Alaska News

Unalaska Bay trawl fishing ban moves ahead for August

Unalaska Bay trawl ban supporters won a partial victory, when the state fish board voted this month to close the bay to trawling in August, while keeping it open in September and October. "It's a work in progress. We keep chipping away at them," said Tom Robinson of the Unalaska Native Fisherman's Association, which proposed a ban from Aug. 1 to Nov. 1, which was endorsed by the Unalaska City Council, the Unalaska Dutch Harbor Fish and Game Advisory Committee, and the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

A parliamentary maneuver probably prevented a complete closure, according to Frank Kelty, who testified in support of the ban at the Anchorage meeting of the seven-member Alaska Board of Fisheries.

"I believe we had four votes, but you won't know until they vote," said Kelty, who chairs the local advisory committee.

Board chair Karl Johnstone called for a recess before the trawl ban vote. When the meeting resumed, the board approved an amendment for closing the bay to trawling in August, instead of the longer ban sought by Unalaskans.

Kelty said the amendment was proposed by fish board member Vince Webster, of King Salmon. The issue took up about two hours of board time, including testimony from supporters and opponents, he added.

Bay ban supporters are concerned about possible harm to local salmon and halibut fisheries, while trawl supporters disagree.

Testifying in support were local resident, Robinson, Brenda and Walter Tellman, Hal Lewis, Vincent Tutiakoff, Kelty said, adding that the 350 people in Unalaska signed petitions favoring the ban.

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Opposing the ban were Henry Mitchell of the Coastal Villages Region Fund, the state's largest community development group, representing communities in the Yukok Kuskokwim Delta, along with Brent Paine of United Catcher Boats representing pollock trawlers, and Kris Noroscz of Icicle Seafoods.

In February, the Unalaska City Council voted in support of the trawl ban by a 4-1 vote with David Gregory, Tom Enlow, and Zoya Johnson in favor, while Roger Rowland was opposed.

In related political developments according to Tom Robinson, the Federal Subsistence Board plans to closely study the possible impacts of trawling on local salmon and halibut stocks, with a locally-experienced federal biologist who formerly worked in Unalaska for state fish and game, George Pappas, is planning a visit to Unalaska. And Robinson said a representative of the governor's office has requested that Icicle Seafoods improve its relations with organizations in Unalaska.

Kelty said Icicle was the only seafood company opposing the ban, since most of the bay pollock trawling is done by its boats, although Alyeska Seafoods has participated on a smaller scale.

In other local issues, the fish board supported Unalaska fisherman Dustan Dickerson's proposal to open sablefish harvesting in state waters earlier in the year, to match the same date that federal waters open three miles offshore, Kelty said. This will benefit local small boats fishing close to town, Kelty said.

The fish board also adopted Steven Gregory's proposal to close the Iliuliuk River to salmon fishing upstream of fish hole, and to reduce daily limits from 5 to 2 salmon, "because of the sorry state of salmon returns," Kelty said.

This story first appeared in The Bristol Bay Times and is posted here with permission.

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