Options For Getting Dipnets to Use on the Kuskokwim This Summer

 April 17, 2014



Urban and rural subsistence and personal use fishers using dip nets, bringing out their annual harvest here on the Copper River, photo taken from http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com

 

At the meeting of the Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group on Friday, April 4, the Working Group discussed options for people interested in purchasing dipnets to take advantage of a new regulation that will allow usage of that gear in 2014 in Kuskokwim River salmon fisheries, during times of conservation for king salmon.

One option that was discussed was the use of food stamps to purchase dipnets.  Dave Runfola, ADFG Subsistence Division, provided this website that spells out the rules for food stamp use:  http://dhss.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/fstamps/howto.aspx

Which states:

SPECIAL SUBSISTENCE HUNTING AND FISHING RULES

In certain remote areas of Alaska subsistence hunting and fishing items may be purchased with food stamp benefits. Eligible households are given a specially marked identification card.

Even though some subsistence hunting and fishing items may be expensive, they cannot be purchased on credit and paid for later with food stamp benefits. Nor can they be paid for before the item is delivered.

• Items that can be purchased with food stamps include hunting and fishing equipment such as nets, hooks, fishing line, rods, harpoons, knives, and other necessary equipment.
• Items that cannot be purchased with food stamps include equipment used for transportation (including gasoline and motor oil), clothing or shelter, firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Food stamp benefits can be used to buy most food items. Some groceries cannot be paid for with food stamp benefits. Here is a list of food items that CAN BE purchased and a list of items that CANNOT BE purchased with food stamp benefits.

Please help spread the word among Kuskokwim River residents so that they can try to take advantage of this program!