In Support of Trollers
Dear Editor: The Sitka Conservation Society condemns the recent decision from Judge Richard Jones to uphold the magistrate’s recommendation to shut down Southeast Alaska’s king salmon troll fishery this summer.
We support our small boat fishing families and fishing communities across Southeast Alaska and believe that the Wild Fish Conservancy’s lawsuit is irresponsible and arbitrary in its targeting of hook and line fishermen, and devastating to our communities. This is not conservation. The Wild Fish Conservancy’s approach ignores complexity, holism and the values of community-based sustainability that we work to uphold.
Blocking Southeast Alaskan trollers from their livelihood will not save the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, and will take time and energy away from comprehensive solutions. This misguided lawsuit is a direct attack on some of the most steadfast voices in the Southeast Alaskan conservation movement and will have significant, long lasting, and devastating impacts on local families across our region.
The Southwest Resident Killer Whale population and their food supply is under threat from multiple directions. To the west, out in the Gulf of Alaska and up in the Bering Sea, the Seattle, Washington-based industrial trawl fleet catches tens of thousands of Chinook salmon as bycatch. To the east, mines are being developed at an alarming rate at the headwaters of all of our mainland salmon rivers. There is not a single watershed on the mainland of Southeast Alaska that doesn’t have current or proposed mining activity in the headwaters on the Canadian Side. To the south, industrialization, urban sprawl, pollution, and habitat loss are harming salmon and orcas across the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, climate change continues to increase ocean temperatures and lead to abnormal warming events that are impacting both fish survival rates and fish habitat productivity in myriad ways. King salmon, orca populations, and the people and communities that depend on healthy ocean ecosystems are being squeezed by pressure on all sides.
Instead of grappling with these complex challenges and collaborating with impacted communities to look for enduring solutions, the Wild Fish Conservancy has instead singled out the least resourced and arguably most sustainable commercial fishery in the Pacific Northwest and the Gulf of Alaska. The
troll fishery in Southeast Alaska brings the finest quality of fish to the table by catching each fish on an individual hook and line – one at a time. These fish are harvested by individuals and family-owned fishing operations, often on boats under 40 feet. Many of these fishermen and fishing families are longtime conservationists involved in battles to protect fish habitat in both the terrestrial and marine environment, from the forest to the ocean floor. This lawsuit is creating animosity and opposition where there should be collaboration and shared interests.
It is important to note that trolling and trawling are extremely different. Southeast trollers were essential in the fight to keep industrial trawlers out of Southeast Alaska due to their concerns regarding bycatch and the potential for significant sea floor impacts. Time and time again, they have helped protect the old growth stands of the Tongass National Forest, which serves as critical rearing habitat for all five species of Pacific salmon. Trollers are attuned to this environment, and have a direct stake in sustainable management of their fishery.
Salmon have been intrinsic to community wellbeing and lifeways in this region for thousands of years.
As a grassroots conservation organization based in Southeast Alaska, maintaining abundant salmon populations for current and future generations is of the utmost importance to us. Supporting healthy ocean habitat where orcas and other whale populations can thrive is also critical to broader ecosystem health. However, targeting the small-scale fishing fleet in Southeast Alaska will not save the threatened orca population that lives over 1,000 miles away in Washington state, and will harm staunch advocates for ocean health and fisheries sustainability – Southeast Alaskan trollers. We will never have comprehensive solutions to salmon declines and orca declines without acknowledging and addressing the broad harm caused to salmon habitat, salmon reproduction, and ocean and coastal ecosystems by urbanization, trawling, pollution and climate change. This misguided lawsuit only serves as a distraction to the greater issues at hand.
Sitka Conservation Society Staff
Imagination Library
Dear Editor: The board of the Sitka Imagination Library, an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, wishes to thank all the families that attended our “A is for April” alphabet-themed literacy and family engagement event last Saturday at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Families enjoyed a story time together, followed by a themed craft. Sensory, fine and gross motor play stations were freely available. Families were provided a checklist of stations and were invited to circulate and check off letters along the way. These stations were designed to help promote pre-literacy skills like shape recognition, and to stimulate parent/child interactions. When children needed a break from the fun, there was a fruit snack available, and when they were ready to leave, they were invited to choose a free book to take home.
There were many contributors we wish to thank as well. Kari Sagel was on hand to invite families to register with the Sheet’ka Family Challenge, a slate of free and fun family programming during April, May and June, to receive notices of upcoming events and be eligible for prizes.
There was a selection of books along the theme for children and families to explore courtesy of our wonderful Sitka Public Library. The ‘‘F is for fruit’’ snacks table was courtesy of Sitka Emblem Club 142 and heartily appreciated by the guests. Sitka Emblem volunteers were also on hand to facilitate and support all aspects of the event.
Best Beginnings Alaska made this event possible through consistent and generous grant support. And of course, none of what the Sitka Imagination Library does would be possible without the organizational support of the Dollywood Foundation. Finally, the support from our community is tremendous!
If you know a child under the age of 5 who isn’t already receiving Imagination Library books, you can visit imaginationlibrary.com to register them to receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book in mail each month! The Sitka Imagination Library is always looking for enthusiastic parents and professionals in the early childhood services to join our board. If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about what we do, email sitka.imagination@gmail.com.
Sitka Imagination Library board:
Nicole Filipek, Lisa Hodges,
Judi Blankenship, Jamie Eells,
Kari Sagel and Gabby Kelly
