Does anyone know whether the proposed reg changes being considered for the Kenai/Kasilof would be effectove this year or next year?

Major rule cycle is not until next year for the KP ... although sometimes changes can be brought into place in the off years.

Not aware myself of any major changes being proposed at the moment for consideration this year .. have you heard something different??

I saw minutes from the Kenai-Soldotna ADF&G Advisory Committee and they had a number of proposals and referred to other advisory committees that were also making proposals. I just couldn't figure out when these proposals were being heard by the ADF&G and when new proposals might take effect. I understood last years Kenai/Kasilof reg changes were supposed to last for 2 years. Here's the link to those minutes; http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/advisory/mtgres/kensold012804.pdf

RR

Not to worry.... just yet.

TRBO is correct in that no rules are actually scheduled to change until the 2005 season. The minutes you posted are just that.... a summary of a formative discussion. Bonafide formal proposals are due for submission in April of this year. All submissions will be assembled for public review and ultimately decisions are made by the Board of Fisheries next winter. There is ample room for public participation in this process.... written comments, testimony before the Board, participation in committee meetings (if selected).

The Kenai always takes the spotlight when it comes to allocative controversy. Right now there is a lot of anti-NR sentiment among locals who would like to re-claim a piece of their river from what some have termed the "greedy tourist-oriented sportfishing industry." The seeds of NR restriction were planted last year when NR's were banned from fishing from a boat on the Kenai River from 6 PM to 6 AM during the May-June king season. Now there is talk of extending NR restrictions into July. The only one publicly discussed so far is to change the existing May-June daily 6pm-6am restriction to one banning NR's from fishing on Sundays thru all of May-June-July.

This should be interesting....