Alaska State Legislature

News From The Senate and House Majorities

Ken Freeman, (907) 465-3804
Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Phillips and Torgerson Fight Proposal

That Hurts Kenai Peninsula Fishery

For Immediate Release: March 11, 1997 Contact: Pat Springer (907) 465-6847

JUNEAU - Strongly opposing an effort before the Alaska Board of Fish to amend fisheries management policies to change fish allocation in the Cook Inlet, House Speaker Gail Phillips (R-Homer) and Senator John Torgerson (R-Kasilof) announced Tuesday they will ask the Board of Fish to vote against Proposal D.

Proposal D calls for decreasing the allocation of the Southern and Central fishing districts in and around the Cook Inlet region to increase the numbers of fish that would reach the Northern District.

The proposal is before the Board of Fish which is currently meeting in Anchorage, March 9-21.

"The reason the current management policy is in place is to bring the most equitable harvest allocation possible. Restricting harvests in the Southern and Central Districts or closing additional periods during the fisheries is unwarranted and could cause major problems," said Speaker Phillips.

"Changes to management policies are appropriate from time to time, but this proposal goes way out on a limb," said Senator Torgerson. "You can't severely impact one district to help another."

"The basic question that must be asked is why change the allocation. Clearly the current management policies are set up in this way because they address the needs put on the fishery," said Torgerson. "That is why the current management plan is in place."

Torgerson and Phillips said they will be joining with numerous advisory committees, cities, organized groups and the Kenai Peninsula Borough by submitting letters to the Board opposing the proposal.

"If Proposal D is passed and implemented by the Alaska Board of Fisheries, it will create severe social and economic hardships for the Cook Inlet drift net salmon fleet," said Torgerson.

"The entire Cook Inlet drift net salmon harvest is landed and processed in the Kenai Peninsula Borough," said Phillips. "The passage of Proposal D would result in lost harvest opportunities and major economic losses for the Borough."

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