Below are Links to the news articles that are out there about the Board of Fish
From KCAW - https://www.kcaw.org/2018/01/17/200-testify-herring-salmon-proposals-board-fish/
From KTOO Public Media - https://www.ktoo.org/2018/01/16/alaska-board-of-fish-gets-earful-on-herring-salmon-proposals/
&
https://www.ktoo.org/2018/01/18/among-100-plus-proposals-sitkas-sac-roe-herring-fishery-top-issue/
Request your support in protecting the Sitka Sound Herring stock and the subsistence harvest of herring eggs through letters of support for Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA) herring proposals or if possible through direct oral testimony to the Board of Fisheries (BoF) at its January 2018 meeting being held in Sitka.
Download their full letter Titled "Sitka Tribe of Alaska" at the bottom of the page. Additionally you may submit comments directly to Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) by clicking here. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.main
!! IImportant !! Letters of Support are due in by December 28th 2017 and maybe submitted in the form of a letter or may be submitted online. Online submissions Click on the ADF&G link above. Once on the comments form choose "Southeast & Yakutat Finfish and Shellfish" Board meeting.
A quick recap of 2018 Board of Fisheries herring proposals relevant Sitka Sound herring. This information is an update from the Sitka Advisory Committee and recent local meetings.
STA - Sitka Tribe of Alaska
AC - Sitka Advisory Committee (board of
Fish)
Proposal 99
What: Reduces the maximum harvest of Sitka Sound herring from 20% to 10%. STA Supports
ANB/ANS Resolution 1701 Supports:
AC/Board of Fish: Supports an amended version, changing the formula for the
Sitka harvest rate to be equivalent to the formula used for the rest of the state.
Proposal 106
What: Expands closed waters to include waters south of Big Gavanski Island, as originally suggested by subsistence harvesters STA: Supports AC: Opposes. The AC briefly debated an amended version that would
include waters south of Little Gavanski Island.
Proposal 104
What: Repeals waters closed to commercial sac roe fishery around Middle Island STA:
Opposes AC: Oppose
Proposal 94
What: Reduces amount reasonably necessary for subsistence to 60,000 pounds
of herring eggs STA: OpposesAC: Oppose
Proposal 105
What: Closes southern Nakwasina Sound, Katlian Bay, and Aleutkina Bay to commercial sac roe harvest STA: Supports AC: Oppose
Proposal 98
What: Reduces the maximum harvest of Sitka Sound herring from 20% to 10% and requires state to account for herring predators such as whales. STA: Supports AC: Oppose
Proposal 107
What:Establishes a commercial spawn-on-kelp fishery if at least 1,500 tons remain from the Guideline Harvest Level STA: Opposes AC:
Opposes
A Letter to Board of Fisheries
The AC voted to write a letter to the Board of
Fisheries
expressing the need for herring conservation and concern for the subsistence harvest. If the Board does not approve the AC's amendment to Proposal 99, the letter will urge the Board to "find another way to help subsistence users". The letter will be drafted in the next week or so. And will be shared availble to download.
A few other links of
interest-Board of Fisheries comment form:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=process.comments
-Peter Bradley of the Island Institute has
digitized testimony from the 1997 Board of Fisheries meeting
and put it on this website: http://herring.rocks/
-The Herring Synthesis is a great
document
relating to herring throughout Southeast: http://herringsynthesis.research.pdx.edu/final_docs/HerringSynthesisFINAL102710.pdf
-Here is a link to the proposal book so people can read proposals in full:
-I will send you a few form letters once they
are
finished - probably early next week.
-If you are a visual person, these two
figures
show how the proposed amendment to Proposal 99.
We encourage you to testify at the board of fisheries in January
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME - ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES
If you would like to comment on these subjects and/or documents you may do so below. Please be advised that all comments are subject to approval by the webmaster. If your comments does not pertain with these topics they may not be approved for posting.
We thank you in advance for your voice and opinions.
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