HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2018-58Sponsored by: Council Members Molloy and Glendening
Vice Mayor Navarre
CITY OF KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-58
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, REQUESTING THAT
GOVERNOR BILL WALKER DECLARE AN ECONOMIC DISASTER FOR THE UPPER COOK
INLET FISHERIES REGION AND SUPPORTING A RECOVERY PLAN.
WHEREAS, the City of Kenai recognizes and supports the positive economic and cultural
impact of commercial fisheries in the Upper Cook Inlet Region ; and ,
WHEREAS, the C ity supports the Upper Cook Inlet salmon fishery and City residents , families
and bus inesses that participate in the salmon fishery along with other users of this fishery 's
resource ; and ,
WHEREAS , commercial fishing harvests in the Upper Cook Inlet were at historic lows in 2018,
which threatens the livelihood of the individuals, families , and businesses participating in the
fishery, and jeopardizes the continued viability of the industry in the Upper Cook Inlet Region;
and ,
WHEREAS, the Commercial Salmon Season Summary for Upper Cook Inlet commercial
salmon harvest by species, 1970 -2017, with handwritten notes for 2018 define the economic
plight and puts a number to the disaster resolution we are request ing ; and ,
WHEREAS, a Governor's State of Alaska disaster declaration creates a means for financ ial
assistance for those involved in the fishery and could also provide assistance for science and
resource management benefiting all users ; and ,
WHEREAS, a declaration of disaster from the Kenai Peninsula Borough is an important step in
obtaining financial relief; and ,
WHEREAS, the City also receives revenue from a share of fish ta xes collect ed by the State of
Alaska from fisheries businesses; and ,
WHEREAS , it is in the best interest of the City of Kena i to request that Governor Bill Wa lker
declare an Economic Disaster in the Upper Cook Inlet Fisheries Region , and to support a
recovery plan that directly assists fisheries participants and benefits all users of this important
natural resource of salmon.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI ,
ALASKA:
Section 1. That the City Counc il of the City of Kenai requests that Governor Bill Walker
declare an Economic Disaster in the Upper Cook Inlet Fisheries Reg ion and t hat the State of
Alas ka implement a recovery plan that benefits commercial fisheries use rs and others that re ly
on this important fisheries resource .
Resolution No. 2018-58
Page 2 of 2
Section 2. That a copy of this Resolution be provided to Governor Walker, Senator Peter
Micciche , Representative Gary Knopp, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce .
Section 3. That this Resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.
ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI , ALASKA, this 17th day of October,
2018.
-;-' I -----· /V ·----...-....-
TIM NAVARRE, VICE MAYOR
ATTEST :
lerk
20 17 UCI Comm ercial Salmon Season S ummary October 3 , 2 0 17
Table I . U pper Cook Inl e t comm ercial salmon h arvest by species, 1970 20 17.
Year Kin~ Socke.l:'.e Coho Pin k Chum Total
1970 8,336 732,605 275,399 814,895 776,229 2,607,464
197 1 19,765 636,303 100,636 35,624 327,029 1.1 19,357
1972 16,086 879,824 80,933 628,574 630,103 2,23 5,520
1973 5,194 670,098 104,420 326,184 667,573 1,773 ,469
1974 6,596 497,185 200,125 48 3,730 396,840 1,584 ,476
1975 4,787 684,752 227,379 336,333 95 1,796 2,205 ,047
1976 10,865 1,664,150 208 ,695 1,256,728 469,802 3,6 10,240
1977 14,790 2,052,291 192,599 553,855 1,233 ,722 4,047 ,257
1978 17,299 2,621 ,421 2 19,193 1,688,442 571 ,779 5,118,134
1979 13,738 924,4 15 265,166 72,982 650,3 57 1,926,658
1980 13,798 1,573,597 27 1,418 1,7 86,430 389,675 4,034,918
198 1 12,240 1,439,277 484,411 127,164 833 ,542 2,896,634
1982 20,870 3,259,864 793,937 790,648 1,433 ,866 6,299,185
1983 20,634 5,049,733 51 6,322 70,327 1,1 14,858 6,771,87 4
1984 10,062 2,106,714 449,993 617,452 680,726 3,864,947
1985 24 ,088 4,060,429 667,2 13 87,828 772 ,849 5,612,407
1986 39,256 4,792,072 757,353 1,3 00,958 1,134,8 17 8 ,024,456
1987 39,440 9,469,248 449,750 109,389 349,150 10,416,977
1988 29,080 6,843,833 561,048 47 1,080 710,615 8 ,615 ,656
1989 26,738 5,011,159 33 9,931 67,443 122,051 5,567,322
1990 16,105 3,604,7 10 50 1,739 603 ,630 35 1,197 5,077 ,381
199 1 13,5 42 2,178,797 426,498 14,663 280,230 2,9 13,730
1992 17,17 1 9,108,353 468,930 695,861 274,303 10,564 ,6 18
1993 18,87 1 4,755,344 306,882 100,934 122,770 5,304 ,801
1994 19,962 3,565,609 583,793 523 ,434 303,177 4,995 ,975
1995 17,893 2,952,096 447,130 133,578 529.428 4.080 ,125
1996 14,306 3,888,922 321.668 242,9 11 15 6.520 4.624,32 7
1997 13,292 4,176,995 152.408 70,945 103.036 4,516,676
1998 8 ,124 1,219,5 17 160,688 55 1,737 95,704 2,035,770
1999 14,383 2,680,518 126,105 16,176 174 ,554 3,011 ,736
2000 7,350 1,322,482 236,871 146,482 127,069 1.840,254
2001 9,295 1,826,851 11 3,311 72,560 84 ,494 2,106 ,511
2002 12,714 2,773,118 246,28 1 446,960 237 ,949 3,7 17 ,022
2003 18,503 3,476,161 101 ,756 48 ,7 89 120,767 3,765,97 6
2004 26,922 4,927,084 311 ,058 357,939 146,165 5,769,168
2005 27,667 5,238,699 224,657 48,419 69,740 5,609,18 2
2006 18,029 2,192,730 177,853 404,11 1 64.033 2,85 6,756
2007 17,625 3,3 16,779 177,339 147,020 77,240 3,736,003
2008 13,333 2,380,135 17 1,869 169,368 50,315 2,785 ,020
2009 8,750 2,045 ,794 153,210 2 14,321 82,808 2,504,883
2010 9,900 2,828,342 207,3 50 292,706 228.863 3,567 ,161
2011 1 1,248 5,277,995 95,291 34,123 129,407 5,5 48 ,0 64
2012 2,527 3, 133 ,839 106,775 469,598 269,73 3 3,982,472
201 3 5,3 98 2,683,224 260,963 48,275 13 9.365 3,1 37,225
2014 4,660 2,343,529 137,376 642,8 79 ll6,093 3,24 4,53 7
2015 10,798 2,649,667 216,032 48,004 275 ,960 3,20 0,461
2016 10,027 2,396,943 147,495 382,468 123 ,67 9 3,060,612
201 7• 7,369 1,838,110 293 ,8 11 168 042 239,425 2 546 ,757
2007-201 6 Avg 9,427 2,905,625 167,370 244,876 149,3 46 3.476,644
• 2017 d ata are prel iminary
f).~O g I cL '()} fpv_, 1.)..C/) .. 3~ o~qJ~ ,, ~l'if'i~ )17' J ,
9
Alaska Department of Fish and G a me Div is ion of Commercial Fish e ries
"Vt11aje with a Pas~ City with a Future"
210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, Alaska 99611-7794
Telephone: 907-283-7535 I FAX: 907-283-3014
www.kenai.city
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Mayor Gabriel, Council Members, Administration
Council Members Molloy, Glendening
Vice Mayor Navarre
DATE: October 10, 2018
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2018-58, Requesting That Governor Bill Walker Declare An
Economic Disaster For The Upper Cook Inlet Fisheries Region And
Supporting A Recovery Plan.
Preliminary data, and information from commercial fishers, indicate that the 2018 Upper Cook
Inlet salmon harvest was at a historic low. This low salmon harvest threatens the livelihood of
the individuals, families, and businesses participating in the fishery, and jeopardizes the
continued viability of this industry in the Upper Cook Inlet Region.
The City of Kenai has long recognized and supported the positive economic and cultural impact
of commercial fisheries in the Upper Cook Inlet Region, and the ind ivid uals , families, and
businesses participating in the fishery. Of many benefits to the City of Kenai from the salmon
fisheries, one is the revenue that the City receives from a share of fish taxes collected by the
State of Alaska from fisheries businesses.
A Governor's disaster declaration creates a means for financial assistance for those in volved in
the fishery and co uld also provide assistance for science and resource management benefiting
all users. This resolution requests that Governor Walker declare an Economic Disaster in the
Upper Cook Inlet Fisheries Region and that the State of Alaska implement a recovery plan that
benefits commercial fisheries users and others that rely on this important fisheries natural
resource of salmon.
Council 's support of this resolution is respectfully requested.
Charlie Pierce
Office of the Borough Mayor
Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 N . Binkley Street
Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Dear Mr. Pierce,
40610 Kaliforn sky Beach Road
Kenai , A laska 996 11
Phone : 907-283-5761
Fax : 907-283 -9433
info@ciaanet.org
www.ci aanet.org
September 21, 2018
I am writing to urge the Kenai Peninsula Borough to ask the State of Alaska to declare an economic
disaster for Cook Inlet sockeye salmon fisheries for 2018 . During the 2018 salmon season, the
communities of Cook Inlet that rely on sockeye salmon harvesting faced unusual run timing on the Kenai
River. For only the second time on record, over one-half of the Kenai River late-run sockeye sa lmon
returned in August, causing confusion for fishery managers and resulting in significantly-less harvest
opportunity for commercial fishermen. And the 2018 sockeye salmon harvest was less than 20% of the
prior average harvests. The lower harvest has resulted in hardships for commercial fi shing communities,
families, individuals, and businesses.
If the State of Alaska makes an economic disaster declaration, opportunities will be opened up for relief
including the potential for legislative appropriation of assistance grants as well as possible assistance to
salm on permit holders who participate in the Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan program and may be
unable to meet the terms of their loans because of the low sockeye harvest.
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association is a non-profit corporation founded in 1976 to provide and protect the
salmon re source in the Cook Inlet Watershed. We produce hatchery-born, ocean-rais ed salmon for the
common property fishery. Maintaining and improving salmon habitat and natural salmon populations is
also an important part ofCIAA 's work. Our operations are supported in part by a 2% Salmon
Enhancement Tax levied on sa lmon caught or sold within Area H (Cook Inlet region). Decreased harvest
to the Area H fi shennen means decreased funding for our mission of providing and protecting the salm on
resource of the Cook Inlet region , which is why we urge you to support a sockeye salmon disaster
declaration.
Thank you for considering putting forth a statement to the State of Alaska requesting a 2018 sockeye
salmon economic di saster declaration for Cook Inlet.
Sincerely,
/J<; f(M/Lrb;_
Gary Fandrei
Executi ve Director
Cc: John Quick, Chief of Staff, Office of the Borough Mayor
S almon enhanceme nt today m eans be tter salmon fis hing tom orrow.
CooK INJL E'JI' F1sEERMAN~s FUND
Non-profit Advocale tbr all Qmunen:iaI Fishiog Gear 1)lpes in An:a H
P.O. Box 39408 Ninildnlc, AK 99639 phane/&x 907-260-5614
Charlie Pierce
Office of the Borough Mayer
Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 N. Binkley Street
Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Dear Mr. Pierce,
Cook Inlet Fisherman's Fund is one of the oldest fisherman's organizations in Cook
Inlet. We represent all salmon fishermen in Area H which includes setnetters,
drifters, and seiners.
As you know the sockeye salmon fishery in Cook Inlet in 2018 was a total disaster.
Most fishermen didn't even cover expenses. We, therefore, are asking, on behalf
of our membership, that the Kenai Peninsula Borough appeal to the State of
Alaska to declare an economic disaster for Cook Inlet sockeye salmon fisheries for
2018.
Resident commercial fishermen are an important contri butor to the economy of
the Borough . We appeal to the Borough for assistance.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely, r-f
~1(~ For the Boa r d of Cook Inlet Fisherman's Fund
October 2 , 2018
Mayor Charl ie Pierce
144 North Binkley Street
Soldotna , AK 99669
Dear Mayor Pierce,
COPPER RIVER SEAFOODS
Main Adminis t rative Office
1118 E 511> Avenue · Ancho rage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 522-7806 · (888) 622-1197 · Fax: (907) 27 4-0348
www.CopperRiverSeafoods.com
As you are aware, the 20 18 commercial fishing season in Cook Inlet was di sastrous to say the lea st. As a large
processor with ex pansion plans in Cook Inlet, this season was especially difficult. Being a large company with
operations in almost every major fishery in the State, we will absorb this loss (as we do not have a choice) and
continue with business. However, this is not the case for ma ny of the fo lk s who focus their fishing activities in
Cook Inlet. It is for their sake and the sake of the future of th is fishery that we write this letter in s upp ort of a
disaster recove ry effort on the part of the State of Alaska.
The hardship of several poor fishing years in Cook Inlet and the complete fai lure of the 2018 season have
many people in the indu stry wondering how they are going to get through the winter. We believe the State
need s t o take a very hard look at how it can as s ist in giving them the relief to ensure they can get to w hat will
hopefully be a better year of fishing in 2019 .
We are dealing closely with the 2016 Prince W illiam Sound Pink Salmon disaster declaration and recovery
funds and I am afraid this type of relief will not work for Cook Inlet. It is taking way too Jong to get the funds
t o the people who were truly affected by that run failure. The people of Cook Inlet need assistance sooner than
that.
We hope we have your support in thi s matter and are happy to di scuss thi s further at yo ur reque st.
Regards,
Martin Weiser
Corporate Development Officer
Copper River Seafoods ANCHORAGE PLANT
1400 E 1'l Ave Anchor.ag&, AK 99501
Phone· (907} 522-7806 Fax (907) 222-0348
COPPER RIVER SALE S
7195 Wagner Wa~. Suite 102 ·Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Phone. (253) 851·1164 Fu: i253l 851·1165
CORDOVA PLANT NAKNEK PLANT KOTZEBUE PLANT
P.O. Box 158 I 300 Cannery Roy,, Cordova AK 99574
Phone (907) 424-3721 · Fax-(907) 424-7435
0.5 Peninsula Hwy Nakntk. AK 99633
Phone {907) 522·7806 Fax (907) 274-0348
PO Box '89 ·Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone {9071522-7606 ·Fa. (907) 274-0348
14 896 Ke nai Sp ur Hi ghway, Sui te 103-A •Ken ai, AK 99611
P hone: (907) 283-333 5 •Fa x : (907) 283-3913
www.kpedd.org
Leadersh ip to enhance, fost er and promote economic development
Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 N orth Binkley Street
Sold o tna, Alaska 99669
Attn: Mayor Charlie Pierce
RE: 2018 Sockeye Fishery Disaster Declaration
Dear Mayor Pierce,
The 2018 Upper C ook Inlet s ockeye salmon harvest was Jess than 20 % of the 40-, 20-or I 0-year
average harvest. T his year, the value of salmon was well below th e level ne cessary for covering
the cost of operating and maintaining commercial drift , setnet, processing or marketing
businesses. These bus inesses are essential to the local , regional , and state economies.
Maintaining the commercial seafood industry in C ook Inlet is also essential for the biological
management of fish s tocks .
The Cook Inlet Economic Recove ry Proposal id entifies the areas and businesses most effected
by this year 's historically lo w returns , the required research for stronger future harvests, as well
as recovery funding di sbursements. We support the 2018 sockeye salmon harvest declarati on of
disaste r and believe the Cook Inlet Economic Recovery Proposal to be the best path forward.
Please let me know if there is anything fu rther KP EDD c an do to support thi s declaratio n .
Respectfully,
Executive Director
Kenai Peninsula Ec onomic Develo pment Di s trict
(90 7) 283-33 35
Alask a Regional Development O r ganization (ARDOR)
A R~-o'ft. The State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community
and Economic Development certified KPEDD as an
ARDOR in I 989.
Economic Development Dis t rict (EDD)
TI1e U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic
Development Admin istration (E DA) recognized KPEDD
as an Economic Development District in I 988.