Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
04/07/2026 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB158 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 158 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 158-COOK INLET: NEW ADMIN AREA
10:06:44 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the only order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 158 am, "An Act relating to administrative areas
for regulation of certain commercial set net entry permits; and
providing for an effective date."
10:07:22 AM
SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, Alaska State Legislature, As prime
sponsor, reintroduced SB 158 to the House Special Committee on
Fisheries. He said that SB 158 would create a new
administrative area in Cook Inlet for the purpose of allowing
unique management for the East Side Setnet Fishery. He said
that the permit holders who have traditionally fished the East
Side can have some self-determination and choice regarding how
permits are used in the future. He said that all the proposed
bill does is draw lines on a map to create a new administrative
area and keep permits from other areas from moving into the East
Side. He said that currently Cook Inlet, north of Anchor Point,
is managed as a single administrative area. He said that this
would prevent western set net permits from moving into the East
Side. He said that the legislation is required to make these
changes to the administrative operating area for set net
fishermen.
10:09:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked Senator Bjorkman about an email that
was received by the House Special Committee on Fisheries that
involved a constituent who supported the legislation but
following a recent Board of Fisheries (BOF) proposal, he no
longer did. He asked for clarification of the concerns.
SENATOR BJORKMAN responded that he spoke with Mr. Clark
regarding his concerns and reminded him that action or inaction
on the BOF would not change the outcome of the proposed
legislation.
10:10:52 AM
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on SB 158.
10:11:12 AM
ALLAN CROOKSTON, Owner, Tide Chaser Fisheries, gave public
testimony in support of SB 158. He noted that he is a small
business owner and runs an operation with his wife and kids. He
said that for many years the East Side of Cook Inlet setnet
fleet has been subject to conservation issues. He said that
this is a critical step to allow decision making.
10:12:46 AM
PAUL CROOKSTON, representing self, gave public testimony in
support of SB 158. As brother of the previous testifier, noted
that he was also a permit holder and has seen East Side fishing
issues for much of his life. He also said that he was in
support of SB 158.
10:13:47 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked Mr. Crookston whether he had lived in Kenai
at any point.
MR. CROOKSTON responded that he has never lived in Kenai year-
round but has been visiting Alaska since he was young. He said
that he is a third-generation permit holder who fishes with his
kids. He said that he employs people in the area and most of
the crew are "local people".
CHAIR STUTES said that she noted that he lives in Utah and asked
whether this was correct.
MR. CROOKSTON responded that he lives in Utah.
10:14:40 AM
TED CROOKSTON, representing self, gave public testimony in
support of SB 158. He said that he is the father of the
previous two testifiers and echoed his support for SB 158. He
noted that he felt the bill has gone through different
iterations. He said that he has fished in the areas since the
19060's. Furthermore, he said that the BOF is a "loose cannon"
and legislation reform was needed for the Cook Inlet fishing
area.
10:16:29 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked whether he lives in Kenai.
Mr. CROOKSTON responded that he does not live in Kenai. He said
that he has wanted to build a residence but in the last 25 years
has not built one. He said that he has interests in other
states and cannot live there year-round like he had in the past.
CHAIR STUTES asked where he lived.
MR. CROOKSTON responded that he lives in Utah and his sons do as
well.
10:17:46 AM
NATE PATSOS, representing self, gave public testimony in support
of SB 158. He said that he lives in Soldotna and is a third
generation East Side set net fisherman. He said that SB 158 is
a commonsense decision and the set net fishery is already
treated as a unique area. He said that are many unique
regulations and restrictions for the area and the fishermen here
target sockeye from the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers and the bill
would help efforts in the area and make it easier for fishermen
and regulators to do what is best for the local economy and
local salmon resource.
10:19:08 AM
DANIEL NORMAN, representing self, gave public testimony in
support of SB 158. He noted that his kids are fourth generation
set netters and he was running a small business with his wife.
He said that his business is being deliberately targeted and has
been for some time. He said the proposed legislation would
allow for a lot of good ramifications for down the road. He
said that Cook Inlet seems to be an exception to the general
process of regulation. He said that the BOF is potentially
trying to remove the public engagement process and is targeting
certain groups. He said that there are special meetings to
eliminate a certain gear type which he felt was the result of
sport fishing lobby groups.
10:22:46 AM
TANYA DORNER, representing self, gave public testimony in
support of SB 158. She said that her grandchildren are fifth
generation set netters. She said that there have been repeated
disasters that are specific to the East Side Cook Inlet fishery.
She said that the best course of action is self-determination
with different management. She said that the fishery should be
recognized in a way that fishermen can assist with management
needs. She opined that BOF has run away with these issues
without appropriate stakeholder engagement. She said that maybe
in three years, King Salmon stocks would return to the
peninsula, and every West Side permit could move over to the
East Side. She said that people should not be able to move
permits.
10:24:17 AM
GARY HOLLIER, representing self, Gave public testimony in
support of SB 158. He said that he is a 72-year-old life-long
resident of Kenai Alaska and his family have four generations of
fisherman. He has fished in the East Set of Cook Inlet for 56
years and is an original permit holder. He said that the set
net fishery is in a unique situation and there is neither fiscal
impact nor allocation decision tied to the bill. He said that
the BOF during a recent meeting had provided a bill that would
eliminate all set nets in Cook Inlets East Side given Chinook
salmon concerns. He said that the bill is not a giant leap
forward but a leap forward to let set net fishermen self-
regulate. He said that for a 140-year-old fishery, they are
getting "kicked to the curb."
10:26:01 AM
CHAIR STUTES after ascertaining that no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony to SB 158.
10:26:13 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked Senator Bjorkman to speak to any conflict-of-
interest concerns that he may have with the proposed legislation
given an email that was received by her office.
SENATOR BJORKMAN responded that he owned two Cook Inlet Drift
Permits which are for an adjacent fishery but an unrelated
permit type. He said that if the bill was to pass and it meant
more set net opportunities for set netters, he would stand to
make less money. He said that he was concerned given conflict
of interest concerns, and many members of his fishery believe
that set netters would harm his fishery. He said that if the
bill would pass and allow for increased opportunity, he would
not be enriched, likely the opposite would be true.
10:27:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM said that it was discussed in the last
hearing for the bill [March 3rd, 2026] and asked whether the
bill itself gives more granular management of the Cook Inlet
fishery and whether the set net versus drift net dynamic could
be discussed.
SENATOR BJORKMAN responded that the proposed bill would simply
create a new administrative area on the East Side of Cook Inlet
so the set net permits can be managed uniquely. The bill would
keep permits from the West Side or Northern District from moving
into the East Side of Cook Inlet. He said that looking at the
fishery itself, when opportunities are offered, fish managers
often need to decide on time or area depending on catch, he said
that when the set net fishery is operating, that would to a
higher commercial catch but possibly less openings for the drift
fleet. However, often these fisheries are open in tandem. He
said that management practices by the BOF need to consider run
timing and run strength when managing a fishery.
10:29:38 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that SB 158 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB158 Sponsor Statement ver. I.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM SRES 2/13/2026 3:30:00 PM |
SB 158 |
| SB158 Sectional Summary ver. I.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM SRES 2/13/2026 3:30:00 PM |
SB 158 |
| SB 158 version I.A (2).pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM |
SB 158 |
| SB158 Fiscal Note-DFG-DCF-02.06.26.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM SRES 2/13/2026 3:30:00 PM |
SB 158 |
| SB158 Fiscal Note-DFG-CFEC-02.06.26.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM SRES 2/13/2026 3:30:00 PM |
SB 158 |
| SB158 Supporting Documents-Upper Cook Inlet Management Area Statistical Areas.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM SL&C 5/7/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 158 |
| SB158 Letters of Support 2.12.26.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM SRES 2/13/2026 3:30:00 PM |
SB 158 |
| SB 158 Letters of Opposition 4.7.26 (2).pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM |
SB 158 |
| SB158 Supporting Documents-Excerpt from Modified Optimum Numbers Study.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM |
SB 158 |
| SB 158 CFEC Response Glenn Haight.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2026 10:00:00 AM |
SB 158 |