Fish & Game says illegally dumped fish waste invites bears

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – It’s an important time of year for many Alaskans who are filling up their freezers with fish, but the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says how fishermen dispose of the parts they don’t eat is also important.

Wildlife Biologist Cory Stantorf said illegally dumped fish waste is a problem in Southcentral Alaska that can have dangerous consequences, not to mention fines that range between $300 to $1,000.

“The issue is folks coming back from dipnetting or fishing on the Kenai — rod and reel — are coming back, filleting fish and then dumping those in the local creeks, streams or dumping them on the banks,” Stantorf said. “And that’s just a huge draw for bears.”

Fish and Game recommends people who clean their fish on-site to chop up the carcass and throw it into fast-moving water.

If fish are processed elsewhere, it isn’t illegal to dispose of waste in local streams but it is highly discouraged by Fish and Game. The agency says that can increase the risk of spreading disease into new water bodies, as well as attract bears to creeks and streams that literally run through people’s backyards.

But fish waste can be taken to local landfills, officials say. According to a release, fish waste is accepted at the Central Peninsula Landfill, as well as Kenai Peninsula transfer facilities. Fish waste is also accepted at the Anchorage Regional Landfill, Central Transfer Station, and the Girdwood Transfer Station, as well as the Central Landfill in Palmer.

People can also put fish waste into residential trashcans but might want to consider freezing it first to reduce the smell.

At the very least, Stantorf said, make sure the can is at the curb the morning of pick-up and stays there as little time as possible.

Anglers also have other options, according to Kelli Toth, acting director of Anchorage’s Solid Waste Services. They can take it to SWS’s new Materials Recovery Facility at the old transfer station in midtown. SWS is running a pilot project there to accept organics that will eventually be turned into compost and other soil additives, and will now add fish waste to the mix.

“If you are a gardener, you know that fish carcasses are like gold and provide really fantastic nutrients back to the soil,” Toth said.

Toth emphasized that fish heads and other parts of fish are edible and highly desirable in some cultures. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium accepts donated salmon including heads, bellies and eggs. For more information, call (907) 729-2682

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