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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2020-07Sponsored by: Mayor Gabriel and City Council Members Suggested by: Mayor Gabriel CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2020-07 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, SUPPORTING SOUND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DIVERSIFIED HARVEST OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COOK INLET. WHEREAS, the City of Kenai has benefited from healthy well-managed salmon runs as a central part of its economy and quality of life for its citizens and visitors for over one hundred years; and, WHEREAS, all user groups in the City of Kenai: sport; personal use; subsistence; and commercial benefit from healthy, sustainable salmon runs to the Kenai River; and, WHEREAS, sport fishing is a significant part of the City's local economy and contributes to a high quality of life for many residents and visitors; and, WHEREAS, personal use salmon fisheries are important to many City residents and other Alaska residents for the harvest of salmon for their families; and, WHEREAS, subsistence salmon fishing is of critical importance to rural residents and native groups in our area, not only for the harvest of salmon but for the cultural significance of the fishery; and, WHEREAS, the Cook Inlet commercial salmon industry is a key component of the City's local economy because it provides jobs, is a reliable tax base on both real and personal property, and puts salmon on the plates of Alaskans that can't or choose not to fish for salmon themselves; and, WHEREAS, adoption of regulations that are based on anything other than sound, research based biology, will result in long-term and perhaps irreversible damage to our local economy, its residents, and to the resource itself; and, WHEREAS, a well-managed fishery, based on sound, research based biology is intended to achieve the maximum sustained yield; and, WHEREAS, a fishery that is managed for the maximum sustained yield consistently provides the highest possible number of returning salmon and the greatest opportunity for all user groups, maximizing the benefit of the fisheries resource to the people of the State, a Constitutional obligation of the State of Alaska. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA Section 1. That the Kenai City Council Supports sound fisheries management practices in Cook Inlet specifically with respect to the Kenai River salmon runs; and. Resolution No. 2020-07 Page 2 of 2 Section 2. That the Kenai City Council Respectfully requests the State of Alaska Board of Fisheries to recognize the historical and economic significance of the salmon runs that return to the Kenai River by avoiding adoption of regulations that are not based on sound, research based biology. Section 3. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon passage. Section 4. That upon passage, a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Governor Mike Dunleavy, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Doug Vincent -Lang, Alaska Board of Fisheries members (individually), Kenai Peninsula legislators Senator Peter Micciche, Senator Gary Stevens, Representative Gary Knopp, Representative Ben Carpenter and Representative Sarah Vance and all other state legislators (individually). PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 5 day of February, 2020 h. BRIAN GABRIEL SR., MAYOR TIM NAVARRE, COUNCIL MEMBER A ( FYE ie �leinz, CMC, City t ') T Q 1�� •� A G N NM LADED 11� M MEMORANDUM '7/fiea� wid a Past c;� w;t/ a Fiume 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, Alaska 99611-7794 Telephone: (907) 283-7535 1 Fax: (907) 283-3014 www.kenai.city TO: Kenai City Council FROM: Mayor Brian Gabriel DATE: February 5, 2020 SUBJECT: Resolution 2020-07 — Supporting Sound Fisheries Management Practices The Alaska Board of Fisheries is convening February 7-19, 2020 in Anchorage for the Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meeting. The continued health of our salmon fisheries, both in the Kenai River and in all of Upper Cook Inlet are dependent on the decisions made at this meeting. The Constitution of the State of Alaska obligates the State to maximize the benefit of fisheries resources to the people of the State. This requires that fisheries are managed to maximize salmon production; something the Alaska Department of Fish and game is tasked with under 5 AAC 39.222. The only way they can achieve the maximum sustained yield for any fishery is if regulations are based on good science. The Alaska Board of Fisheries — the entity with the authority to adopt regulations - should base their decisions on recommendations of Department biologists with the training and proven experience in managing Upper Cook Inlet salmon stocks. Your consideration is appreciated.