FAQs
You Have Questions, We Have Answers!

Q: Where is the Kenai Peninsula Borough?
A: The Kenai Peninsula Borough (“Borough”) is comparable to a county. The peninsula lies directly south of Anchorage, Alaska. It is a quick 20 minute flight or three hour drive from Anchorage. The waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound border the Borough on the south and east while the glacial Chigmit Mountains of the Alaska Range rim the borough to the west. The towering snow-capped volcanic mountains are reflected in the waters of Cook Inlet, which divide the borough into two landmasses. In comparison, the total landmass of the Borough equals that of the State of West Virginia. The tidal exchanges of Cook Inlet are some of the greatest in the world.

Q: How do you pronounce Kenai?
A: Keen-Eye (Kenai Wild)

Q: Are Pacific Salmon endangered?
A: No. The five species of Pacific salmon are among the best-managed fisheries in the world. The Marine Stewardship Council recognizes all of Alaska’s wild salmon fisheries as sustainable. The estimated return of salmon for the Upper Cook Inlet has exceeded 7 million fish in 2004.

Q: Is wild salmon safe to eat?
A: All studies to date show that a diet rich in salmon, with at least three servings per week can reduce heart disease, the risk of pre-term births and promote healthy retinal development in the uterus of an unborn child. Wild Alaska salmon has more omega 3 essential fatty acids than any other cold water fish. Renowned Professor of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, Nicholas Perricone, M.D. recommends eating salmon once a day! Broadly based studies of women also show that a diet that includes wild salmon can assist in the prevention of breast cancer.

Q: Are wild salmon pen raised?
A: No, wild salmon range freely in the open ocean prior to returning to their natal streams and rivers. There are no antibiotics or color enhancers found in wild salmon. The beautiful deep red color of wild Alaska sockeye salmon is entirely natural. There are No salmon farms in the state of Alaska, as mandated by law.

Q: How are wild salmon caught?
Small independently owned family businesses work to harvest the abundant runs of Cook Inlet and surrounding area waters. 2005 saw a harvest of more than 4.5 million sockeye salmon. These commercial fishing families have three different methods of harvest. Seine, set net and drift gillnet. Commercial openings for the harvest of salmon are determined by regulations administrated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The earliest harvest of salmon occurs in Resurrection Bay with salmon bound for Bear Creek and then Bear Lake. This harvest opens on May 16th and will be open to seiners working the waters just off of the town of Seward, Alaska.

By June 1st the west side of Cook Inlet will open to set net fishermen and by the third week in June the rest of Upper Cook Inlet will be open to drift and set net fishermen. Most of the vessels working these waters are in the 20 foot range. Regulated periods for fishing are on Mondays and Thursday from 7 AM to 7 PM, with additional openings by Emergency Order.