Alaskan Fisheries Debate on March 20

KODIAK -- It takes guts to talk fish, but five candidates hoping to snag Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will take on the challenge next month in Kodiak.

Congressman Don Young, state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, and Democrats Diane Benson, Ethan Berkowitz and Jake Metcalfe have agreed to participate in the well-known fisheries face-off. That's the catch: the debate is limited to fisheries and the seafood industry topics.
Since 1990 the fisheries debates at the ComFish Alaska trade show have attracted nearly 100 percent participation by candidates for Alaska governor and U.S. Senate. This year will be the first time that U.S. House candidates participate.

The big hook is that the debate is broadcast across Alaska via Kodiak radio station KMXT and the Alaska Public Radio Network.

"The fishing industry is Alaska's Number 1 private employer and produces more than half of our nation's wild seafood. This debate allows the candidates to share their knowledge and ideas about this vital industry," said Deb King, director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of ComFish.

The fisheries debate takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 20.

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