Crystal Lake Hatchery faces $200,000 funding gap

Southern Southeast Alaska Aquaculture Association hopes to secure $200,000 to make up for a loss in funding for Crystal Lake Hatchery (CLH) following the expiration of a sport fishing license surcharge SSRAA General Manager David Landis told the Borough Assembly at their Monday meeting.

The sport fishing license surcharge needed to be renewed before Dec. 31 by the state legislation, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented lawmakers from acting before the deadline, said Landis. The most recent payment from the sport fish license surcharge to CLH is expected to run out at the end of the 2021 fiscal...