Anchorage Daily News

KODIAK -- It takes guts to talk fish, but five candidates hoping to snag Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will take on the challenge next month in Kodiak.

Congressman Don Young, state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, and Democrats Diane Benson, Ethan Berkowitz and Jake Metcalfe have agreed to participate in the well-known fisheries face-off. That's the catch: the debate is limited to fisheries and the seafood industry topics.

Since 1990 the fisheries debates at the ComFish Alaska trade show have attracted nearly 100 percent participation by candidates for Alaska governor and U.S. Senate. This year will be the first time that U.S. House candidates participate.

The big hook is that the debate is broadcast across Alaska via Kodiak radio station KMXT and the Alaska Public Radio Network.

"The fishing industry is Alaska's Number 1 private employer and produces more than half of our nation's wild seafood. This debate allows the candidates to share their knowledge and ideas about this vital industry," said Deb King, director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of ComFish.

Young, who has warmed the House seat for 35 years, was the first to take the bait.

"The commercial fishing industry is a vital part of Alaska's economy. It is the lifeblood of many of our communities, and an important part of Alaska's future," he said via e-mail.

LeDoux, who said she's hoping for a home-town advantage, agreed.

"The fishing industry is one of the top money makers for Alaska. For our coastal communities, fishing is it in terms of their economies. The ComFish debate provides a unique opportunity to tell Alaskans how much we value this vital industry," she said.

"Commercial fishing is more than just a job for many Alaskans, it's a defining lifestyle," said Jake Metcalfe of Juneau. "Anyone who wants to represent fishermen should take advantage of any opportunity to meet with them, and to respond to their concerns."

"ComFish is Iowa and New Hampshire rolled into one," said Anchorage's Ethan Berkowitz.

The fisheries debate takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 20. Check out the other events at www.comfishalaska.com.

• The big spill. Alaskans, including Gov. Sarah Palin, are converging on the nation's capital this week. They plan to be in the room Wednesday when the U.S. Supreme Court sits down to a hearing before deciding if Exxon must pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages to 32,000 plaintiffs hurt by the 1989 oil spill.

• Co-op primer. Pooling production and purchasing power can yield some nice advantages for fishermen. Find out the pros and cons in "Developing Cooperatives for the Alaska Seafood Industry." (www.alaskaseagrant.org)

Food producers usually form co-ops when they are frustrated by markets or supply costs, said Glenn Haight, Alaska Sea Grant marine advisory agent and author.

"By coming together they can demand more of a presence in the market," he said.

Haight cites the Seafood Producers Cooperative in Sitka as a prime model. The 500-member SPC began in the 1940s and is one of the largest and most successful fishing co-ops in North America.

Kodiak's Olga/Moser Bay Seafood Producers Alliance is another good co-op example. Four years ago setnetters there created a slick system that flies their fresh salmon directly to high-end buyers in Chicago.

Most recently, Kodiak trawlers tested the waters for a co-op in the rockfish fishery. The slower pace extended the fishery from three weeks to seven months, keeping more seafood workers on the job longer. By fishing cooperatively, the trawlers cut halibut bycatch rates by more than 70 percent.

Laine Welch is a Kodiak-based fisheries journalist. Her Fish Radio programs can be heard on stations around the state. Her information column appears every other Sunday. This material is protected by copyright. For information on reprinting or placing on your Web site or newsletter, contact msfish@alaska.com.

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