Local authorities across Southeast Alaska are speaking out against a lawsuit which threatens to stop the king salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska this season. The lawsuit seeks to safeguard the endangered population of orcas that are found in Washington state.
Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg are all set to join the increasing chorus of Alaska voices that are highlighting the negative impact the suit could affect the fishing fleet.
The lawsuit brought by the Washington state-based Wild Fish Conservancy centers on the threatened Puget Sound population of orcas called Southern Resident killer whales.
Killer whales consume salmon– especially large and meaty King salmon – The conservation organization claims federal officials haven’t fully considered the effect that the Southeast King Salmon fishing industry has on Puget Sound orcas.
Last year the federal judge released an opinion that threatened to shut down the Southeast King Salmon fishery up to the time that National Marine Fisheries Service comes up with a solution.
At present the 1,800 trollers of the region have a difficult time navigating the future, according to Alaska Trollers Association Executive Director Amy Daugherty.
“Our fleet is essentially waiting to find out whether they are able to get ready,” she said in interview by phone on Friday.
The winter salmon fishing season is currently in progress. The summer king salmon fishery usually begins on July 1st. She claims that the trolling of king salmon is an estimated $29 million of the economy . It’s nearly three times that when you take into account similar economic activities such as processors of fish.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Talk of Alaska last month that the state will fight the decision in the event of a need. Sitka’s local government also ratified an anti-lawsuit resolution.
Then, later in the month and in the coming months, borough assemblies from Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg are expected to consider adopting resolutions against a Chinook shutdown.
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly member Glen Thompson is co-sponsoring one of the measures.
“It’s crucial for the Borough to at the very least adopt a political position and say that we are against the shut-down of our troll business, and we have to tackle this issue and find a solution to the problem,” Thompson said by phone on Friday.
He believes a shutdown of the Chinook could have ripple effects across the fleet and also the economy of the region.
“That’s it that basically is the one that drives all the other things. This is the money fish. It’s the headliner.” Thompson said. “If you stop the Chinook fishery, that will have a significant impact on the other Troll fisheries, too.”
The other Ketchikan co-sponsor Austin Otos says the suit is unfairly targeting those who are part of the Alaska fishery fleet. In an announcement, Otos says the outside group has “little to no knowledge of the way Alaska regulates (its) State fisheries.” He claims that trolling has been proven to be “sustainable” in that it “has very little effect in Puget Sound fisheries.”
“Troll allowed Chinook catch under the (U.S.-Canada) salmon treaty has decreased over the last few years, and a complete closure of it due to the killer whale population throughout the Lower 48 could ruin our local economy.” Otos wrote.
Processors, fishermen local governments, and community members across the Southeast are contributing money to aid members of the Alaska Trollers Association in the fight. Daugherty states that Sitka, Petersburg, Pelican, Port Alexander and Craig have all contributed thousands and Sitka’s Assembly is looking at a further $25,000 contribution.
“We are doing all we can to ensure that our fishing industry sustainable and our fishermen in the water. We recognize the importance of the tiny Southeast economies and families that depend on them,” Daugherty said. “Trolling is a fishing sport for small boats that is low-impact, hook-and line fishing only one fish at a time and we’re very mindful of our habitat and the ecosystem.”
Ketchikan isn’t contemplating the possibility of a financial contribution on its own, however Assembly the members Otos and Thompson have said they’re willing to consider the possibility.
The assemblies at Ketchikan as well as Petersburg have been scheduled to take a vote on their resolutions on Monday. The Wrangell Assembly will take up the resolution in February. 14.
The Ketchikan’s Borough Assembly meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the White Cliff Building on First Avenue. The agenda for the meeting is accessible on the internet. The meeting will be broadcast through local channels of cable as well as the website of the Borough.
CoastAlaska’s Angela Denning contributed reporting
