A longstanding ban on personal watercraft in Kachemak Bay and Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Areas has been officially overturned following a ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court on Friday.

The court’s decision confirms that state agencies have the authority to enact and repeal outdated regulations. The case centered on a 2001 regulation prohibiting jet skis in two marine areas near Homer. In 2021, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang repealed the ban, prompting legal challenges from conservation groups who said the move lacked scientific backing.

In its ruling, the Court found that the Commissioner had adequately reviewed scientific evidence and followed proper procedure, affirming that such regulatory decisions can reflect current data and public use.

The

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