SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton - August 27, 2015
The Alaska Supreme court heard oral arguments yesterday on whether the proposed ban on commercial setnet fishing in the Kenai is constitutionally permissible.
Sport fishing groups have put together a ballot initiative that would ban an entire class of commercial fishing -Setnetters - for salmon in rivers that are near Alaska's urban areas, such as the Kenai.
Originall, Lt. Gov. Treadwell ruled the ballot initiative was unconstitutional, and could not go forward. The Alaska constitution bans the allocation of public resources held in trust by the state, such as fisheries, by ballot initiative. Only the legislature has the power to allocate resources among user groups. His ruling was appealed, and the state appelate court said the ballot question could go forward.
The Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance which is sponsoring the initiative, says the measure is a ban on gear, with a focus on conservation. They argue that setnetting is an outdated catch method that indiscriminately targets king salmon. The measure is targeted toward setnetters on the Kenai River who fish primarily for sockeye salmon, but also catch some king salmon in the process.
Setnetters contend they have fished in the region for over a century...