Southeast trollers attended a Sitka Assembly meeting on Jan 10, to express concerns about a court matter that could result in the closure of commercial salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska. The lawsuit concerns Washington killer whales as well as Alaskan King Salmon. Representatives from Alaska Trollers Association and fishermen asked the local assembly for $25,000 to help fund their legal defense fund.
The Wild Fish Conservancy is a Seattle-based environmental group. They want to end the Southeast troll fishing, which they claim harms endangered orcas. The group claims that the government did not adequately address the impact of Alaska’s king salmon harvests upon Southern Resident Killer Whales. Their population has plummeted to critically low levels in the Puget Sound region of Washington.
In December, a Washington federal judge issued a report that put the fisheries at serious risk. In the 2020 suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Alaska Trollers Association is a defendant.
Matt Donohoe, a Sitka fisherman, is the president for the Trollers Association. He said they object to the report, and that they expect their legal costs to rise.
“Anyone who claims that Southern Resident killer Whales are starving due to Alaskan trollers eating their babies’ food would be laughed at in court. Donohoe stated that this is what they believed. “But a judge has recommended that the historic Southeast Alaska Troll Fishery, which has been open for over 100 years, close down this winter. The industry and a significant portion of Southeast Alaska’s economy will be destroyed if that happens.
Around 12 fishermen approached the assembly for assistance with the organization’s legal defence fund. And it’sn’t just the trollers. Linda Behnken is the leader of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. Her group and the trollers wrote a report detailing research into the decline in Southern Resident orcas.
“All they eat comes from polluted waters. They are struggling with habitat issues and with the effects of what has been done to the environment around them. They are in Puget Sound,” Behnken stated. It’s not fisheries. The fishery is 1,000 miles away. And that our fishermen have worked over years to maintain the ecosystem, keep the rivers clean and keep the waterways clean. To now have this overreach in an area that hasn’t done its job, I think, really illustrates the risk to others if this lawsuit continues.”
The proposal was supported by the assembly, with some saying they would be willing to give more than $25,000. Chris Ystad (an assembly member who is a fisherman) said he considered it an investment.
“I believe the Sitka Troll Fleet generates more than $25,000 in tax revenue each year for the city. Ystad stated that they don’t believe it is too much to ask for some of the money back to help them fight their battles. “It’s an investment to ensure that the troll fleet can still operate.
Crystal Duncan, an Assembly member, suggested that other Southeast communities contribute money to the fund. She pointed out that, like Sitka and Craig, Petersburg, as well as Petersburg, had previously donated to it.
“I just wonder if this is an issue in the Southeast. Rather than us taking that number and elevating it above $25,000…I guess my question is, have we reached out to say, “Here’s what’s happened since. Here’s what we are asking Sitka. Duncan asked Duncan, “Can you match that?”
She wondered if the assembly was setting a precedent for other industry groups that could request money to pay legal fees. Sponsor Thor Christianson did not disagree.
Christianson stated, “It is hard to imagine an event that could wipe out large swathes of our economy in one go.” That is what emergency means. If someone had a similar problem, then we would definitely discuss it.”
Then there was the question of where to get the money. John Leach, the city administrator, and Brian Hanson, the municipal attorney, suggested that the Fisheries Enhancement Fund could be used. However, Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz prefers that the money comes from the city’s general funds. Eisenbeisz asked if the assembly could offer more money than $25,000 and Eisenbeisz said that although no one spoke against it, there was some negative feedback from their inboxes.
He said, “It’s going to shock the people in the room, it was actually kinda surprising to me, that the assembly actually had lots of pushback in their emails from donating even such a small amount.” I didn’t anticipate that. It’s what we saw, and it’s better than the worst. Also, I believe we should begin here. Then, as the situation develops, keep your pulse on that. “From the strength and presence of those in the room, I have no doubt we will continue to be informed about that.”
The Sitka assembly did not vote at the meeting. Assembly members Christianson, Kevin Mosher and co-sponsors of the discussion item said that they would bring an ordinance to the table for the assembly’s vote at their next regular meeting on January 24.
