah

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