The Homer City Council at their Monday, Oct. 14 meeting, passed Resolution 24-108 requesting Gov. Mike Dunleavy designate the area of the Prince William Sound pink salmon fishery and other applicable state salmon fisheries as impacted by 2024 economic disaster. The resolution was sponsored by Homer Mayor Rachel Lord, who was serving in her previous capacity as a council member, and council members Caroline Venuti and Shelly Erickson.

The commercial salmon fishing season in 2024 saw historically low salmon returns in many regions across Alaska. The resolution states that according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the 2024 Prince William Sound pink salmon harvest was 85.3% less than the prior five-year average harvest.

The economic disaster designation would allow the Legislature to appropriate money for assistance grants to the fisheries, according to Alaska statute cited in the resolution.

According to state data cited in the resolution, 52 of 297 Prince William Sound fishery seine permit holders have Homer-area ZIP codes.

Sections 3 and 4 of the resolution also request that the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission waive permit fees for the 2025 season and that the State of Alaska look to additional federal resources to provide public assistance to affected persons and entities.