By Milo Burcham
For The Cordova Times
The Federal Subsistence Board has received two proposals from Cordova residents requesting Federal subsistence dipnet seasons in the lower Copper River. One, an Emergency Special Action Request and the second, a regulatory proposal. The procedures for the two proposals differ significantly.
The first proposal, an Emergency Special Action (FSA20-04) requests a dipnet fishery in the Lower Copper River in response to COVID-19. If passed would be open only to rural residents of the Prince William Sound Area and would not exceed 60 days. The request is an alternative to harvesting Copper River salmon through the State subsistence gillnet fishery, in which members of different households often pool resources and fish together in boats, violating social distancing guidelines. Tribes have been consulted and while a public comment period is not required for Emergency Special Actions, many public comments have been received and placed into the administrative record. Although a special delegation of authority letter has been issued allowing the Cordova District Ranger to implement this fishery, other provisions require that the decision go back to the Federal Subsistence Board for action.
The second proposal, a regulatory proposal (FP21-10) requests a Federal subsistence dipnet fishery for the lower Copper River be placed in Federal Subsistence regulation. The State subsistence gillnet fishery requires boat access and occurs only during commercial open periods and on Saturdays. This regulatory proposal will allow additional opportunity to Copper River salmon only by rural residents of the Prince William Sound Area. The review process for this proposal is through the US Department of the Interior, Federal Subsistence Management Program.
Public comments on the regulatory proposal are being accepted and can be sent to Federal Subsistence Board via email at subsistence@fws.gov by July 2, 2020. The Federal Subsistence Southcentral Regional Advisory Council will act on this proposal at their fall regulatory meeting October 7 and 8, 2020. Their recommendation will be passed to the Federal Subsistence Board who will make a final determination at their January 2021 meeting. Public comment on the regulatory proposal will be accepted at both of these meetings.
Please contact Steve Namitz, Cordova District Ranger at 907-424-4747 or Milo Burcham at 907-424-7661.
Milo Burcham is a photographer and Forest Service wildlife biologist.
