Salmon notes

• The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has set a total allowable catch of 1,487,153 sockeye for this year's Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone salmon fishery. That's well above last year's 800,126 sockeye.

• In legislative action in Juneau, the Senate Resources Committee yesterday held a hearing on Senate Bill 158. Sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, the bill would segregate eastside Cook Inlet setnet permits into their own district separate from the rest of the inlet. The sponsor says this would help the setnetters — who have been mostly shut down in recent years to conserve scarce Chinook salmon — pursue relief such as a buyback of permits. Video of the hearing is available here and is well worth watching.

• Circle Seafoods, of Aberdeen, Washington, announced plans for the upcoming salmon season: "In partnership with the Metlakatla Indian Community, Circle plans to operate on Annette Island during the 2026 salmon season. The Circle I barge, with a daily production capacity of 500,000 pounds and 1M pounds of salmon tank capacity, is expected to moor at the city dock in Metlakatla and buy fish off the port side." The company posted a video of its rapid slush ice delivery system. Circle debuted its newly built processing barge last year at Metlakatla.

Another lost season for Cook Inlet setnetters?

The Upper Cook Inlet eastside setnet fishery, which targets sockeye, was closed for the entire 2024 season to protect a poor run of Kenai River king salmon.

Now, setnetters might be facing another shutdown season, per this advisory announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Emergency in Cook Inlet?

Eastside Cook Inlet setnetters have submitted an emergency petition to the Alaska Board of Fisheries in a bid to save at least a sliver of their sockeye fishery, which is slated for closure this year to help conserve scarce king salmon.

Cook Inlet setnetters sue

Sabine Poux, of Kenai radio station KDLL, has the story.

Also, here's a press release from the Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association.

State wins Cook Inlet salmon setnetters case

Here's the judge's summary judgment order.

For background on the case, click here.

Injunction denied in Cook Inlet salmon case

Here's the judge's order.

State fights Cook Inlet setnetter suit

Here are three documents the state filed yesterday in response to the lawsuit seeking additional fishing time for Cook Inlet salmon setnetters.

State opposition to preliminary injunction

Affidavit of Jeff Regnart, director, Division of Commercial Fisheries

Affidavit of Robert Clark, chief scientist, Division of Sport Fish

Cook Inlet setnetters sue Fish and Game

An organization called Cook Inlet Fisherman's Fund is suing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in an effort to force additional fishing time for eastside salmon setnetters.

CIFF alleges Fish and Game mismanagement has cost the setnetters millions of dollars this season and last.

Here are three documents:

CIFF complaint

Memorandum in support of motion for preliminary injunction

CIFF press release