Photo: Testifiers’ subsistence activities
Salmon are a vital part of the food security, culture, and wellbeing in the Kawerak region. Salmon stocks continue to decline, and subsistence harvests of Chum continue to be restricted, yet the commercial offshore pollock trawl is not subject to a limit on bycatch of Chum salmon. Because of this, Kawerak advocated for the Council to take urgent action to reduce chum bycatch in the pollock fishery, including by looking at the combination of an overall hard cap, a conservation corridor, and industry incentive measures.
Figure Source: North Pacific Fishery Management Council Preliminary DEIS
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) held a special meeting in Anchorage regarding the issue of Chum salmon bycatch February 3-11, 2025. In preparation for the meeting, Kawerak offered regional tribal members who wished to comment about the importance of Chum salmon in their communities an opportunity to learn how to provide testimony at the Council. They also posted a “how to” pre-recorded webinar on the Kawerak YouTube Channel. (www.youtube.com/@kawerakinc5314). These resources could be utilized for individuals who wished to call in their testimony, as well as to support tribal members who wished to travel to the meeting to provide testimony.
In order to bolster the voices of regional members at these distant meetings, Kawerak supported 9 Tribal members to attend the Anchorage meeting and deliver their testimony to the Council. Amber Cunningham of Unalakleet, Agatha Pete of Stebbins, Fred Daniels of Elim, Marvin and Kim Takak of Elim, Michele Adams of Brevig, Louisa Paniptchuk and Ron Pitka, Sr., both of Unalakleet, and Nathan “Nick” Topkok of Teller, all provided valuable and moving testimony. In addition, Kawerak along with other community members from our region provided testimony and amplified the region’s presence at the meeting. In total, over 185 people signed up to testify and testimony lasted about 3 days. There were many powerful testimonies from Alaska Native people from all over the State, sharing their stories and knowledge with the Council in the hope the Council will take action to reduce Chum salmon bycatch in the offshore pollock trawl.
Louisa Paniptschuk and Ron Pitka Sr. in Anchorage waiting to deliver their testimony.
Here is the link to view the amazing and brave individuals from the Kawerak region that testified before the Council: https://www.youtube.com/live/2tpjgYYXa2g?si=4cNRE-eKm27oqkQS
Amber Cunningham of Unalakleet shared her testimony at timestamp 1:30. Kawerak’s testimony was shared by Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian and can be seen at timestamp 18:07. Michele Adams of Brevig Mission, Agatha Pete of Stebbins, Louisa Paniptchuk of Unalakleet, Ron Pitka Sr. of Unalakleet, Nathan “Nick” Topkok of Teller, Fred Daniels of Elim, and Marvin and Kim Takak of Elim all can be seen testifying in a row from timestamp 7:51:00. The next day testimony continued, and Jerry Ivanoff provided powerful testimony of the Bering Sea Elders Group. Jerry’s testimony can be viewed at timestamp 3:54:30 https://www.youtube.com/live/iLJ7tNwICEU?si=ibaReZzMtjBkfx6z Jolene Nanouk of Unalakleet provided moving testimony the following day, and it can be heard at timestamp 2:59:00 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KFxOLPPXfA&t=11020s
Kawerak would like to express sincere gratitude to these Tribal members for traveling and testifying, especially during such a challenging time for the region. Each of them represented our region with poise and conviction, sharing powerful stories of the importance of salmon to our lives. We are thankful for their advocacy on behalf of our fish and the wellbeing of our region! At the meeting, the Council considered several options to reduce Chum bycatch and they are expected to make their final decision on Chum salmon bycatch mitigation measures by the end of this year.