House District 36 candidates back trawling limits at Tanana Chiefs forum

Rep. Rebecca Schwanke and challenger Crystal Jones both called for new limits on trawling at a Tanana Chiefs Conference virtual forum Oct. 8. Jones went further than the incumbent.

Asked how they would reduce salmon bycatch, Schwanke said trawling out to 3 miles is not in the best interest of Alaskans. She said there should be no bottom trawling, and stricter guidelines if it can't be banned outright. She said she co-sponsored Cronk's anti-trawl bill in the House to benefit upper-river villages.

Jones said she supports banning trawling in state waters and setting bycatch limits outside that area. In "a perfect world," she said, she would ban all trawling, both bottom and mid-water.

TCC represents 39 villages and 37 federally recognized tribes. Joy Huntington, TCC's government affairs director, said most of its villages are in the district.

On the cost of living, Schwanke said she supported raising the cap on the bulk fuel loan program last year. She said she worked for the $3 million Alakaket solar and battery project and the $1.2 million Healy geothermal project. Jones called for expanding the Power Cost Equalization program to businesses to help keep grocery costs down.

Jones also said the state should treat tribal knowledge "as a government entity and not just have public comment sections."

The general election is Nov. 3.