House fisheries committee advances bill to protect family cooperative set-gillnet practices

The House Special Committee on Fisheries on March 11 reported House Bill 117 out of committee with an individual recommendation after public testimony from Kodiak-area set-netters who said a recent enforcement interpretation would force family operations to change longstanding practices.

Supporters told the committee the bill would restore the status quo and permit multigenerational family operations to continue shore-based support and cooperative deliveries without fear of citations. "House Bill 117 simply returns my fishery to the status quo to the way I fished for the past 48 years, and that is all I'm asking for here," said Jane Petrich, a Kodiak Island resident and long‑time set-net participant.

Testimony and context

Dozens of callers, most from Kodiak Island, described similar experiences after an agency or enforcement interpretation they said began being applied in 2024. Tom Wisher, who said his family operation holds three permits, told the committee, "We're not asking for anything new here — just to be allowed to do what we have always done without the fear of a citation by the Alaska State Troopers while doing it." Several speakers said requiring each permit's catch to be kept separate or forcing every permit holder to be on a delivery would impose significant new costs and safety risks, including the need to buy additional skiffs or hire extra crew.

Adelia Myrick, identified as president of the Northwest Setnetters Association, told the committee the bill "does nothing new" and instead seeks to reflect long‑standing cooperative practices in statute. Multiple other callers — including Sue Jeffries, Adam Wisher, Virginia Adams, Eric O'Brien, Dorese Mutch, Mark Beardsley, Alfred Howie and Matthew Rindo — offered firsthand descriptions of family operations that use shore‑based support and occasional shared deliveries to keep sites safe and economically viable.

Committee discussion and action

Representative McCabe said set-netters have established the safest, most efficient practices through experience and expressed support for passing the bill. Representative Edgmon moved to report HB 117 out of committee "with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes." The motion carried by unanimous consent with no objection recorded; the committee's action was announced as the bill being "reported out of the House Fisheries Committee with individual recommendation." The committee did not record a roll‑call vote in the transcript.

Why it matters

Supporters said the bill would protect multigenerational family operations in Kodiak and other rural Alaska set‑net fisheries, preserve a traditional way of life, and address safety concerns that could arise if shore workers or older family members were forced onto open water deliveries. At least one witness characterized the change as addressing a 2024 regulatory interpretation that local fishermen said had produced enforcement uncertainty.

Next steps

The committee signed the report and moved the bill forward with attached fiscal notes and recommendations.