Commercial fishers from the Kenai Peninsula threw their support behind a bill before the Alaska Legislature that would create a fishing permit buyback program for Cook Inlet’s east side setnetters.
S.B. 82, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, would create the voluntary program with the goal of alleviating tensions between eastern Cook Inlet’s commercial setnet fishermen and other fishing user groups on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers.
