Chitina Categories

From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, November 28, 2011, Letters to the Editor

Get in (fish) line!

The state categorizes fishermen, in this order of priority, as subsistence, commercial, personal use and sport. Subsistence fishermen are 100 percent Alaska residents. Commercial fishermen are Alaskans and nonresidents. Personal use fishermen are 100 percent Alaska residents who aren't screened using the eight criteria in the state subsistence law. Sport fishermen are Alaskans and nonresident tourists.

There is a flaw in logic by not prioritizing the access to fisheries by residents first and then non-residents in the simplified descriptors above.

Two questions: How did the nonresident commercial fishermen get higher priority than residents fishing for personal use and sport? Is there truly a need for a personal use category, which is divisive to residents, in this case?

Suggested alignment of priority: First, resident noncommercial. Second, resident commercial. Third, nonresident mixed commercial and sport.

The Alaska Constitution states that residents will have equal access to the resources.

Too simple — Alaskans first.

Paul Harrell, board member
Chitina Dipnetters Association
North Pole