Halibut Bycatch
Dear Editor: In 2014, trawl fisheries killed and discarded seven times more halibut in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands than halibut fishermen landed in the same area. That’s 1.05 million halibut killed as bycatch in trawls versus 149,000 halibut harvested by directed halibut fishermen.
How did we get to this point? Halibut abundance has declined over the past 15 years, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission has steadily reduced halibut quotas to conserve and protect this iconic species. In contrast, halibut bycatch caps, or the amount of halibut trawlers can kill as bycatch, have not been measurably reduced for 20 years. As a result, halibut have been steadily reallocated to the trawl fleet – to be killed and wasted as bycatch.
Why should Sitkans care about bycatch in the Bering Sea? First, because most Sitka residents care about sustainable resource use and healthy fishing communities no matter where they are; and second, because the Bering Sea is the nursery ground for all North Pacific halibut. In fact, 70-90 percent of juvenile halibut tagged in the Bering Sea are later recovered in the Gulf of Alaska – from waters off Kodiak to Ketchikan and as far south as California. Quite simply, what happens in the Bering Sea affects everyone who depends on or cares about the halibut resource.
And in Alaska, that is a lot of people. Approximately 2,000 Alaskans are licensed to commercially harvest halibut in the North Pacific, and each employs on average two additional people as crew. Halibut is delivered into 32 Alaska communities each year, where it is processed and shipped to a primarily domestic market. Over 4,700 Alaskans harvest halibut for subsistence and hundreds more sportfish for halibut in Alaska.
What can you do to stop the waste? During the first week of June the North Pacific Fishery Management Council will meet IN SITKA. Prominent on the Council’s agenda is final action on an amendment to reduce halibut bycatch in the Bering Sea. ALFA and other halibut groups are calling for a 50 percent reduction in halibut bycatch caps. The Council welcomes both written and oral testimony. Written comments can be sent to npfmc.comment@noaa.gov and must be submitted before May 22. Oral testimony will start on June 4. Need more information? Please visit the ALFA website at www.alfafish.org and look for the Halibut Fact Sheet posted on the home page.
Linda Behnken, Executive Director, Alaska Longline
Fishermen’s Association
Birds of Sitka
Dear Editor: The Greater Sitka Arts Council and the City of Sitka invite all Sitkans to view the art exhibit on the second floor lobby of the City Hall building.
The show titled ‘‘Sharing Our Community with the Birds of Sitka’’ features the artwork of 13 Sitka artists who are inspired by our local birds. The City Hall building is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. all weekdays. The exhibit is readily available to the handicapped by using the parking lot located behind the building. The exhibit will continue through May 29. More information and questions answered at 747-5941.
Norm Campbell, Sitka
Castle Hill Flags
Dear Editor: This may not be considered news, but we are on Castle Hill every morning year around and the flag – minus the Alaska flag – is in very sad shape. The United States flag is shredded to two-thirds’s of its original size. There hasn’t been an Alaska flag up for over two years.
Castle Hill belongs to the State Parks which had their funding cut – but just recently. We met two tourists there this morning and it is very embarrassing. Maybe we should take up a collection – $200 would be enough to purchase both flags. Thank you!
Ken and Shirley Kimball, Sitka
Nutrition Class
Dear Editor: I had the privilege of attending Jessica Holland’s free nutrition series that is being offered at the Hames Center on Tuesday nights. I just arrived in Sitka late Friday night and as the new Americorps VISTA here at Hames was excited to see such a program available.
It was impressive to see someone of Jessica’s caliber sharing her knowledge as a registered dietician free to the community. In this particular class, she clearly explained the importance of protein in our diets, highlighting healthy protein sources and instructions on how to calculate an individual’s need. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion surrounding certain nutrition/exercise topics.
Jessica devoted a portion of the class to answering everyone’s questions and made sure to get us out in time to enjoy the beautiful weather. Looking forward to the remaining classes in this series with information on fruits, vegetables, dairy and fat.
Kylene Fremling, Sitka
MEHS Graduation
Dear Editor: The Mt. Edgecumbe High School Class of 2015 celebrated commencement ceremonies at the Sitka Performing Arts Center on May 7.
Thank you to the expert staff at the Performing Arts Center. J. Bradley has an eye for detail and works to assure all technical issues work flawlessly. Monica, the facilities manager, was professional, patient and kind in executing this huge undertaking. MEHS, once again, appreciates holding our ceremony at the beautiful PAC.
Bev’s Flowers takes care of every floral detail for the Baccalaureate and graduation ceremonies; Bev, the Class of 2015 is indeed grateful for you attending to all our floral needs. Thank you, Sitka Daily Sentinel, for providing thoughtful attention to this event. Families from around Alaska descend on Sitka and anxiously await your fine coverage of graduation. Raven Radio, we thank you also for your reporting MEHS commencement. The community organizations that award scholarships to MEHS seniors highlight the dynamic relationship Mt. Edgecumbe High School students share with Sitka. We thank you for honoring the hard work and accomplishments of our students.
Finally, we are all heartened to see community members, MEHS alumni and family help us celebrate the Class of 2015. Thank you all.
Marcia Drake,
Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Graduation Coordinator
Bears and Trash
Dear Editor: The Police Blotter reports, as it does repeatedly every spring and summer, that a resident complained that a ‘‘bear was tearing into her trash’’ or that a ‘‘bear had gotten into trash.’’
What is it going to take to stop irresponsible people from providing a smorgasbord for bears in their garbage cans – a child getting mauled? A house getting trashed?
Before that happens Sitka needs to take action. The trash ordinances should be enforced. And new measures implemented. Perhaps people who let bears rummage their trashcans be required by the court to provide bear-resistant storage areas for trash cans?
It’s time, Sitkans. Time to store trash responsibly. It’s the only safe thing to do.
Galen Paine, Sitka
Tobacco Tax
Dear Editor: I believe in taxes and pay them happily when they are fair. Taxes are the main way we fund our collective needs. But the proposed doubling of the tobacco tax is a very disappointing decision. It is unfair, is bullying and runs completely afoul of the Assembly’s stated goals.
1) It is unfair because the Assembly has already been to this trough when they imposed the first $1 per pack tobacco tax in 2006. Before re-taxing the sin/luxury of smoking, the Assembly should go through the list of other sins/luxuries and tax them. When tobacco gets back to the top of the list, the Assembly can hit up smokers again. To date, smokers and other users of tobacco products have coughed up (hah!) more than $3,885,532 to support Sitka Community Hospital.
2) It is bullying because smokers in this day and age are underrepresented. No one stands up for the right to use this legal substance without undue meddling by the authorities. There is only one correct opinion according to the vast majority of our leaders. Don’t like the tax – don’t smoke. Sound like the War on Drugs? That’s because as the War on Drugs caused dire harm to individuals and communities, those same leaders were convinced their policies were enacted for “the greater good.” Taxing tobacco is beating up on the only group that has been paying its share so far. Speaking of bullying – when is the last time you heard of any tax being doubled?
3) The proposed doubling of the tobacco tax runs afoul of the Assembly’s stated goals of making Sitka a more affordable place for people of lower incomes. This tax couldn’t be more regressive. Look at who smokes and who will pay the tax. The old tax personally cost me $1,000 per year. No reflection on Sitka Community Hospital, but I have never received a service there. Now, I’m supposed to pay $2,000. I would much prefer to pay the second $1,000 in property taxes. This would be a more progressive solution and more akin to the Assembly’s stated goals.
Finally, I’d like to address the notion that this tax is fair because it will offset the health costs smokers impose on society (see War on Drugs). I think the role of the Assembly should be to consider the effects on the City and Borough of Sitka, and not on society at large. If this is the reason the Assembly is using to justify this tax increase, I’d like to see how Sitka tobacco users cost the City and Borough of Sitka more than the $489,087 they already paid in fiscal year 2014.
Will Swagel, Sitka
Blue Lake Expansion
Dear Editor: I want to congratulate the City and Borough of Sitka on successfully finishing the Blue Lake Dam expansion project. I wish I could be there this week to celebrate with you, but I trust you will have a wonderful dedication ceremony.
I toured the Blue Lake site many years ago and saw its potential to provide clean, stable and affordable energy for Sitka residents. Like many, I had high hopes for this development to one day deliver lower energy prices – something that has long been an obstacle to growth.
Expanding the Blue Lake project was no small undertaking. I commend Sitka’s leaders for taking such progressive steps and seeing the project through to the end. The walls of the Blue Lake Dam were originally set to be raised a total of 23 feet to increase the capacity of the reservoir, but in true Alaska fashion you pushed the envelope to a height of 83 feet. Raising the walls and installing three new turbines increases the generating capacity of the Blue Lake Dam more than 27 percent.
Years of planning, hard work, and determination made this project a reality. Just this last fall, I had the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view (literally) of the project under construction with Mayor Mim McConnell, Sitka utility manager Chris Brewton, and others as it inched closer to completion. As I dangled in a basket, held only by a cable attached to the largest crane ever to arrive in Alaska, suspended over the project more than 650 feet high, I was in awe of the breathtaking panoramic view. I’m grateful for the amazing opportunity to see your vision, a construction feat, and environmental gem come to life just like it was described to me years ago.
Blue Lake serves as an important example of why Alaskans should continue to advocate for building environmentally responsible hydroelectric projects. It is fish-friendly, clean, and renewable power. Between the Blue Lake and Green Lake projects, the majority of Sitka’s electrical energy is now supplied from renewable sources. That’s an impressive feat. Southeast Alaska has long been a true leader in hydropower generation and Sitka is certainly leading that charge.
Hydropower provides a renewable, reliable, and inexpensive energy source that reduces greenhouse gases. In order to meet Alaska’s goal of obtaining 50 percent of our electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025, we will all need to strive to do more to follow Sitka’s example.
Lisa Murkowski,
Alaska State Sentor
Earth Day
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letters were written by members of Jill Lecrone’s second-grade class at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School.
Dear Editor: Earth Day: planting nature. Nature takes a wile to grow but we still plant it. We love plants trees bushes flower vegetables fruit. We love it all! Went you choo down something replant it! Nature helps us with all kind of stuff. Trees help us breath and it shelter for some animals some animals live in bushes some live in flower wait i mean get hony from flowers. Nature is sweet because it helps us and the world! We love nature and the world. We must help the world be clean from trash, Keep the world clean. Your friend, Cheyenne Losselyong
Dear Editor: Happy Eath day event if it isn’t eath day. I would like to take about the eluterisudy. Wen your not in your room you should tern off the light. Wen you brush your teet tern off the water. Please ues less enugery. Your friend, Anasteisha Rodrigueznievesa
Dear Editor: Earth day is special because it’s about cleaning earth up. Here are way’s to clean or help. Plant tree’s, gardens, or bamboo. Use cloth bag’s. Pick up trash. Sicerly, Everett Overturf
Dear Editor: Earth Day was cool because I got to pick up trash. We got alot of trash when we went to pick up trash. We can plane more trees on Eerth Day. eerth Day in not just about recicling. Earth Day is about taking cary of Eerth. Your friend, Nina Jeter
Dear Editor: Happy Eart Day! Today I was toking about Earth Day! About this can you a news paper about cleaning the Earth! Your friend, Junior Hernandez
Dear Editor: Earth day was on Wedsday, 22. My clas went to a trale a wen my techer toald us to pick up trash we started. We picked up a little bit of trash. Wen my techer telled us to go back to school. Your friend, Yaretzi Macias
Dear Editor: On Earth day you can clean the world by: planting plants like trees, and flowers an turning off lights when not in room. Turn off water when not use it. and last but not least recylcle. Sincerly, Kamille Reines
Dear Editor: We should use less poure when we dont use it. Dont use up your car gass or your cumpeuter. And your fones on at night. And plant more grass, flours, and trees. Clean up after your self. Joey Abeyta
Dear Editor: Earth Day was April 22, 2015. I’m going to tell you about how it started. Gaylord Nelson was a U.S. Senator he wonted clean up the Earth. In the 1960s he shared his idea with mayors news papers about Earth Day told people in the 1961. People all acros the united states want to be part of it. one thousand different communitys were involved. Thank you, by Masin Davis
Dear Editor: I Lrnd about Earth day at school. And I like the big, clenup. Ther are a lot of things to do. It is god to clen aftr anuthr. you can do alot of things. April 29, 2015.Thank you, Marina Dill
Dear Editor: Earth Day is importent so let me tell you what I learned. To use less energy you can help the Earth. And our comunity should plant more trees and not cut all the trees. They should also care for animals too. There are so little animals in Sitka Alaska so we should help! People should not use cars and they should use bikes. Sincerly Peyton Fortenot
Dear Editor: Earth Day was a coupale of days ago adn I whont you to know some about it. I came up with a few idaes to help the earth and here they are. We can stop useing plastic bags and use more coth. Make fliyers about useing less letrisady. And brochures to tell people about are commty garden. Your friend, Grace Feenstra
Dear Editor: Earth day was yesterday and I’m going to tell you how it started. The first Earth day was in 1970. Gaylord Nelson made up Earth day. If he didn’t make it up Earth day Earth woudl be not be a good place for life. So make sure to recycle. Yours truly, Logan Rice
Dear Editor: How are you doing today? I’m doing great. I learned about Earth day a few days ago. I learned how to use less energy here are some idas: use less water, use less oil, and use less lexteresaty. Trun off your computru when you are not using it. Your friend, Autumn Treadway
Dear Editor: Happy Earth Day. I want to tell the friendly people of Sitka, Alaska how to help our world: use cloth bags, don’t litter, don’t feed animals anything they can choke on recycle objects objects you can, and don’t kill animals for no good reason. Sincerely, Gerald Blades
