From April 5-9, Kawerak, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the First Nations Development Institute, hosted a testimony drafting workshop for tribal members to testify before the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).

Attendees took part in a 5 day workshop covering topics such as the structure and operation of the NPFMC, the scope of the Council’s management, Tribal issues, bycatch issues, as well as how to testify before the Council. “The intent of the workshop was to share information with Tribal members about the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, including their role in federal fisheries management, and about how to effectively engage in their process through actions like written and oral testimony,” stated Julie Raymond-Yakoubian, Kawerak Social Science Director. Often indigenous voices and the voices of others affected by regulations made at the state and federal level are missing or not heard. These voices are crucial for protection of subsistence resources, which is why Kawerak pursued options to fund this workshop.  Julie, who applied for the funding reflected, “Indigenous voices and knowledges are underrepresented at the Council and this workshop was an effort to increase the number of people who are knowledgable about and comfortable navigating and participating in this process.”

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council provides recommendations for fishery management of federal waters to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NMFS manages federal waters from 3 miles to 200 nautical miles off shore.  The State of Alaska manages fisheries from the shoreline to 3 miles. The NPFMC, through the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), is tasked setting harvest quotas and catch limits, setting gear/season/area restrictions, monitoring, and habitat protection.

On April 9th, the NPFMC held one of their five annual meetings and discussed salmon bycatch – specifically chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea. With hands-on experience in developing testimony and delivering it to the Council, workshop participants gained the confidence needed to provide testimony during this meeting following the workshop. Jolene Nanouk, from Unalakleet testified, “Finding a balance, and being united with others for our future generations, along with good fish numbers is vital to what our future generations will need in order to keep our traditional way of life to be carried on.” Shaun Daniels of Elim testified,  “Every community in Alaska relies on fish for food.  Alaskan subsistence way of life should be prioritized.”

Other attendees included Michele Adams of Brevig Mission, Agatha Foxie of Stebbins, Jacob Ivanoff of Unalakleet, Louisa Paniptchuk of Unalakleet, Ron Pitka, Sr. of Unalakleet, Gisela Chapa of Bethel, Edward Corp of Bethel, Lisa Ellanna of Fairbanks, Marilyn Stanislaus of Alakanuk, and Nathan “Nick” Topkok of Mary’s Igloo/Teller. We are grateful to the Bering Sea Elders Group for generously providing a scholarship for an attendee from the AVCP region to join us. All except one attendee provided testimony before the Council and proudly represented their respective regions and issues related to subsistence harvesting of salmon.

Workshop instruction was delivered by a panel of experts – Rachel Baker, Deputy Commissioner for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Lauren Divine, Director of Ecosystem Conservation at the Aleut Community of St. Paul; Brooke Woods, Climate Adaptation Specialist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center; Julie Raymond-Yakoubian, Director of Kawerak Social Science Department; Theresa Peterson, Alaska Marine Conservation Council; Benjamin Stevens, Hunting and Fishing Task Force for Tanana Chiefs Conference, and Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian, of Sandhill.Culture.Craft.

Past Council meetings can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@npfmclive4407/streams. The NPFMC is made up of 15 members, and 11 of which are voting members. Simon Kinneen is the chair, and his term ends in June of 2023.

Top Image: (L to R)  Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian (Sandhill.Culture.Craft.), Jolene Nanouk (Unalakleet), Agatha Foxie (Stebbins) Michele Adams (Brevig), Louisa Paniptchuk (Unalakleet), Ron Pitka, Sr. (Unalakleet)

Bottom Image: (L) Shaun Daniels of Elim Testifying before the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Picture Credit, Lisa Ellanna, Kawerak Social Science Program