Climate Connection:
Happy 10th Anniversary
to Alaskans Own
Community Sustainable Fishery
By Libby Stortz
This summer is the 10th anniversary of the first community sustainable fishery in Alaska. Alaskans Own is run by Alaska Longliners Fisheries Association (ALFA), Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT) and the Fisheries Conservation Network (FCN). Full disclosure, it’s been the major source of fish for me, replacing 31 years of subsistence catches by my husband, William. It’s been a great way to help myself, but AO, is also a great way to support Sitka’s local, sustainable, small boat fleet and decrease Sitka’s carbon footprint.
Unlike the commercial fish industry, where only 2% of the catch stays in Alaska, Alaskans Own distributes its product mostly in our region – Sitka, Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Seattle. All the fishers in the Alaskans Own program use sustainable fishing practices. Their fish are caught by hook and line, and individually flash frozen. While fresh fish must be flown out immediately, flash frozen fish can be shipped more slowly, cutting Sitka’s fish transport carbon footprint. Fish that is handled this way has a shelf life of up to 2 years (frozen), reducing a common food waste problem!
Curious about how it works? Sign up throughout the summer online at AlaskansOwn.com or visit them at the Sitka Farmers Market and choose one of five plans that best meets your needs. Two plans are time-based (4 or 6 months), and three plans are weight-based (5, 10, or 20 pounds). Pick-up is usually the last Thursday of the month and delivery can also be arranged if necessary. Up-front or automatic monthly payments are accepted, and you can order add-ons at any time. Mixes of higher and lower priced fish including cohos, kings, halibut, black cod tips, or sablefish fillets, rockfish, and lingcod are included in each plan, to keep your price lower. Alaskans Own is currently exploring ways to include things like fish burgers, to cut common waste in the industry.
For further information contact Tara Racine, Alaskans Own coordinator. Thanks to Tara, and Natalie Armstrong, the Ted Smith Intern for the program, for their help with this article.
Happy Anniversary, Alaskans Own!
––––
Libby Stortz is a member of Sitka’s chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby
Science Center
Updates Given
Sitka Sound Science Center and Gift Shop will be closed at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, and return to normal hours Friday, July 5.
The Ludvig’s Chowder Cart will be closed July 1-5. It will resume normal hours 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. starting July 8.
STA Selling
Raffle Tickets
Sitka Tribe of Alaska is selling raffle tickets to benefit unpaid student fees and lunches in the Sitka School District.
Tickets are $5 each and credit cards are accepted.
Prizes are flight, hotel and two tickets to watch the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 20. Cash prizes of $500 and $250 also are being offered.
For more information, including how to purchase tickets, call 747-3207 or stop at 456 Katlian Street. The drawing is 7 p.m. Sept. 2.
Yoga Festival Set
The wild Alaska Yoga Festival will be held in Sitka Aug. 23-28.
Yoga festival activities are Aug. 23-25 followed by the Yoga Therapeutic Workshop Aug. 26-28.
Early bird signups are being accepted through June 30 at wildalaskayoga.com.
SJ Museum Closure
The Sheldon Jackson Museum will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Summer hours will resume on Friday – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The museum is closed on observed state holidays.
The general admission is $7, $6 for seniors. Visitors 18 years of age and younger, Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum, and those with passes are admitted free. Assistance is available for visitors who have special needs. Call 747-8981 before the visit.
