State commission again proposes beach seines for Cook Inlet setnet permits

The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission proposed a permanent rule Oct. 13 that would let Cook Inlet set gillnet permit holders fish beach seines under their permits in the Alaska Board of Fisheries' new seine fishery. Written comments are due by 5 pm Nov. 16.

The proposal comes four months after the commission's attempt to adopt the same change as an emergency rule failed, as Alaska News reported Oct. 11. At that June 4 meeting, Commissioner Tracy Welch's motion to find an emergency passed 2 to 0. Her motion to adopt the rule then failed 1 to 1, with Chair Rick Green voting yes and Welch voting no.

The Board of Fisheries voted 4 to 2 on May 1 to replace set gillnets with beach seines in its Kenai late-run king salmon plan. When the forecast of large late-run Kenai kings tops 14,250 fish, Upper Subdistrict permit holders may each fish one seine up to 70 fathoms long from June 20 through July 31. Below that threshold, the state fish and game commissioner may issue up to 10 experimental, cost-neutral seine permits.

The 2026 forecast came in at 12,718 large fish. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened the season with the east side setnet fishery closed and said in its 2026 setnet outlook that using beach seines this year would depend on commission action. On May 12 the department ruled out the experimental permits, saying they would exceed the commissioner's authority.

Department staff, neutral on the board proposal, warned that removing set gillnets would reduce the number of permits able to fish the east side setnet fishery, because not all permit holders have onshore state land leases. An April commission memo signed by Green told the board that replacing setnets with seines would resemble creating a new fishery, which the commission could not limit without separate limitation proceedings, though a narrowly tailored seine provision could fit existing limited entry rules.

Two experimental permits fished seines in 2024, catching 20,981 salmon and releasing all 16 kings caught.

"KRSA supports replacing commercial set gill nets with set beach seine gear in an attempt to reduce incidental king salmon mortality while fishing for target sockeye," the Kenai River Sportfishing Association wrote to the board. The Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association wrote in April that the board proposal "will result in the loss of our traditional set gillnets." The Pacific Seafood Processors Association also opposed it.

After comments close, the commission may adopt the rule, adopt different language on the same subject or take no action, according to the notice of proposed changes.