Ann Strongheart on Native America Calling! Live Blog
Get ready for Mudflatter Ann Strongheart, today’s special guest on Native America Calling. OK…she’s an “Anonymous Blogger” now, having been an instrumental force in the creation of the incredible all-encompassing and informative grassroots rural blog “Anonymous Bloggers.” But, I like to think that in some way, Ann’s debut as a guest blogger on Mudflats helped in the spawning (pardon the pun) of that amazing effort, and her subsequent national radio debut.
Please stand and give a big round of applause for the dynamo of Nunam Iqua – Ann Strongheart!
(wild applause goes up across the land)
If we’re lucky, we may also hear from Nicholas Tucker, the Emmonak resident whose heartfelt letter that was published in the Bristol Bay Times brought the plight of rural villages out into the open.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has banned commercial fishing for king salmon along the Yukon River and is limiting subsistence fishing. The ban is in response to the state not meeting their treaty agreement with Canada for the past two years to deliver 45,000 kings via the Yukon . But groups of Native fishermen are ignoring the ban – facing possible jail time, heavy fines and equipment seizure. How will village residents make it through another tough winter if they’re not allowed to fish this summer? Guests include Ann Strongheart (Yu’pik) from the village of Nunam Iqua.
The show will be accepting calls at 1-800-996-2848 with a live link HERE. The link will also tell you if the show is broadcast on a station in your area.
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UPDATE: Ann and Nick were both wonderful. There was also a host of callers from rural Alaska adding information, and sharing their perspective on the situation. It is so good to hear strong, clear, passionate voices from our state’s rural areas with a national platform on which to share information. It will be a challenging journey this winter. I’m so pleased that the hands of Ann Strongheart, Nick Tucker and so many others are on the tiller.
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
Go Ann!
Yay! It’s the first story!
If you have trouble with the MP3 stream at KNBA, there’s a Real Player and Windows Media Player here:
http://www.kpbx.org/listen.htm
Talking about salmon. Count on salmon for livelihood. Needed for food and sold for $ to buy fuel to heat homes. Letter from Nick Tucker. Reading Ann’s email!
In Toronto & have live feed from the first link KNBA-FM 90.3 Anchorage, Alaska!!
I’m at work so won’t be able to listen, but will try to keep up with the live blogging. Go Ann!
Great letter from Ann. Talking about civil disobedience and what those people risk who fish despite closures. Talking about bycatch.
reading comments here
Keep blogging AKM… I am not connecting..AAHH!
Don’t people have the simple right to fish and eat and feed their families. That is his question.
Guest is Ann Strongheart! Plug for Anonymous Bloggers!
Here she is!
Nick Tucker! Retired, supports 12 people, grandfather of 20. Hooray Nick!
Exactly – let’s not wait until winter when it is a crisis….again.
Ban is not in effect right now, but salmon has passed. Treaty w/ Canada fulfilled. Ensured Canadians received fish. Having to meet treaty obligations and ignoring native AKns on this side is wrong. The reason we’re having problems is because of the pollock bycatdh. When you throw away 127,000 king salmon, that’s 3x the treaty amount being lost as bycatch.
Now, having to break the law & fish during closed periods. Avg. family needs 100 salmon. Commercial fishing only caught 119 fish all summer.
we are ALL boycotting pollock, right?
Nick now. Happened to discover plight last January. Thanking Ann for being out there. Giving thanks to her for understanding the situation and bringing it nationwide. Not much difference between last winter between people deciding between food and fuel, and this winter. Second year with no king salmon commercial fishing.
Still can’t hear – why can’t any of the 127,000 kings be given over to the native Alasans?
Thanks AKM. I’m not connecting either.
He is fearful about this winter. When the pollock industry takes so many kings, and many are bound for Yukon. We hear them say it isn’t their fault. You begin to wonder. Talking about bycatch. Elder said I feel like a seagull waiting for salmon. If I don’t get salmon I’m goign to starve. He’s getting very emotional.
So am I.
booboo – the pollock people say they give some of it to charity – the rest gets tossed, dead, back into the sea.
It’s time now for peaceful methods using everything we’ve got to get politics of the last 50 years of statehood, and get together to make sure we are noticed. Speak the truth and say it like it is. Expect to be treated as a citizen of the United states and given privileges you deserve, and benefits you are expected to get as a citizen.
Booboodog-
Try the Real Player ot Mindows Media Player here:
http://www.kpbx.org/listen.htm
What browser? I usually don’t get sound in Chrome.
Windows
Suchanut, now I am getting emotional..
We are not lower, but we have been treated like second or third class citizens. His people are strong and do not give up. He’s a Viet Nam veteran. Time to face our leadership and expect them to treat us like men and women. Not “those people.” We are more than that.
“those people” ! It’s just horrible.
Jane in Miami, I’ll try it, thanks
Called Rural Advisor John Moller. No response.
Ann is back. Are they trying to get native Alaskans out of their homeland. She hopes not. Treaty says subsistence is a priority. Seems like only Canadian subsistence is being enforced. Who’s watching out for us? Takes people with guts to stand up and say something and make gov’t officials accountable.
Doesn’t know why they are being ignored. Want land and resources? What she and Nick are doing is the right thing. Not asking for the moon. Simply asking for fish. Going to end up having to do another food/fuel drive because the state is not responding.
Harlan says institutional racism.
Ann – Constantly hear, “why don’t you move to Anchorage?” Shouldn’t tell people where to live. This is not right. Used to force relocation to schools.
Ann! You are wonderfully articulate! You Go!
Nick GOD BLESS you and your service in Viet Nam.
Thanks, too to Harlan for showcasing this situation!
I have to go. I’ll be listening in the car, though. Ann and Nick are doing SO well! Hopefully someone else can get the feed, or listen on 90.3
Ann should send her letter to NPR’s Talk of the Nation!
Ban put on because of meeting treaty with Canada. Treaty needs met and fishing open now. Salmon have passed.
I read on newsminer.com that this is first time in 3 years the treaty number was met in Canada.
Well, still not hearing. Dang! And I’m having trouble refreshing the page (turtle-speed). Hopefully that means millions are here listening.
Thanks for the live blogging for those of us who can’t get the feed!
This is too important to ignore!
If they can’t get a response from Moller go straight to Parnell..or the papers…force this issue into the open!!
You go Uncle Harley!
Catering to Pollock industry. Record high gas, utility prices.
Caller comparing arrest of Prof Gates and President got involved. Would like this brought to National spotlight. Radio host mentions Elder being fined for fishing. Ticket $275 for 7 salmon for his grandchildren.
Another man has been added to the conversation. Talking about racism in general and compares it to the Gates incident – thinks Obama should invite Ann and Nick for tea.
Attorney on that’s representing the men who fished against the salmon closure. He is a total advocate to their cause!
Caller feels they have been taken advantage of. Unfair treatment from the State of AK.
Jim – Bethel – Attorney – Representing those charged for free for fishing. Yahoo Jim!!
Pro bono lawyer for the tribes on now. YAY LAWYER!
Once again, the fisheries are run by commercial interests and not catering to subsistence. The world has changed around these native people and they are proud to go to jail to support their historic way of life.
Jim refers to how someone calls it a theft. They stole our salmon. Clients are proud to go to jail to feed their families. AK doesn’t care about natives. Anger is justified.
Ann and Nick invited to the White House would be great for getting it out there. Too bad they were never invited to the Alaska gov mansion.
Yay, keep fishing.!!………………thanks for live blogging!
Nick is talking about having more control of their resources and this is a good point. How about running some of these gas pipelines to these villages that need our affordable natural gas?
Nick Tucker: Thanks to callers, and the people who fully understand and are helping, is what makes Nick feel the truth is finally coming out. Natives have been silent too long. Is sad about resources being snatched from them… should be allowed to have tools they needs to advance themselves.
We don’t want handouts.
NO, PLEASE stop making me cry, Nick!
He makes the point that Natives participate in America, ie going to war for our country, but then they come back to their village or town and they are not given opportunities to improve their village or move into the 21st century regarding infrastructure.
Nick says we aren’t looking for handouts. Natives not included in unemployment. Nick very emotional. He’s 64 — older than the state! Nick – very capable – smart. We haven’t been listened to. Daughter graduating from College — YEA!!
“We need to go out and DEMAND our 10th Amendment rights” (Jim the Lawyer again?)
His father filed the first Native lawsuit re land-claims act. When the state threatens to fine someone, they’re acting like a corporation, in it for profit, taking away the individuals’ rights for state profit wothout due process.
good grief people!
Yes I agree we have to stop the trawlers and having worked for the Department of Fish and Game Commercial Fisheries Division, I know that we must also right now today ALLOW X AMOUNT of fish to return to spawn, otherwise the fish will die off.
At this point it simply does not matter who what where when or why, because the issue at hand right now is the fish must be allowed to return and left to spawn or there will not be anymore fish.
It is the right of ALL Alaskans to have fish to fish not just for the native people and so we are ALL responsible to make sure the fish continue to thrive and we must not interfere with this life cycle.
This is life and WE ALL have to make these adjustments for the greater good now and then.
For those who eat salmon jerky during the winter why not eat beef jerky or something else this winter.
Harley compares the treatment of Native Americans to other ethnic groups who face discrimination.
Jim in Bethel, AK. Atty, represents those charged w/ ilegal fishing; pro bono; 80% of dietary protein is Yukon Kings for N/A, have been living this way for generations; regards fish as being stolen; everyone who violated the law should be viewed as heroes; AKns don’t care about natives – cater to commercial interests.
Natives voice the need to end silence and fight for the rights to which they are entitled. Resources have been snatched away from them. Resources are the key to development for the future. Not looking for handouts – looking for rights and respect. Natives have saved the country for people to come and make something of themselves. Haven’t been listened to, haven’t been given their opportunities. Commercial interests have taken over Native rights.
[Bethel] 5 or 6 yrs ago was strong escapement; reduced bycatch will not be implemented until 2011; fish counting sonar was inop until June 21 – they don’t know what escapement was allowed to Canada this year. by-catch limits need better advocacy; … he’s too fast for me
By catch should have to be processed and distributed, period. No throwing it back into the ocean dead. It really makes me ill that it works this way.
Remember, Phil at Progressive Alaska went to the fishery meetings this spring and blogged about it. Good background info over there.
Myron from Bethel will visit lower yukon before fall and check on the families and see first hand how they are set for winter and what aid they might need.
More than the state employee John Moller is doing!
This just makes me sick and furious. I’m so tired of corporate and commercial interests being given a free pass to destroy Native people and places.
Nick – Unite to get together. Caller mentioned there is a meeting in Anch in August which is too late.
Ann – Thanks everyone for calling. Buy AK salmon. Shout out to Anon Bloggers & Mudpups.
Post-season evaluation will be done to
Natives take less than 2-4% of resources. Escapement has been taken from that amount. While Natives were not being allowed to fish, Murkowski was participant in fishing derby and Palin was posing for RunnersWorld. Illustrates how entrenched the problem is and how it is not taken seriously. Big meetings scheduled later in season – to late to do any good.
Time to organize boycott of pollack industry.
Nick Tucker, Sr. (closing) We need to get together and address Native issues.
Ann Strongheart: By AK wild salmon! Benefit Native fishermen. Thanks to Mudpups – last winter food drive and support on the issues.
Woman: Alaskans take less than 2-4% of the natural resources, she fears that 2% went to Canada this year. Says state is out of compliance with title 8 (? missed if she said what it was)
Helen: Commends Natives for their strength. Supports idea of boycotting pollack industry.
Out of time.
Nick: We’re not gonna have any strength at all if we do what the rest of the world wants: stay apart, stay quiet. We must all speak out. Thanks everyone for their understanding.
Ann: Thanks to all. Buy AK Wild Salmon! ((Shout out to US!! Thanks Ann!))
That should be “BUY AK wild salmon.”
thanks to all who liveblogged!
Good job live bloggers. Thanks!
Wish I could’ve typed faster. (Maybe if I could do so with more than 3 fingers…
)
Saphire: “For those who eat salmon jerky during the winter why not eat beef jerky or something else this winter.”
This is almost as bad as asking folks from rural AK to move to the city! Think about it: The salmon is free – they would have to buy the beef jerky. (And anyway, it’s not as good!)
Wow…what a show!!! Quyana Cakneq y’all for tuning in and live blogging. Would love to say more but I have to go get the crew fed their breakfast! Will catch up more later. Quyana, Quyana, Quyana for all of you comments and support!!
Without Mudpups and Anonymous Bloggers I doubt that this would have been possible.
Quyana,
Ann Strongheart
Much respect for Nick Tucker and Ann Strongheart. Thank you for making the time to get your voice out there. The callers made very good points and for those listening I think the whole thing came together, clarified the situation and was powerful.
I tried to get on but probably wouldn’t have made any sense (I get too emotional over this!) so better that I didn’t. Blessings to you and your families.
saphire – of course the fish have to spawn, the villagers know that better than most! Point is – targeting the native Alaskans as the only people that have to let them swim on by to Canada to be caught (because so many died from trawler bycatch already) does not make logical sense. Take away one groups livelihood and starve them. The salmon count in Canada is well above the agreed amount now. A fraction of the abundance could have allowed the villages to meet their subsistance needs.
Hope that made some sense. Heck I can’t even type I’m so frustrated )o:
@ Saphire…
OK you say you have worked for the DF&G then you should know the importance of conservation. Why is it that ONLY the Lower Yukon residents are being forced to conserve? Why should we, if we take your suggestions, ignore the fact that pollock trawlers are blatantly WASTING 100′s of thousands of fish?? Why is it wrong to demand that this waste, this by-catch that is 100% manmade, 100% preventable, be stopped??
Natives as a whole live conservation and preserving nature. It’s in our everday subsistence lives. Your suggestion to buy beef jerky is utterly absurd. #1 do you know how much it costs?? #2 are YOU going to send us the vitamin and Omega 3 capsules to make up for the lost nutrients that we wouldn’t be getting?? #3, #4 etc etc…
It takes EVERYONE, Pollock fisheries, natives, non-natives etc, to protect and conserve our native resources. Lower Yukon residents shouldn’t be the only ones forced to conserve while the pollock in does whatever it wants to!
JMHO, Will stop feeding the trolls now…still fired up about the show
Ann Strongheart
p.s.
And as whole rural Alaska has been the “step-child” of urban areas for years. It will take the energy of everyone, rural and urban, to address the by-catch and rural issues. A strong rural Alaska is a strong urban Alaska!!
Ann and Nick, Thank you for the enlightening, informative show. You deserve a big Quyana (means thank you, I assume?) from all of us. The non natives are losing in this whole mess as much as the natives. Better conservatorship of our natural resources benefit all and we better wake up to that fact before the salmon (and much of our beautiful natural world) are gone. I hardly think that subsistence hunting and fishing is causing the problem of dwindling resources Saphire @51 is talking about when you look at the amount of fish taken AND wasted by the big companies. And the hunting for ‘trophy heads’ (picture dead animal being held up by grinning hunter). I don’t hunt, but I am ok with responsible, humane methods; and maybe a respectable ‘thanks’ to nature for providing.
Ha, I took so long to type, I just realized you all have said what I did, only better!
Ann – I have to go throw myself off a bridge now because I was unable to be here for the live stream. Tears are streaming down my face anyway, so I guess the mudpup’s live blogging and your comments were pretty close to the real thing! I will listen to the audio file when it’s available, but I am going to make sure my Kleenex is handy this time!
I am so glad that Nick was able to make the show, and Jim the atty from Bethel – what a powerful combination you all sounded to be!
@ Saphire – you are missing the point big time. Yes, it’s not just Alaska Natives, but all of rural Alaska which depend on these fish for their lives (notice I don’t say livelihood which diminishes the need by making it sound like a job). There are many non natives who were born, work and live in rural Alaska, so you need to broaden your perspective and work a little harder to get the racist sounding part out of your thought process.
I wasn’t able to listen but I do appreciate the live blogging. I do feel that by not up-grading the land and making it harder for Natives to survive is a way of ousting the People. I do see discrimination. I do believe that they have other plans for the area. BTW: when Palin was saying her good-byes-did she visit this area and offer her support?
A while back, maybe 2 or 3 wks ago, I posted about Sec. of Interior Ken Salazar and some other Gov. officials who were coming to AK, Aug. 12 or 14? anyway, it was specifically to get in touch with Native issues. I certainly hope the fuel and food woes coming this winter will be brought to their attention. I think they were meeting in Bethel? but not sure…..I’ll try to find the article. I took it to be a positive deal, I hope the government steps in because the state has dropped the ball, just like the senior health care and the violation of burning medical waste.
So, what does the new gov have to say?
thank you all for the liveblogging, looking forward to the audio being available….?
The whole country will be watching the new Governor. Wonder what he meant saying he upholds Palins policies? It may have been words to make her feel good. I hope he comes through with some good decisions. Dang, I missed C-Span Live with Senator Begich. I wanted to see if how many people attended the speech. Bet he starts helping with a solution to ban the ban. Here’s the press release of the bills he introduced today:
http://begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=d59dc2bd-ce82-4fc4-bfe7-c248cbb4c5e8
http://begich.senate.gov/public/
martha uys…absolutely.
@ Say NO to Palin in Politics
Yes, the meeting is on August 12! We did a post at Anonymous Bloggers regarding this. The timing is pretty weird, and we don’t yet know how many rural residents or leaders will be able to attend. It also conflicts with an “organizational type” meeting for the as yet unknown “Rural Community Outreach Committee”.
I would have to say I’m already NOT impressed with the Rural Community Outreach Committee (RCOC) for scheduling their very first meeting on the same day in Anchorage as The White House Rural Tour in Bethel. The chair of the RCOC, Eric Olson, is also the The North Pacific Fish Management Council (NPFMC)’s chairman. So what the ???? It was the NPFMC who had the bycatch cap meeting in Anchorage in April – so what is he doing NOT going to Bethel for this tour?
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/august-12-rural-alaska-outreach-day/
Remember this from just a month ago………did Nick ever get an apology?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
KTUU: Conflicting info on fish runs coming out of Yukon River
“Palin Twittered good news to her followers this weekend, writing that 50 percent of Emmonak residents have already met their subsistence needs, and that she’s confident that others can do the same.
Her office says that report comes from rural advisor John Moller, and says he based that information on comments made by a fisherman there, Nick Tucker.
But Tucker says he never made such a statement, and that it was a different fisherman, from the nearby village of Alakunak, who made the remarks.
Channel 2 News has been seeking clarification about the governor’s reported numbers since Sunday and thus far has not successfully connected with Moller.”
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10623315
@ Say NO to Palin in Politics
We did a quick post on this, too at Anonymous Bloggers:
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/is-anyone-doing-anything-to-prevent-another-rural-crisis/
“At the end of June the governor sent out this tweet:
John Moller just returned from Emmonak, reports 50% of residents have subsistence needs met already, others confident they can do the same.
When the Anchorage Daily News asked the governor’s spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow, about the tweet she replied:
The good news – At the Federal Subsistence meeting in Emmonak last week, Nick Tucker reported that 50 percent of the residents have met subsistence needs and other 50 percent are confident they will meet their needs.
To which Nick Tucker replied:
I want them to take it back.
I’ve never said that. Ten times over, I’ve never said that. It was from one fisherman in Alakanuk.” I do not believe that we in Emmonak – Emmonak never said that.
He demanded an apology, Rural Advisor John Moller offered one and Nick has accepted, but now what?”
This northwesterner is livid. Since when is pollack more valuable than AK king salmon? The idea of tossing dead king salmon back as worthless bycatch is obscene. Yes, Canada should have its share of the Yukon river salmon. Absolutely enough salmon have to return to spawn to continue the run. And yes, the native Alaskans should have their share: enough to live on and to sell. The tourists can wait in line after that. It it is not possible to reduce the bycatch situation, then IMHO the pollack fisheries have their quotas severely cut back. This needs to go to federal court on behalf of the Native peoples. In Arizona, the Native tribes won back some major water rights due to destruction of traditional water by the copper industry and damming by the towns. There is precidence.
@Say no…
Yes Nick did get an apology but I heard he got it from Mr. Moller…nothing directly from the ex Gov.
@ Say NO to Palin in Politics
I wanted to add this link (can’t do two links in one post) because this is the really misleading video that John Moller so proudly posted on the Governor’s website to show that Emmonak residents have met their quota! This Native fellow is not talking about subsistence catch, but Moller appears to be too clueless to realize this. They need to take this stupid video off the website!
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/video_GordonEmmonak-June2009.php
P. S. I’m afraid John Moller is looking extremely ineffective, unreachable, and unaccountable in his job. They should hire ME for that job – what a rewarding and crazy job it would be! Moller doesn’t appreciate the importance of what he could be doing. Lazy? Misdirected? We don’t know yet, but I’m thinking he better shape up quick because winter is on its way. We may just have to deluge the Gov’s office with mudpup letters.
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign – How do we get you in to replace Moller? Wow, you would be a power to reckon with. You would actually get things done!
Ann,
I went searching for information re the Alaska/Canadian Treaty to see who benefits from the fish that passed through as having read the Newsminer.com article it’s says it’s the first time in 3 years that the treaty was met. Also reading articles back at the time of the Treaty agreed upon in 2001 and articles from ADN in June 2008. From what was said on the radio show, there was issue with the sonar this year. Have only read the numbers in the newsminer article.
When I read or listen to Alaska references to subsistence, some of the comments of some people are upset with the Treaty with Canada, it brought to light my lack of knowledge of the Canadian side of this issue. My reading on this which I think some of it I knew logically because of the territory, it too is for subsistence for our First Natives (FN). The first coming in from what I read is escapement allotment. The second is the subsistence and after that would be commercial. The commercial licensing I have read so far has indicated that approx. 40-50% is FN. I have read an article that I have to find again as my power blipped and therefore I lost it when the computer rebooted, as it was talking about the commercial licensing being co-ops. The commercial licensing for FN I would expect to be the same as Alaskans — to be able to pay for their fuels and other needs. I haven’t read anything else yet about this year numbers going through other than the newsminer article.
I know you are much more familiar with this than I am as it’s not something I was aware of until my introduction via Mudflats. I too have neglected to educate myself because of the geographical distance between Yukon and Ontario where I live (just outside of Toronto).
@ Polly
The Rural Adviser is probably an appointed position (exempt) but I’m not sure. Moller is paid 80 grand plus a year, and we have seen zero results that we can quantify. If he’s done something, anything important, we haven’t heard about it. Every time I read something from him, he says something like “Well I don’t know, I didn’t know, It’s not my area of expertise, It’s too late in the day to comment on that, I will have to check with someone else…”
We hear story after story, including instances found on other Alaska blogs and media where Moller does not return phone calls, give interviews, or much of anything that we can tell. But he was quick to spout out (see link below) :
“it’s an open invitation to come visit me in the office.”
DUH. How many rural Alaskans are going to make it to Juneau? Their avenues of communication are email and phone, and he doesn’t respond or responds very late. Also, rural Alaskan Natives are a sort of introverted bunch. The person in this position needs to travel TO them to get a real idea of what is going on. He never even made it back to Nunam Iqua last winter when he said he would (weather problems), but didn’t even return a promised follow up phone call to Ann Strongheart – ever.
Here’s a tidbit from his first interview with the ADN:
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/137596
Moller said he’s been meeting with the Bush caucus and other legislators. “The dialogue has been good, but I think that if there’s a message, it’s very, very important for me to keep the dialogue between rural Aalska and the governor’s office. That’s absolutely critical. Everybody I’ve seen up til now, it’s an open invitation to call me, it’s an open invitiation to come visit me in the office.”
As far as mudpups writing to the Gov wouldn’t it be a good idea to start now rather than later? Something along the line of “I’m sure you are aware.. what are your plans for making sure last year’s crisis won’t repeat or worsen….show us you have some balls if you want votes next year…” Oops! maybe not worded quite that way but you get my drift (o:
Polly, I second that vote for Martha..I think we can argue in all directions on this, but with the right leadership maybe all involved could benefit.
Thanks to all for standing up for this great cause. I hope things are done to prevent a replay of last winter. Inaction would not surprise me but it most definitely would be wrong.
Come on, new guv, don’t just sit there, do something before it becomes an impossible task once again.
Michigander, don’t citizens have a right to see their balls before they vote? Maybe there should be some transparency here!!
Hopefully the new guv. will be very aware of last year’s fiasco and take heed before it again goes ‘viral’. You know we can make THAT happen, ha!
I haven’t yet read all the comments, so I’ll likely be repeating someone that said it all much better. However.
I’ve read and heard a lot of people asking why should the natives get “special treatment”? I agree 100%. Why is it that its only the Natives that are being refused the right to fish? To paraphrase: They eat, therefore, they fish. …except when they’re not allowed to.
It’s a lot like the ones that use the least are expected to make up the difference for those that waste the most. Oh yes, that’s special treatment, all right. And it’s BS
There is too much I don’t know about the logistics Could the natives get first crack at the salmon, then the pollack fisherman come in for their fishing? Or does the pollock start up around the same time as the salmon? Or – or – or… That’s the kind of thing I don’t have any knowledge of.
But what sticks in my craw the very most is that ALL Alaskans should have the danged first crack at the resources of the state, then let the “outsiders” in for their turn.
Nan
bummin’ b’cuz she missed it after all
Martha, I know it is an appointed position. Moller is treating it like a desk job! — Unless his hands are tied, by some administrative decisions/protocol that Palin instituted. It may be time for our U.S. Senators and Ken Salazar to get highly involved. Hope Murkowski unites with Begich, so it doesn’t turn into a partisan circus.
The Native communities are humble. They need someone like you to be pro-active, engaged, results- orientated, and passionate, on fire.
I was privileged to listen in to the broadcast this morning. My heart goes out to a proud and very capable people who are caught in a net of incompetence,greed and deception just as surely as the salmon are caught in Pollock fisherman’s nets! Nick Tucker, I can sense in your voice and your words, how difficult it is for you to put your dignity and pride aside for the good of your family and your people. Please accept our help, not as charity, but as a shared gift between friends. More important, keep telling us how we can make a difference. Share with us how we can work now to solve these problems together so everybody can live in peace and harmony with abundance for all.
Since we now know that it will be another tough winter, what can we do before freeze-up to get as much fuel and food in place at the cheapest cost. Finally, specifically who can we contact to put pressure on in the state and in Washington to deal with this mess. Has anybody considered a disaster declaration for Rural Alaska due to the lack of fish?
I read that the reason most “bycatch” is tossed overboard is that salmon flesh is much more dense than pollock and thus cannot be frozen adequately on the factory ships. Ihave sent e-mail to all my friends asking that they buy only wild caught salmon and avoid all pollock products. I asked them all to pass the word. Also, I have contacted various producers of fish sticks and other pollock products, advising them that I am boycotting their products until they voluntarily reduce by catch to 20,000 per year or less immediately. Finally, I have sent e-mail to MSM and cable news networks advising them that this boycott is serious business and they might want to get in on the story before they miss the boat! Anybody else want to raise some hell?
Here’s another (possibly stupid) question. I do understand that the salmon is thick enough that it’s problematic to freeze it. Since it’s going to be smoked anyway, would even partially frozen be enough to keep it until it can be distributed or dropped off or whatever? Or is that a whole ‘nother kettle of uh… fish (pun unintended, I must be tired).
Or does it have to sit too long for that to be workable?
Nan – I am glad you commented, especially like this paragraph:
“It’s a lot like the ones that use the least are expected to make up the difference for those that waste the most. Oh yes, that’s special treatment, all right. And it’s BS”
Exactly, and you said it much better than I! As far as the bycatch, the pollack trawlers get the salmon before they run up river, then the villagers were banned from fishing while they were running, than the ban lifted after they were further upstream to Canada. So the opportunity is past in their area. The trawlers combined with the ban is why it is a crisis in the making. In other words they can’t fish ‘first’ cuz the salmon have a path they follow to spawn. They should be allowed to fish in between after they hit the rivers and before they hit Canada.
Nan – I think that is dangerous, the salmon would be tainted by the time it got to anyone.
They should have frigging put a lower cap on bycatch THIS year. It is inconceivable to me that citizens have been put in this position yet again! Risk starvation and freezing or fish anyway and risk jail/fines. My God, it breaks my heart.
booboodog #88 – Tee-hee! If Gov Parnell doesn’t stand up and do the right thing I can imagine the signs (o:
I know it’s a little late. I believe pollock season happens late winter and then again early fall. That makes it hard to keep fish partially frozen until it’s time to cut and smoke, and if the fish is frozen then unfrozen to cut for smoking the flesh is mushy and hard to cut. I think the Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Bristol Bay fisheries should have their boats out there along with the Pollock trawlers to take the by-catch fish, freeze them, sell them and the profits go to those villages or the commercial fisherman along those rivers. That way, they have a profit, and those companies work along with the trawlers employing area people who otherwise would not be working.
AKinOK- whoa! What you said makes sense.
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign–Oh puuuleeeze, you don’t actually think Moeller lives in Juneau, do you?!?
AND, you’d be a WAY BETTER Rural Advisor (now, let’s see, can I create an official enough looking petition and get it circulating to get him dumped and her hired…scheming, scheming…)
AKinOK – no kidding, it does.
I see the point re the mushy fish, and the “iffy-ness” of it’s being stored too long, anyway.
That’s why I was asking – just didn’t know. So, thanks y’all
Nan
So Todd is ditching Palin. He finally grew a couple.
We need to find somebody who can tip off Martha UYS when Moller is in his office in Juneau so she can walk through that open door. Maybe Alaskapi could go along and live blog their meeting.
Nan, AKinOK and others who care – the pollack trawlers don’t fish the rivers, the villagers do (if not banned!). The Native Alaskans can’t fish alongside the trawlers in the sea to have their needs met! Salmon run upstream to spawn. You fish when the salmon are ‘running’. The bycatch from the trawlers cuts the numbers way back, like 120,000 over the past several years. Here is a snippet from MSNBC:
Salmon get caught in nets
People living along the Yukon River think they know what is to blame — pollock fishery. The fishery — the nation’s largest — removes about 1 million metric tons of pollock each year from the eastern Bering Sea. Its wholesale value is nearly $1 billion.
Thanks to all the live bloggers on an interesting show.
Way to go, Ann and Nick! You really explained the situation well. Stay strong.
Just a little tidbit to get you even more upset, as it did me!!
Most of the pollack not only goes into making a cheaper product than the salmon, goes to people and businesses based outside of Alaska BUT also gets shipped to other countries to feed their people!!!!
I am all for feeding the masses, especially if it is a good product, but I sure do not want to see Americans go hungry for it!!!
Gramiam -
At Anonymous Bloogers we’ve been asking various sources, including John Moller, whether fuel has been delivered to the villages. No one has replied.
We’re afraid, with the restrictions on commercial fishing, there will be even less cash this winter and buying fuel will be more difficult.
Martha, has someone tried to ask him? or pointed out the bad timing? complain to the gov’s office. Where do I know that name from? (Eric Olson)
Martha UnAlaska said: “The chair of the RCOC, Eric Olson, is also the The North Pacific Fish Management Council (NPFMC)’s chairman. So what the ???? It was the NPFMC who had the bycatch cap meeting in Anchorage in April – so what is he doing NOT going to Bethel for this tour?”
Wasn’t it Aug. or Sept of last year when someone let Scarah know it was going to be a terrible winter for the natives? of course she ignored it and got a busy campaigning for VP until end of Dec. and I remember another official “warned” in Oct., again no action. Nope, nothing except the state wide bonus checks to every man woman and child. Which were too late to buy fuel because the Yukon froze early and barges couldn’t get through. GAH!
That’s when Nick and Ann spoke up and reached out and WE Mudpups got involved, filled flat rate boxes, Ramas and another leg got involved too, and schools collected food and Scarah ignored the situation until embarrassed then made cookies and brought religion to the rescue in what March? and told them their hope was leaving the villiages for oil and city jobs. another GAH!!!!
If Moller hasn’t been returning calls or answering emails – Alaskans need to step over (on) him and bypass him. It’s calling the Gov’s office listing dates messages have been left for Moller regarding fuel and lack of subsistence. Parnell made a whopping announcement specifically setting out he was keeping Moller. He didn’t do it for anyone else on staff except possibly the Chief of Staff Mikey.
Parnell stepped in the title, then hold his feet to the fire. Time is running out as to fuel being shipped in as the last shipment didn’t make it in last year so maybe October is too late and what arrangements are being made for food for the winter due to lack of subsistence.
Sorry people, but I’m one that gets frustrated when I read lots of people on many sites not happy and complain. If Moller is supposed to be the contact and isn’t doing it — you’ve waited sufficient time — then you step on him and go over him. Screw the climbing the ladder as that wastes time and there is not sufficient time left and just go to the top — take it to Parnell’s office. The title Gov may be new, but he’s not new to the State so should know full well what’s going on. I’d be one on the blower!!
I say this as in Toronto this summer, I have turned my air conditioner on once so far this summer. Not normal. I love it as sleeping with windows open has been wonderful — but it’s not been the norm as years past. The extreme heat in the northwest States — not normal. The extreme amount of rain in the northeast states — not normal. Therefore is like you can’t depend on the past records of what has happened and leaving it to October might be too late.
@ Canadian Neighbour
That’s exactly what one of our rural Alaska advocates has been doing. Unfortunately, John Moller’s phone number IS the Governor’s office! He does not have his own phone with his own voice mail – weird, huh? The advocate (who prefers to remain anonymous) is getting nothing but the run around, but dang this person is persistent. Hopefully we will see some communication open up soon, it’s very strange.
If Moller still lives up north, the state has options to get him his own phone number in 15 minutes tops! I imagine this is another oversight by the Palin administration (not using their available technology) or a purposeful intervention of John Moller’s communications. I have called there in the past, and when I asked why he didn’t have his own number, the gal who answers and takes his message (transfer from Gov’s office) acted a bit miffed at me. I would say that she is lacking training dealing with the public – something I have been doing for 25 years so I feel competent in judging her lack of experience.
Most rural Native Alaskans aren’t going to feel comfortable leaving messages with an unknown receptionist who isn’t very caring or informative on the phone. It’s a ridiculous system – actually, it’s NO system! All this, and they get to spend 80 grand to let John Moller answer his calls and emails either not at all, or quite late. And I suppose InJuneau is correct – who knows where he actually lives and where this mysterious “open door” is we Alaskans are supposed to run through to find him!
On top of this, he has barely given interviews and has ignored requests for a few that I know of. When he does grant an interview (or however he does it), he sounds like he doesn’t know anything, or he’s just another Palin talking head with Palin talking points about rural Alaska.
To steal from Say NO to Palin in Politics – GAH!!!!
Canadian Neighbour – I agree with take it to Parnell. Start emailing, writing, calling whatever but do it NOW. The sooner you people start, the better. If citizens don’t get an answer you will have proof that you tried. Even a simple “Gov Parnell, I am very concerned about the lack of subsistence needs being met for rural Alaska. What are you going to do to avert a crisis this year?”
I meant to say “rural Alaska Natives”, I am dyslexic!
Thanks MarthaUYS for responding!!
Oops – delete the 1rst “you” changed it to people.
Martha UYS – email Gov Parnell. You should get a response and you will have a record when sent/received.
@ michigander
I believe the advocate has done that, and has been referred to the AG. Getting the run around from the AG. I haven’t kept up with all of the details – the advocate has shared lengthy emails of the attempts to get these answers, and from who they are trying to get them from. Whew, that was a mouthful. Hopefully we will do a post about this on Anonymous Bloggers, but some more info is needed first.
I knew I was going to get weepy eye when I opened this thread, but I knew I had to read it.
I wish there was someway for the Pollock harvesters were able to fish for Pollock and avoiding the King Salmon. It’s a huge same not to allow 100,000 salmon to come home.
There has to be way for natives and the pollock fisheries to come together and make it fair for the natives. I know it’s all about the money for the fisheries, but it’s the very lives of Alaskan natives.
Very sad. =(
Let’s assume for the moment that the usual “Chinese Fire Drill” takes place again this year, leading to “too little too late” supplies. What kind of fund raising or hell raising or both can we do to make sure we have something in place. can we set up a fund to pay for shipping more fuel and food closer to where we know it will be needed later. We already know there is going to be less cash for both fuel and food so what programs are there to supplement things ahead of time to work with the window of opportunity? Again, I ask if there isn’t any kind of disaster declaration to use to “grease the wheels”. These folks are dealing with more than sufficient stress right now. Can’t we “grow a set” and step up to work with our fellow citizens.
If anybody is interested, I have a fast computer and free long distance 24/7. I also,too like to dine on unwary bureaucrats as a snack! Add to that that I turn 65 tomorrow and am now officially a cranky retired person. Point me and get out of the way!
Michigander
I lived most of my life in Alarneq (English name Alakanuk which is betweeen Nunam Iqua & Emmonak), I started helping my family cut fish before I turned 10 so I know when they fish and when the pollock fishing is. What I was suggesting was for the companies to bring their boats out along side the trawlers and take their by-catch not the fisherman. All those wasted fish could be made into profit for Kwikpak Fisheries or any other local fishery who then in turn share the profits with the fisherman.
Moller’s a homeowner in Juneau. That’s where he’s been living for years. He doesn’t live in bush Alaska. Nor in Dutch Harbor, where his family owned the bar.
Gramiam
“am now officially a cranky retired person”
@ Gramiam AKA Smoke Strapon Palin AKA Maim Arg
“Point me and get out of the way!”
I can tell this from your blog name – watch out! Your points are well taken, and I’m also thinking a letter writing fest might be in order if the rural advocate I know doesn’t get any satisfaction from the their inquiries. Fuel delivery timing, John Moller, and the Rural Subcabinet (which seems to be a ghost committee for all we can tell) have been the topics the advocate has been working on.
Ann, you have a beautiful family, makes me happy to see your smiling faces.
Gramiam
“am now officially a cranky retired person”
————-
LMAO!!! Love it!!!
Just hit 54 & seems there is no hope for change or improvement I see!!!
Oh Well!!!! Heaven help them when I hit 65 I guess!!!
It’s midnight somewhere — So Happy Early Birthday!!
Thank you CG! Guess I’ve never run into John Moller in Juneau. That means then that he does have an office in town, I will find out where it is.
AK in OK — are the local boats seaworthy to go out to the areas the trawlers fish? Do they have the means to preserve the salmon fresh or frozen until it gets back to shore? If so, great idea!
AKinOk-
Pollock factories ships should be required to ice down the fish and off load them daily to tenders that would deliver them to processing facilities in rural Alaska.
How far offshore are the pollock fishing grounds? Could a specially outfitted boat get the bycatch to Emmonack or other areas of the Yukon were there is, or could be, a processing plant?
Problem Child
I guess we’re on the same page. It seems so obvious!
Gramiam, it is going on midnight here, and even closer in Newfoundland, so you are definitely 65 in Iceland. Happy birthday and start ripping it up!
AKinOK – I meant no offense, I was trying to answer Nan’s question about ‘fishing first’ – the companies bringing their boats alongside is a seperate issue. If that is possible and helps Alaska Natives that is a wonderful plan. I had no idea the trawlers were close enough and am surprised if it is indeed that simple.
I still think they should be able to fish the rivers for subsistence when the salmon are running and hope the new Gov adresses that issue.
I don’t know how much has changed in 10 years, but I doubt that the pick up boats are sea worthy. The only one that could possible do that sold out a couple of years ago. They had several barges, I don’t know what happened to them though. The CDQ groups could buy boat to do that too.
It does seem like a great idea?? How and when do we tackle the CDQ problems/ issues? GAH!!!
Michigander
“I still think they should be able to fish the rivers for subsistence when the salmon are running and hope the new Gov adresses that issue.”
_____________________
You and me both – and a whole lot of other folks too.
I did see your post about the logistics etc but couldn’t answer immediately. Thank you muchly for the info.
There are a couple other things, but I need to absorb what you’ve already written first.
Nan
Michigander
None taken, I was just trying to come up with something, anything that would help. I think the bigger fish companies would have the capacity to do that, and they in turn share their profits with the fisherman. I don’t know exactly where the pollock fishing is taking place, but they base out of Dutch Harbor so they could be anywhere.
I’m sorry I had to miss the radio show.
Thank you to AKM and everyone who live blogged…!
will hold me until it is available as an archive.
Dear niece Ann Strong-of Everything-
Are you breathing yet?!
It sounds like you did very well.
You always do…
A lot of ideas floating around here-
so glad to see AK in OK!
We have so much work to do- we need you!
A’anana Pi
Lest we forget, last year Palin was warned by Monegan of a crisis if something wasn’t done. We blamed Palin, held her ultimately responsible and rightly so (I thought).
So what is wrong with emailing Parnell with concerns and giving him a chance? He is ultimately responsible for what happens now.
Martha UYS – please don’t throw anything at me, I am only trying to help (besides my code name has ‘nag’ in it!)
Gramiam, happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Factory trawlers are huge and draw a lot of water. They stay many miles offshore and generally don’t come very far into the shoreline. Oversimplifying – there’s a shelf off the west coast of Alaska. The factory trawlers stay on the deep side of it. You cannot see them from the shoreline of the Bering Sea coast. On occasional clear calm nights, you can see ships’ lights waay off on the horizon to the west.
Typically, their fishing grounds are international waters in the middle of North Pacific Rim oceans – Alaska over to Russia and offshore Asia. Think a big triangle above Hawai’i.
The Alaska fishing fleet from Bristol Bay to Norton Sound, are smmmaaaallll. Different types of boats, but all small. None of them go very far out. It takes a tremendous amount of fuel to power through rough seas and offshore swells and fuel tank capacity is limited to a couple hundred gallons. Engines are heavy torque, but not high speed.
The Bristol Bay fleet is limited by regulation to 32 feet in beam. Nice boats, well-trimmed and worthy, but can be no longer than 32 feet. Yukon fishing skiffs are generally open, with no cabin, and flat-bottomed. High seas need a V-hull that displaces water and “sits” the boat, for stability.
It’s amazing how BIG the open ocean really is.
It’s a fair idea for tenders to run out and get the bycatch. Here’s the downside – somebody has to absorb the expense. And the trawlers have to admit they’ve GOT bycatch!
John Moller (907) 790-4278 Juneau, AK 99801
It’s been discussec before – John is not village-raised and a village lifestyle is not his personal culture:
Rowdy Elbow Room bar shuts doors
UNALASKA: Hot spot was steady reminder of early, crazy Wild West days.
Anchorage Daily News
Published: April 16, 2005
For hard-working fishermen, the Elbow Room was a respite, said Sen. Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage and a former crab boat deckhand and skipper.
“It was winter, you were working on the Bering Sea, your life was in constant jeopardy,”he said. “People would go up there to blow off a little steam.”
Between his first trip through the doors in 1980 and his last in 1995, there were fights, stabbings and shootings. He witnessed a few, Stevens said. “Everybody’s heard stories about the Elbow Room, but in my experience, it was all true,” he said.
Just as $100 bets were placed on what color hat the next person entering the bar would wear, fights often erupted over minor issues and sometimes cleared the place, according to Fuhs, who watched from the bandstand. Usually the fighters would go outside, thrash each other, then return and buy each other drinks, he said.
Sometimes whole crews would brawl and be forced into the street. Elliott, the new co-owner, remembers seeing “20, 30, 40 people in the middle of the street,” then locking the doors behind them.
The current manager, Jennie Jacobsen, saw a few fights during more than 20 years as bartender, waitress, accountant, bouncer and occasional janitor. She once ejected a fellow, whose crew mates stormed out in solidarity. The crew then pelted the bar with rocks until they were driven off by other patrons. Another called in a bomb threat after she bounced him.
Fishermen began to settle down and form families — some at the Elbow Room itself. John Moller, whose father started the bar, met his future wife there. “I got an Elbow Room coat for her, so I must’ve swept her off her feet,” he said. They married three days later and are still together after 14 years.
Just for balanced information, here’s John Moller giving testimony on CDQs in 2002.
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/bsc/CDQ/pub/publichearing0802.pdf
oops! reading back to see if I missed anything from earlier, I noticed I left out part of a sentence that changes my meaning. (#69) I meant non-natives, natives, salmon and the environment all lose equally without proper conservation; and the way things look, the natives had done a fine job till the ‘companies’ came into the picture. sorry..
Sorry I ranted a bit, mudpuppies and thank you for the good wishes for my Birthday. Shout out to President Obama. It is his birthday too.
I get worked up when I hear stuff like Moller and subcommittees and nobody returning phone calls. I live in PHOENIX for heaven sakes and even I know that it won’t be long at all before winter sets in. I want to grab one of those bycatch salmon and slap a few bureaucrats over the head with them. You folks with boots on the ground just keep telling us what you want and who to nag to get it.
I’m sorry but I have to put the last word in here. First of all the bycatch is not palatable, the fish are often very small. Huge efforts are made to avoid the bycatch, but the bycatch is not edible. Once again, the observers are on the ships and they are mandatory.
The biggest increase in bycatch in 2007 was because the salmon were where they weren’t supposed to be. There are people that study this, that is ALL that they do. They tell the fisherman where to go to avoid bycatch. The problem with dissecting all of this here is that people are reading into this what they want to. There are hard caps now in place to help this situation. Some fisherman are even reducing those hard caps voluntarily. Many people on the council are from native communities…. they spend four weeks a year listening to testimony and going over the scientific basis for what should be allowed and shouldn’t be. The North Pacific belongs to more people than Alaska and are represented by the North Pacific Council largely by scientists and fishery biologists and native Alaskans. This is not a corporate run organization. This is an OPEN forum. NOAA is behind much of this.
I am extremely sympathetic to the people in the village. I have spent a huge part of my life in the villages. My family works for a nonprofit meant to protect and help the people of Bristol Bay. It is unfortunate that we are reading about a miniscule part of the problem and drawing conclusions.
I’m not going to comment on any of this anymore, I just wanted to state that I resent being called a troll for offering a different perspective. I would hope that people would desire dialogue not ranting. I guess it is true (being a progressive liberal) that the farther you go to the left you become the right. In other words, people become inflexible to the dialogue possible with discussion. I would hope this forum would not reflect an intolerance for learning. If it is, then clearly I should look elsewhere for a balanced viewpoint about what’s happening in Alaska.
Let me say once again, I am worried. I am worried about Pebble and I am worried about Hydraulic fracturing. These will poison Alaska and they will poison Alaska forever. When Sarah Palin came out against the water initiative last year, I told my husband, all over again, “Rape, scrape, drill, kill”. Those words drive Alaskans, especially the ones who come and take and leave what’s left behind. Let’s be open to all the reasons our kings are disappearing and what we’ll do if they don’t return someday.
Jo,
Are there hard caps other than the one that won’t go into effect until 2011?
They are rolling hot spot closures, in the meantime, fisherman are scrambling to keep bycatch low because in the future they will have no choice. The hot spot closures have been in effect since 2008 and are what hard caps will be in the future.
The overlap of king and pollock is a new thing and was not a problem in the past. Salmon bycatch this year numbers are 10,500 as of today. Clearly, this is not the reason for the majority of the lost salmon. Last year, the total number of king bycatch was 18,000 fish. The performance standards set to go in 2011 will be very strict and the fishing industry is very invested in making it work.
Huh????? These numbers aren’t what I heard/read! Are you talking about one small area? This makes no sense to me and I am more confused than ever…
This pertains to the entire pollock fishery. That’s what I’m saying…… Read noaa, basis, North Pacific fisheries………..
@Jo,
First off, I have read that the rolling hot spots were a disaster and didn’t reduce by-catch at all.
2nd~ Salmon run 5 to 7 year cycles. So fish returning now are 5 to 7 year olds that have been growing/maturing in the ocean where they are caught as by-catch.
3rd~ Why not institute a very SIMPLY solution to by-catch. That would COMPLETELY ELIMINATE waste??? Pollock Trawlers should simply have to keep EVERYTHING they catch..pollock, salmon, crabs, etc. You catch it, you keep it, you have to make use of it! No more waste!
Bet that would motivate the Pollock industry to further develop salmon excluders in their fishing habits!!
4th~ it’s NOT just the Pollack industry do you realize that by-catch for the entire North Pacific is in the millions of pounds per year? If you want to talk about saving the oceans then we need to come up with ways to eliminate all by-catch! It takes total stewardship of our ocean resources!!
5th~ Are YOU a Pollock fisherman is that why you are so AGAINST our by-catch conversation here??
6th~ Where are your links to websites showing that the mines are CURRENTLY…RIGHT NOW affecting the salmon that my people so desperately need??
7th~ You need to stop whining about how YOU think by-catch and the pollock industry are doing ALL they can….because simply UNTIL by-catch is COMPLETELY ELMINATED it is a total and unnecessary waste of our ocean resources.
Simple solution: POLLOCK TRAWLERS should be required to KEEP EVERYTHING they catch!!!
JMHO,
Ann
P.S. I don’t think 249,000,000 pounds of wasted by-catch is miniscule.
LINK is up on Native America Calling for yesterdays show!
http://nac.unm.edu/archives/2009/aug/080309.mp3
The disasterous mismanagement by Alaska Department of Fish and Game is a crime in progress against Alaska’s First People. The Intent is shown in then Representative Scott Ogan’s House Bill 405, incorportated into Knowle’s Co-Management scheme and added into the Coastal Zone Management Plan. This is genocidal and calls for immediate and decisive action, not some promise that takes twenty years to realize.
Ann, I totally understand your emotion regarding this, information is available from this website. I am in no way minimizing the suffering in the bush or in the Yukon or personally from your family. I’m just interested in the hard facts.
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm
I’m sorry but I’m not a trawler, just an environmentalist/biologist.
From the April 2009 NPFMC meeting I have this bookmarked:
“The Council reduced the recommended 68,392 hard cap down to 60,000, and also stipulated that if the by catch exceeds 47,591 in any 3 out of a rolling 7 year period, then the cap is automatically reduced to 47,591.”
Also the AK state BOF(?) recommended 32,500. This is from notes I made for a friend (and myself).
I am sorry but this makes no sense at all. The purpose of the meeting was to reduce the cap on bycatch and you are saying it was only 18,000 last year. Logic tells me people wouldn’t have been starving if it was that low.
I am sorry if I am missing something here but I HAVE been reading and thought I understood quite a bit. Now I don’t know what the heck is going on???
The bycatch was much higher than that the four previous years, of course the salmon coming in are older than 2 year old salmon.
I guess the point of all this is, and what I’ve been TRYING to say is it’s not all bycatch related. There is probably a portion bycatch related but it’s not all, and now it has been dealt with.
And the cap by the way is 46,000 total which will probably be lower because they will strive to stay under or else lose in the long run.
My post #154 was to Jo. I haven’t read comments in between yet save for saw Jo’s last at 153. Hard facts are people are forced to choose between heat and food. They are citizens of the U.S. , have rights, deserve our respect and should not be put in this situation. This year is worse than last year and it is wrong.
I’ll go read now.
Nobody said it was ALL about the bycatch and I’m sorry, I don’t believe that has all been dealt with. That’s my opinion and I guess we should agree to disagree.
Good article at http://alaskareport.com/news39/x71179_salmon_treaty.htm
“The State Department’s representative on the NPFMC, Nicole Ricci — an alternate for Amanda Johnson-Miller of the Office of Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans & Int’l. Environmental and Scientific Affairs — strongly stated objections before the vote. Ricci said, “I don’t see how this [motion] is a bycatch reduction.” She added that “a thousand years” of in river subsistence lifestyle fisheries is going to be “allowed to be overrun by a fishery that’s only been around less than … a quarter of a century!” — referring to the pollock roe-stripping, surimi food paste, fillets and blocks fishery.
“OAA general counsel, Lisa Lindemann advised the Council that any plan they put forward to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (now Gary Locke) will have to undergo a review in light of section 304 of the Magnuson-Stevens and related fishery acts, and other applicable law. Lindemann stated, “That means the State Department makes the final determination,” with regard to compliance with treaty obligations.”
This also appeared elsewhere…
In the end whether one feels the bycatch issue has been dealt with or not- the situation on the Yukon puts everyday folks between 2 federal attempts at sorting out fishing – the MSA and the PSC…
Studies of the makeup of the bycatch show a heckuva a lot of fish lost in bycatch originate there or nearby… with a 6 year return cycle for Chinook… and all the other mortality -in- the- sea factors , I would say science has barely begun to get hold of what could be said to be going on in federal waters…
I want more science and I want a hardcap of 20000 bycatch until more work is done to get hold of what is up with Chinook..
Erring on the side of caution is sensible…
Tooting up abundance based fishing regs when there is too little undertood about what is going on makes a mockery of the idea of sustainable fisheries…
From a well written overview of the Pacific Salmon Treaty from it’s start in 1985 through the 1999 revisions…
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/marine/mar-36.cfm
“63 Although most disputes under the PSC relate to technical issues, such as run-size predictions and total allowable catch, the PSC’s Article XII provisions for technical dispute resolution were rarely, if ever, used. The modifications in the new accord aim to promote scientific decision-making more independently of political and policy pressures. In the past, scientists related to the PSC and salmon management appeared, with rare exception, unable to reach objective conclusions, with analyses uniformly supporting their parent agency’s desires. This lack of objectivity was apparent when scientists working with identical data uniformly reached self-serving, different conclusions’”
Science is a human activity . When constantly attended to, it is some of what is the best of what we are…and what it yields is of enormous value.
But there are lots of BUTS here…
Too many fisherman say that small tralwers are don’t have full time observers.
Ann Strongheart points out ( or I think she’s saying…) people fully involved in a project can lose sight of broader values/ measures. Salmon bycatch is easily dismissable if viewed as the miniscule portion of the millions of tons of pollack it comprises…as are the other species caught incidentally.
In relation to the portion of the whole of SALMON around would be a better measure.
Dismissing the concerns of folks brainstorming about how to utilize bycatch on the grounds that the bulk of the bycatch is juvenile simply makes me want to know how many years will any given years bycatch affect…?
Some of the ideas may be goofy but the intent- the idea that something might be done – is the start of many, many solutions… scientific solutions as well as practical, political ( in the sense of the-business of the polity, the group)
solutions…
Jo said:
I guess the point of all this is, and what I’ve been TRYING to say is it’s not all bycatch related. There is probably a portion bycatch related but it’s not all, and now it has been dealt with.
Jo:
And now it has been dealt with??? YOU ARE Joking right?? The hardcap hasn’t even been Set YET! The NPFMC just made their RECOMMENDATION. It still hasn’t even been finalized yet. Plus it won’t even come into affect until 2011. So how in the world has it been dealt with??
There is something that really bothers me about anyone who thinks that since the hard cap will be set then it’s all fixed. Seems like to me that it’s like patting a child on the head and saying “There I kissed it, it’s all better now!” “You don’t have to worry, Mommy/Daddy (government) made it all better!”
Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh well if that’s how it works then I guess my work here is done huh??? I mean it’s all fixed!! I don’t have anything to worry about anymore. I can just go back to being a SAHM and spending time with CC and waiting for my 2nd to be born.
I am sooooooooo glad that it’s all fixed now!! What a relief!! Hear that everyone it’s ALL FIXED!!!! WE DID IT!!!
This magical By-catch Hard cap that won’t even start until 2011 is gonna make it all better!!!
Hmmm, wait HOLD ON one second!!! I am NOT that GULLIBLE! Anyone else around here that GULLIBLE???
Guess I’ll just have to keep plugging along until there is a ZERO HARD CAP!! There is NO BY-CATCH!! Because I don’t know about anyone else but I just don’t agree with throwing away all of those ocean resources as by-catch waste! Hurting not only the salmon but also everything else that gets sucked into nets and tossed aside as waste.
Ann
Jo,
I’m sorry but I’m not a trawler, just an environmentalist/biologist.
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One of my dearest friends since childhood grew up to be a Marine Biologist/Environmentalist.
She would never promote the waste of precious sea life. If anything, years of study and research have made her embrace the precious marine resources we are blessed with and become a more vocal advocate for sustainable oceans.
I think there’s a difference between a job/occupation and a passion.
Our passion is to do everything we can to get more salmon to the smokehouses of the villagers in rural Alaska.
With no ties to commercial industry and an eye toward the greater good, we have nothing to lose and much to gain.
Bloggers made an enormous difference during last winter’s crisis. We are trying to prevent a repeat performance.
We are studying the science of salmon bycatch. We are also committed to speaking up for the people who are most impacted by wasted fish.
Without salmon bycatch, more fish would be in the smokehouses. That’s the bottom line.
Jane, just a little more reading material for you. I am not seeking an argument here, not at all interested in that. Just hoping for a little dialogue and a broader view.
The Columbia River (that I grew up on as a native child) is having renewed abundance of Salmon. Most of the abundance has been attributed to the Pacific interdecadal climate oscillation. This abstract provides interesting reading as well as the article on ocean acidification.
http://akmarine.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/climate-activist-calls-for-cooperation/
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~mantua/REPORTS/PDO/pdo_paper.html
My question is this……. if we are in the middle of a dearth, what are we going to do about it? Adapt for the time being or bark up a single tree.
Ann Strongheart and Anonymous Bloggers – I read your letter to John Moller and wondered if you had thought to ask AKM about guest posting again w/a link to it?
Also thanks for posting the link to the radio archive, am sharing it with friends and neighbors to get the word out.
Ann, you work so hard, study so dilligently and more importantly live with the salmon crisis, you know your stuff girlfriend! Thank you for educating us and giving me the incentive to study on my own on this important issue.
Never give up and no worries – most of us don’t have tunnel vision and are not that gullible (o: