1986-05 Supporting the Continuance of the Karluk Lake Sockeye Rehabilitation Project of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 86 -05 -R
A RESOLUTION OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY SUPPORTING THE
CONTINUANCE OF THE KARLUK LAKE SOCKEYE REHABILITATION PROJECT
OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
i WHEREAS, the annual Karluk Lake sockeye run has in the past
produced as high as 4,900,000 fish, and more recently has precipitously
declined to annual runs as low as 400,000 fish; and
WHEREAS, the Karluk Lake sockeye run has contributed to an annual
commercial harvest as high as 2,400,000 fish, and more recently has
precipitously declined to an annual contribution to the commercial harvest
of as low as 90,000 fish; and
WHEREAS, it is evident that restricting the commercial fishery on
other salmon species in an attempt to reach historic escapement levels for
Karluk sockeye is unacceptable economically, and most probably would not
even then yield biologically necessary escapement levels to rebuild the
run; and
WHEREAS, it is evident that a rehabilitation and enhancement
effort is needed to produce the fry necessary to achieve a realistic
rehabilitation of Karluk sockeye production; and
WHEREAS, the State of Alaska has contributed thus far in excess
of $2,000,000 since 1976 pursuing a program to rehabilitate the sockeye run
in the Karluk system; and
WHEREAS, as part of this rehabilitation program an incubation
facility has been constructed which has begun the first phases of this
rehabilitation effort, and has met with good success thus far; and
WHEREAS, a continual commitment to continuing this work is
requisite to build the brook stock to a magnitude sufficient to
rehabilitate the tributary systems of Karluk Lake; and
WHEREAS, sockeye salmon command a premium
preferred salmon species by Price s sd are the
ii y commercial fishermen and processors; and
WHEREAS, the United Fishermen Marketing Association sv
ii continuing funding of this project; ro� and PPorts
WHEREAS, the elimination of the fish culture work would result in
a loss of past invested capital and operational money; and
WHEREAS, the continuing operation of this project represents a
relatively small allocation of financial and manpower resources when
compared to other enhancement projects in the state; and
WHEREAS, a rehabilitation of the Karluk Lake sockeye run would
contribute substantial benefits to the local and state economies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kodiak Island Borough
strongly supports the continuance of the Karluk Lake sockeye rehabilitation
project and transmits herewith its desire that the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game (ADF&G) consider this project as a top funding priority for
its Fisheries Rehabilitation, Enhancement and Development (FRED) Division
budget.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to
the Senator for District N, the Representative for House District 27, the
Chairman of the State Senate Resource Committee, the Chairman of the House
Resource Committee, Governor Sheffield, and the Executive Director of United
Fishermen of Alaska.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS
ATTEST:
porou
•
2 1erk
a (
2 DAY OF January
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Prs4iding Officer
, 1986.
71
B o ug Mayor