The 2024 Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries meeting is over. For the most part, status quo was the theme. The one huge exception was discussed last week. I still can’t believe lowering the late run, Kenai king salmon escapement goal was a good decision (it passed on a 4-3 vote). If you’re curious about the votes on the other 185 total proposals, you can find the voting record here.
A quick recap.
There were two proposals passed that stood out for the Kenai River red salmon sport fishery. Both are good news.
Starting June 20th, the red salmon limit will increase to 6 fish a day with a possession limit of 12. The possession limit is for fish that are not preserved. Preserved fish are “fish prepared in such a manner, and in an existing state of preservation, as to be fit for human consumption after a 15 day period, and does not include unfrozen fish temporarily stored in coolers in ice, or dry ice, or fish that are lightly salted.”
The other change occurred at the Russian River, a tributary of the Kenai River. Instead of waiting until the red salmon escapement goal is achieved to increase the daily limit, ADFG can issue an emergency order (EO) if the goal is projected to be achieved. This potentially could liberalize the fishery days, if not weeks, earlier than in the past.
In other Board of Fisheries meeting news not about the Kenai, one of the most significant changes in the Mat-Su Valley sport fishery is the daily pink salmon limit increased to 6 fish.
So, that’s it for 2024. Three years from now the Board of Fisheries will meet again to discuss all the issues affecting Upper Cook Inlet. Many of the proposals presented during this cycle will be on the agenda once more. And, you know there will be proposals correcting decisions made this year.