Anchorage Daily News

KODIAK -- More Alaska fishermen are proving that it pays to work together to enhance and promote their own seafood harvests.

In 2005, the Legislature approved a unique concept that allows fishermen in 12 areas to form Regional Seafood Development Associations, and vote to fund them through a self-tax on their catches. The money goes to the state then is appropriated back to the association before the next fishing season. Fishermen can use the money for any project they choose.

Salmon fishermen in two regions have embraced the concept so far: Bristol Bay and Copper River/Prince William Sound. Southeast and Aleutian Islands harvesters have organized an RSDA and are set to vote on a tax assessment over the winter.

In Copper River/PWS, a 1 percent tax paid by each of the region's 540-member drift gillnet fleet yields up to $350,000 each year. The group has used the money to expand markets beyond the region's summer fisheries, including West and East Coast advertising of fall coho salmon.

The association hosted a media tour of the Copper River fishery and of Cordova this summer, said executive director Beth Poole. The group also has developed a "best practices" quality and handling guide, and aims to get an ice barge to serve more fishing regions.

The region's 33 setnetters will vote this winter on a self-tax and joining the RSDA, she added.

The Bristol Bay association comprises the 1,800-member drift gillnet fleet. The group amassed nearly $2 million from its 1 percent tax on 2006 and 2007 catches, and projects to add an additional $1.4 million from this year's salmon season.

"The primary goal is to improve revenues for Bay fishermen," said RSDA director Bob Waldrop. "The fastest way to get to do that is through improved quality. We won't spend one penny on marketing efforts until we do that."

To boost quality, the association put more than half of its cash into chilling projects throughout Bristol Bay. Waldrop said 2 million pounds of ice was put into boat holds this summer, enough to chill up to 8 million pounds of fish so far.

"Multiply that by 10 cents per pound as a chilling bonus and you've got a significant amount of money in the checkbooks of the fishermen, which normally wouldn't have been there," Waldrop said.

The Bristol Bay group is hoping that the region's setnetters will also vote to join the RSDA, which would push its membership to 3,000 salmon permit holders.

Southeast fishermen are trying again to launch a RSDA after narrowly voting down a self-tax in 2006. The initial effort was designed to include more than 60 fisheries; this time the attempt concerns just the 486-member salmon driftnet fleet.

Aleutian Islands fishermen are also planning to vote this winter on forming a RSDA, and funding it with a half percent self-tax.

About 50 fishermen from Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, Nelson Lagoon, False Pass and Akutan created an "Aleutia" brand five years ago. They adhere to strict quality and handling procedures, and have developed niche markets for Aleutia sockeye and king salmon.

ENGINE LOANS

Applications are now being accepted for low-interest loans to help fishermen replace or retool their engines to boost energy efficiency. Get more information from the state Commerce Department's Division of Investments or call Geoff Whistler at 800-478-5626.

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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