A new organization backed by a powerful Kenai River sportfishing advocate is trying to ban commercial setnet fishing from all urban areas in Alaska, including Cook Inlet.

The group, Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance, counts Bob Penney, a politically-connected Anchorage real estate developer who has long been vocal about sportfishing issues, as a director.

The group says prized Kenai River king salmon are threatened by overfishing and bycatch and blames commercial set-nets for worsening the problem.

"There is no debating that king salmon stocks in Cook Inlet are at historic lows," the group wrote in a statement to reporters. "Setnets are indiscriminate killing machines and it is time they are banned in urban areas in Alaska."

Read the full story at Anchorage Daily News>>