east side setnet fishery

The department says it already has good data from prior experimental beach seines, and that issuing new permits won’t fill remaining data gaps, like how many king salmon die after being released back into Cook Inlet.

The changes do not impact the basic management plan for Cook Inlet’s east side setnet fishery and came over the objections of local fishermen.

When they pitched the new equipment as a potential fishery gear type to the state board of fisheries back in January, members said they wanted more data.

The Gabriels caught more than 15,000 salmon over the course of their fishery. Of those, 13 were king salmon, and all were released alive back into Cook Inlet – not one king salmon was killed.

Most of that is coming from the east side setnet fishery’s 2018 season and the 2020 Upper Cook Inlet salmon fishery season.

In all, ten fisheries across the state will receive $277 million for disasters dating back to 2018.

The Gabriels are fishing with a seine net. In partnership with the state, they’re piloting and financing an experimental operation they hope will provide relief to one of Cook Inlet's oldest commercial fisheries.