Every year tens of thousands of Alaskans and their families flock to the shores of the Kenai and Kasilof rivers and stick a net in the water with the hope of returning to their homes with at least 25 fish. Despite the large number of participants in the dipnet fishery, they have gone largely unrepresented at the Board of Fisheries meetings.

"Dipnetters are always under attack at the Board of Fisheries," said Ken Federico, president of the South Central Alaska Dipnetters Association, which formed about a year and a half ago and recently received its nonprofit status. "No one's ever been representing the dipnetters. Dipnetters never had their own voice at the Board of Fisheries."

Last year Federico blanketed the parking lots on Kenai's north and south beaches, sticking pamphlets and group applications on people's windshields. He also relied on word of mouth to inform dipnetters of the association and persuaded about 70 people to join. Currently association members confer via e-mail and telephone, but because of its newly attained nonprofit status, the association will meet soon, Federico said.

This year, association vice president Dennis Gease plans to join Federico in spreading the word.

"I was excited about the dipnetting (organization)," he said. "It's a great thing for the majority of Alaskans to be involved in to get food in their freezers."

Gease, who also serves on the Kenai Watershed Forum and is a former member of the Kenai-Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee, said he wants more people from the Mat-Su and Anchorage to join the association. Most Kenai Peninsula residents don't have a problem getting to the beaches to fill their freezers, he said, but Anchorage and Mat-Su dipnetters face a long drive and often have only a few days to fish before they have to return.

Because of the limited number of days most can spend dipnetting, Gease said he'd like to see commercial fishermen stay out of the water for a few weekends to allow dipnetters their fair share.

In addition, both Gease and Federico said they'd like to see more restroom facilities that serve the Kasilof dipnet fishery. Gease also mentioned better garbage disposal and Federico said he would be interested in organizing a beach cleanup in Kenai when the fishery closes July 31.

"I'd like to see dipnetters get a better reputation by the organization doing something in that area," Gease said. Dipnetters fill their gas tanks in the Kenai area, purchase groceries and other items, plus dipnetters in the Mat-Su and Anchorage often are unable to fill their freezers with the fish they get up there.

"Everybody has their right to our resources," he said.

For more information on joining the South Central Alaska Dipnetters Association, e-mail Federico at kenfederico@mtaonline.net.

Jessica Cejnar can be reached at jessica.cejnar@peninsulaclarion.com.