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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 - MAYOR - UPPER COOK INLET TASK FORCEDate: March 5, 2013 To: Mayor, Members of Council From: Council Member Brian Gabriel Sr. Re: Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries Task Force RECEIVED N,AR 0 5 2013 Kenai City Clerk's Office In October of 2012, the Alaska Board of Fisheries convened a task force that included representatives of the following groups, Set nettter, Guided Sport, Sportfish, Drift Fish, Personal use, and Marine Recreation. The Task force was co- chaired by Board of Fish members Tom Kluberton and Vince Webster and tasked with the following mission: The Mission of this task force is to identify a set of recommended adjustments to the Kenai Late -Run Salmon Management Plan (5AAC 21.359) that would result in the best mix of in -river (sport, guided sport, personal use) and Upper Subdistrict set gill net fishing opportunity while providing the best means of attaining the escapement goal for Kenai River late -run Chinook Salmon during times of low King Salmon abundance as experienced in the 2012 season. Attached are the majority recommendations of the task force. I respectfully ask the City Council to consider giving direction to the City Manager and /or Mayor to submit a letter of support to the Alaska Board of Fisheries supporting the Final Recommendations for Proposal 429, dated February 14, 2013, of the Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries Task Force. Brian Gabriel APPROVED By COUNCIL Date: 3)U /13 Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries Task Force Final Recommendations for Proposal 249 February 14, 2013 SPECIAL NOTES: Upper Cooklnlet Task Force Website: http: / /Www.adfjz.alaska.zovl index .cfm ?adfr= ucitaskforce.main This website will remain active until the Statewide Finfish and Supplemental Issues Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) meeting begins on March 19, 2013. The comment page will serve as mechanism for dialogue only and will not be considered part of the official Board of Fisheries record. Comments about this recommendation or related issues may be submitted to the board via the public comment procedures outlined in the Zega1 published notice for the 2012 -2013 board regulatory meetings posted at http://www.adfg.alaska.uov/ static /reeulations/ree process /fisheriesboard/Ddfs/2012- 2013 1noticell- 2- 12.pdf. To be included in the books prepared for board members before the March 19 -24, 2013 meeting starts, comments must be received by March 5, 2013. Comments may be submitted later as record copies and will be part of the board's record for the March meeting. Any written public comments can be submitted via fax at (907) 465 -6094 or mailed to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Boards Support Section, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811 -5526 by the Alaska Board of Fisheries, Statewide Finfish and Supplemental Issue meeting comment deadline of March 5, 2013. (All Alaska Board of Fisheries public comment standards apply) Inseason Management If Run Is Projected To Be At Low Return Levels: If by July 21 the late -run king salmon are projected to fall below the 15,000 sustainable escapement goal (SEG) take the following actions: (Note: No vote was taken on changing to the July 21) 1) Make the SEG an optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 13,000 — 30,000 to allow some latitude for the department to assess uncertainties in run timing variability. (Note: No consensus. Task Force voted 5 in favor 4 against for OEG) 2) Restrict the inriver sport fishery to no bait. 3) Change the East side setnet fishery (ESSN) fishery to be managed by emergency order (EO) authority to harvest of sockeye salmon. Friday 36 -hour window will remain in place. (Consensus on number 3) Consensus to either: a. Pairing no bait in the sport fishery with halving all available hours for the ESSN depending upon tier. (Note: No consensus. Task Force voted 5 in favor, 4 against.) Or b. 36 -hour capon ESSN hours when restricted. (Note: No consensus. Task Force voted 4 in favor, 5 against.) c. Should there be a pairing of restrictions when the river goes to catch and release for sport fishing. (Note: No consensus. Task Force voted 5 in favor, 4 against.) d. Pairing catch and release sport fishing with 12 -hour cap onESSN hours. (Note: No vote) e. Pairing catch and release sport fishing with 18 -hour cap on ESSN hours. (Note. No vote.) 4) Restrict the marine sport fishery north of Bluff Point to no bait. a. Change the no -bait boundary to be the South Anchor River conservation marker. (Note: No consensus. Task Force voted 6 in favor, 3 against.) 5) Close the personal use fishery to king salmon harvest. (Note: No discussion or vote on closing the PUf:shery to retention of king salmon) • If the department projects that the OEG of 13,000 will not be met then all fisheries will close. (Note: No consensus on OEG.) On August 1, the following actions will take place: 1) The inriver sport fishery will close by regulation. 2) The commercial fishery will revert back to regular management plan with department oversight to ensure late -run king salmon escapements will be met. a. Amend No. 2 to include reverting back to regular management plan. (Note: No consensus. Task Force voted 5 in favor, 4 against.) • If at anytime prior to August 1, the department's assessments project an escapement greater than 15,000 SEG, restrictions shall end. (Note: Consensus on this point of the plan as written) Sunset after 2013 Season • All task force members agreed that any provisions adopted as Proposal 249 will sunset after the 2013 season so that new ideas will be considered at the 2014 regular Upper Cook hilet Board of Fisheries Meeting.