Read the Original Article at the Alaska Dispatch
In response to Ricky Gease KRSA Article.
The executive director of Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit “dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of the world’s premier sportsfishing river,” recently wrote an editorial in which he appropriately gave his organization credit for leading the successful charge to block the legislative confirmation of Vince Webster to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. In a swift and organized character assassination, KRSA spread false and misleading information vilifying Mr. Webster. In their attack, they blamed Mr. Webster for (among other things) the Board of Fish’s unanimous 7-0 decision to codify the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADFG) new scientifically established and defensible escapement goal for Kenai River Late Run Kings, something that Board of Fish Chair Karl Johnston stated was a “necessity.”
As a third-generation Alaskan and fishermen, I am proud of Alaska’s fisheries and feel the success of our fisheries benefits everyone. Recent poor returns of king salmon have been a statewide issue, affecting many of us greatly. As a Cook Inlet setnetter and member of a community that depends on a diverse and healthy fishery, I can honestly say that many of my friends, family and neighbors were among some of the hardest hit. After a devastating season, it was very encouraging to get a chance to participate in the public process of the Upper Cook Inlet King Salmon Task Force, led by Board of Fish members Mr. Webster and Mr. Kluberton. It was through this task force that new and enlightening data was published by ADFG that shaped the discussion of Kenai River late-run kings.
While KRSA did manage to suggest a conspiracy between ADFG and the relatively small and politically disorganized group of Cook Inlet eastside setnetters, they left out some very important facts released in these new department reports. First, a historic run reconstruction of Kenai River late-run kings using independent and historically accurate data showed that we have exceeded current escapement goals for these fish 15 of the last 26 years. ADFG indicated in a recent report to the Board of Fish that current below-average Kenai late-run king returns are likely a product of low ocean productivity combined with past years of chronic and substantial overescapement.
Due to copyright law, the Alaska Salmon Alliance cannot repost full articles. You can read the rest of this editorial here.
Third-generation Alaskan Todd Smith is a sport, personal-use and commercial fisherman. He’s a lifelong resident of the city of Kenai.
The preceding commentary was first published by The Cordova Times and is republished here with the author’s permission. The views expressed here are the writer’s own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.
As with all the articles we link to on the ASA website, this report does not necessarily reflect the views of the Alaska Salmon Alliance.