Alaska Independent Fishermen’s Marketing Association November 2007 Fish Expo Edition Letter to Governor Palin: Production and Price reetings, ear Governor Palin, As I prepared to make my first set for chum salmon dur- It was a pleasure to meet you in Naknek this ing the last salmon season of the year, I heard from Fred past summer during your visit. I also appreci- Pike in Naknek that there is already frost on the ground in the Bay, ated your return to the region for the opening days of with lots of rainfall during September. Hopefully, the sockeye the sockeye season. redds (eggs in the gravel) are tucked in for the winter, thriving in good clean water within the watershed. I am writing to you on behalf of AIFMA’s member- ship, which includes many Alaskans, three that sit on We have been fishing for chum salmon here in Puget Sound that our board—Shawn Dochtermann (Kodiak), Fred Pike are priced at 85¢ per pound—you read correctly—85¢ per pound. (Naknek) and Greg Anelon (Newhalen). AIFMA, to my This is a remarkable comparison to the price of Bristol Bay sock- knowledge, is the longest standing fishermen’s associa- eye. tion in Bristol Bay, formed in 1966, and funded by fish- We have worked long and hard to create a competitive mar- ermen. ket structure in Puget Sound and the results are medicine for We appreciate your first-hand knowledge of the issues what ails us. Could this be a model for Bristol Bay sockeye, kings, that fishermen in Bristol Bay face. We know that you chums, cohos or even pinks? Why not? The fishermen in Bristol understand the affects of these issues on the welfare of Bay should receive a competitive price and a fair share of the value our businesses, which are mostly sole proprietorships of sockeye. and provide the economic engine that drives the region. And we will continue to be the best stewards of, and champions for, the salmon resource and the region. We need to focus on these We can no longer trust the present processors at their resource issues: salmon, habitat, minerals and oil right now. word of having ample capacity to handle the Bristol Bay forecasted run. During the 2007 season 6.8 million I hope to see you at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle. Be sure sockeye salmon, worth about $25 million, went unhar- to stop by the booth and attend our reception (see below). Several vested. of the board members will be attending Expo and manning the booth. Encouraging new companies to come into the Bay will go a long way towards solving some of the prob- I appreciate your support of AIFMA. Your dues have allowed lems faced by the people of the Bristol Bay region and our association to have an impact on many fronts during the Bristol Bay fishermen. past year. David Harsila, President New companies will allow for added processing ca- pacity, therefore creating more jobs and fair competition Bristol Bay Fishermen’s Reception at that should increase price. A healthy fishery, both bio- logically and economically, will allow people to recon- Pacific Marine Expo sider their future and the future of the Bristol Bay re- Protecting Bristol Bay and Bering Sea from gion. Offshore Drilling and Open-Pit Mining Presently, we are being asked to compromise this Thursday, November 15 5-7 p.m. great fishery, that has sustained this region and fisher- Pyramid Alehouse & Brewery, Upper Mezzanine rooms men from around the world for over one hundred twenty (Located across from Quest Field event center and Safeco Field) years, for a new "non-renewable" mineral-based alterna- tive and a promise of new jobs. Join us for food, a drink and to learn more about We look forward to working with you on these issues what’s happening related to offshore drilling and extend our help and support in whatever way we & proposals, to meet people working can to improve the Bristol Bay Fishery. on the issue and find out how you can help. Sincerely, David Harsila, President Sponsors: AIFMA, Marine Conservation Council, Nunamta Aulukestai, Renewable Resource Coalition, Trout Unlimited, World Wildlife Fund Page 2 AIFMA LEADER

Bay Watch

2007 Bristol Bay Run Summary (ADF&G) 2007 Bristol Bay Salmon Historical Comparisons Millions of Sockeye Salmon Species Harvest Historical District Predicted Actual Predicted Actual Predicted Actual Size of Run River Harvest Harvest Escapement Escapement Total Total Inshore 29.5 8th largest catch Ugashik 3.33 5.0 .85 2.47 4.18 7.5 Sockeye million since 1952 Egegik 8.10 6.49 1.10 1.43 9.20 7.9 Harvest Naknek/ 7.44 9.02 4.10 8.23 11.54 17.2 Chinook 63,000 Predicted harvest Commercial was 145,000 Kvichak 1.88 2.00 2.81 3.88 Harvest Naknek 4.54 1.10 2.95 5.68 Chum 2.0 20-year average Harvest million harvest is 998,000 Alagnak 1.03 1.0 2.47 2.03 fish Nushagak 7.04 8.14 1.88 2.47 8.91 10.6 Coho 50,000 Well below 20- Igushik .97 0.23 .42 1.20 Harvest year average of 98,000 Wood 4.75 1.1 1.53 5.85 Nushagak 1.32 .55 .52 1.87 BBRSDA Meeting at Expo Togiak .44 .80 .15 .27 0.59 1.1 I want to encourage all attending the Expo to join us at the BBRSDA meeting Bristol Bay 26.3 29.46 8.1 14.86 34.4 44.32 on November 15th. It is an opportunity to meet the elected BBRSDA Board Bristol Bay RSDA hind us, the Board is entering the strate- members and catch up on the actions and gic planning process to determine over- activities within this organization. The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood De- all priorities for the Association – and velopment Association (BBRSDA) is how to make the most of the assess- The Board has just completed a three- gaining traction. After two years of start- ment. Initially, this means deciding day Strategic Planning session. I am very up efforts, in April 2007, Bristol Bay what emphasis to give each program encouraged by all the efforts we have driftnetters elected their Board of Direc- area authorized by Alaska law establish- made to get this program off and running tors to oversee the organization. That ing RSDA’s. Those areas include: throughout this past year. board was seated, elected their officers • Quality assurance I am hopeful all interested members and immediately set to work to build a • Infrastructure development attend this meeting at the Expo. It will be a great opportunity for you to become new organization. • New product development aware of the direction the BBRSDA is The RSDA board members are: • Marketing and product promotion going and contribute your thoughts and Robert Heyano, President • Research and education Chris McDowell, Vice President ideas to help us pursue our goals in the At the November 15-17th Pacific Ma- Mike LaRussa, Treasurer future. rine Expo, the Board will conduct a Barney Johnson, Secretary If you can not attend, please take the meeting of BBRSDA members (S03T Buck Gibbons time to open the BB-RSDA website: permit holders) to present and discuss Nick Lee www.bbrsda.com, or call me, and I preliminary priorities among these pro- Mark Buckley would be happy to fill you in. grams. All Bristol Bay driftnet permit Thank you, Mike LaRussa Backing up a bit, in May 2006 drifters holders are encouraged to attend and AIFMA member, BBRSDA Treasurer approved the vote to assess themselves to discuss the Association’s mission and F/V Shermanator support their RSDA. That assessment priorities. (206) 484-0154 was in effect during the 2006 season and In addition to dropping by the AIFMA after winding through the bureaucratic booth at Fish Expo, please also plan to process, was awarded in July 2007. The participate in the BBRSDA meeting: total amount of the assessment was Thursday, November 15 $886,555 for the 2006 harvest. 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Now that the 2007 fishing season is be- Robert Heyano, President, BBRSDA AIFMA LEADER Page 3

Money Matters

2007 Bristol Bay Sockeye Ex-Vessel Prices Production Limits Processor Base RSW/lb. Chums Kings Comments Limit Ranges Suspensions Price/lb. (sockeye) Price/lb. Price/lb. per opening Leader Creek .72 .10 .25 Price includes RSW/Ice 8,000-18,000 lbs. No suspensions Alaska General .62 .10 .10 .25 4,000-8,000 lbs. Suspended for 1 period Norquest .62 .10 .15 .85 RSW adjustment Kings 3,500-10,000 lbs. Suspended 2 periods North Pacific .62 .10 .10 No limits Suspended for 2 periods Ocean Beauty .62 .10 .10 5,000-12,000 lbs. No suspensions Snopac .62 .05 .10 RSW not paid yet 8,000 lbs. Suspended for 2 periods Trident .62 .10 .15 .85 6,500-10,500 lbs. Suspended for 1 period YAK .62 .10 .15 RSW--38° of lower 7,500 lbs. (10,000 Suspended for 2 periods lbs. for 2 permits) Togiak Fisheries .62 None .10 .25 No information No information Baywatch .60 .10 No information No information Icicle .60 .10 .20 .60 6,000-12,000 lbs. No suspensions

Peter Pan .60 .10 .10 .60-1.90 Production bonus: 2¢/lb. over 8,000-12,000 lbs. Suspended for 1 period 80,000 lbs. $1,500 charge for boat storage. $1,500 for room and board. $500 for locker. Information gathered from fishermen. Please call AIFMA, if inaccurate information is listed.

Supreme Court to Decide on Exxon Appeal Bristol Bay Sockeye By the time you receive this newsletter the U.S. Supreme Market News Court will most likely have decided whether to leave in place the $2.5 billion punitive damages award, with interest, in the According to Seafood Business Report, Exxon Valdez case. If the ruling stands, it is possible to esti- (August 07) more Bristol Bay sockeye are mate the size of the awards which may be available to Bris- ending up in the U.S. and European mar- tol Bay salmon fishermen in the case. It is important to em- kets. Japan imported 37 percent of Alaska’s phasize two things. frozen-sockeye production in 2006, down from 80 percent in 2005. First, the claims period is closed. It is impossible now to Though Japan is purchasing more frozen submit a new claim. Second, the following numbers are only estimates of aver- Alaska sockeye reprocessed in other Asian ages, because for permit holders in both the salmon drift and salmon set net fisher- countries, which isn’t reflected in the fig- ies, how much a person makes is related to their production. If someone was a ures, more product is finding its way to the "highliner," in all three of the years, they will get a much larger award than some- Lower 48 and Europe. An additional 30 one who just fished in one year and had a poor season. million pounds of frozen Alaska sockeye But we do know that approximately 1,396 permit holders have filed claims in will be absorbed chiefly by the U.S. and the Bristol Bay salmon drift net fishery, and if the Supreme Court does not inter- Europe this year, according to the Alaska fere with the award, there is approximately $26 million for those permit holders, Dept. of Revenue. so an average award will be about $18,811. Frozen Alaska sockeye sales are up. In We also know that approximately 597 permit holders have filed claims in the 2006, H&G sales totaled about 80 million Bristol Bay salmon set net fishery, and if the Supreme Court does not interfere pounds, up from about 75 million pounds with the award, there is approximately $4.4 million for those permit holders, so an in 2005, while fillet sales hit 9 million average award will be about $7,298. pounds, up from 5.2 million pounds in 1,048 crew in the Bristol Bay drift net fishery have filed claims, and about 2005. However, H&G prices fell from $8.3 million will be available. Thus, an average share should be about $7,913. $2.09 a pound in 2005 to $1.92 in 2006, 212 crew in the Bristol Bay set net fishery have filed claims, and about $1 mil- but fillet prices jumped from $3.83 in lion will be available. Thus, an average share should be about $5,138. 2005 to $4.37 in 2006. Page 4 AIFMA LEADER

Processors Adjust Ownership

Icicle Seafoods Sells to cluding industrial, wholesale, food ser- Bob Juettner, administrator of the vice and retail markets. Aleutians East Borough, says the bor- Private Investment Firm ough is concerned about how the merger Fox Paine Management III will impact the economy, but are unsure Fox Paine Management III, a San Fox Paine provides equity capital for of what it means for the region. They Francisco and New York-based private management buyouts, going private have not been briefed by any of the com- equity firm, announced on September transactions, and company expansion panies involved on how this will change 25th that it had completed its acquisition and growth programs. Fox Paine III en- their businesses and impact area fisher- of Icicle Seafoods.. gages exclusively in friendly transac- ies. Don Giles, Icicle Seafoods' President tions developed in cooperation with a and CEO, said, "The completion of this company's management, board of direc- Representatives from Peter Pan were transaction is an important step forward tors, and shareholders. not available to take any calls. Some in our strategic growth plan. With a Source: Fox Paine III Press Release analysts see the merger as a defensive strong and supportive partner in Fox move to survive in Japan’s struggling Paine III, we are well-positioned to create Maruha/Nichiro Merge seafood market. new opportunities for Icicle Seafoods, ad- KDLG Radio, 10/1/07 vance the Company's position as a leader Japanese seafood processing compa- in the Alaska and Pacific Northwest sea- nies, Maruha and Nichiro, completed Van Vactor Moves to their merger today, creating an $8 bil- food industry and grow our business in Snopac new and existing markets through syn- lion seafood giant. Nichiro is the owner ergistic acquisitions." of Peter Pan Seafoods which has proc- Bet you’ve heard of Norman Van essing plants in Dillingham, Port Moel- Vactor. He’s been a fixture at Peter W. Dexter Paine, III, President of Fox ler, King Cove and Valdez. Pan’s cannery in Dillingham for many Paine III, added, "We look forward to seasons and is an ardent protector of working closely with Don and the entire Maruha owns Westward and Alyeska Bristol Bay salmon. Icicle Seafoods team to move forward processing plants at Dutch Harbor. Well, about a week and a half ago, and help them grow and achieve their The merger also means that the new Van Vactor handed in his 30-day notice long-term goals. Icicle's leading market mega company controls all three off- of resignation at Peter Pan. And yester- position, talented employee base and rich shore pollock processing ships in the day, he told coworkers and friends heritage of service and quality, together Bering Sea. with Don's first-rate leadership, position where he’s heading next: Snopac. this dynamic company for continued Maruha/Nichiro Holdings is now the It means “going from a big corpora- growth and development." largest seafood company in the world, tion to a small family,” Van Vactor told twice the size of the number two, Nis- The Highliner. As previously announced, Mr. Giles sui. The company plans to increase Peter Pan is a big Seattle-based proc- will continue to lead the Company as Ici- sales and markets outside of Japan. cle Seafoods' President and Chief Execu- essor...Snopac, by contrast, is a small tive Officer, and, together with the rest of When the merger was being dis- Seattle outfit that operates a 336-foot Icicle Seafoods' leadership team, will cussed this summer, Governor Sarah ship, the Snopac Innovator, for process- continue to run the business. Palin wrote a letter expressing con- ing Alaska salmon, crab and herring. cern about it. She wanted federal anti- About Icicle Seafoods In so many words, Van Vactor said it trust regulators to look closely at the was just time for a change. And he Icicle Seafoods is one of the largest and merger, because the new company most diversified seafood companies in hopes people see his move as an act of might consolidate Alaska processing faith in Alaska’s fishing future. Alaska. Icicle Seafoods' core business is plants and local fishermen might re- Wesley Loy, Anchorage Daily News, the primary processing of seafood includ- ceive lower prices for their catches. ing salmon, pollock, crab, halibut, cod, 10/25/07 sablefish and herring in all major fisher- ies throughout Alaska, with both on- shore and floating processing facilities. Other operations include the production of surimi-based seafood products in Bel- lingham, as well as the importing and trading of other seafood products. Icicle Seafoods' products are sold throughout the world to a variety of customers in- AIFMA LEADER Page 5

Bristol Bay Offshore Drilling Update In response to the argument that house bill (H.R. 1975) currently has 39 maturing salmon to be completed during there is a national interest to be cosponsors, including many representa- 2008-2010. served by hydrocarbon develop- tives from California (go to http:// Lease Sale Process Likely to Get Un- ment in Bristol Bay, I must insist www.fantasycongress.com/legislation/ derway in 2008 that there are far more important na- H.R.1957 to see the full list). The scoping process, in which the fed- tional and international values involved The Senate bill (S. 1311) needs co- eral government will accept comments which justify protecting the fisheries of sponsors. Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon on the type of information it should con- this region.” Adelheid Herrmann, is a prime candidate to give the bill a bi- sider when preparing an Environmental Former Alaska State Legislative Repre- partisan flavor. If you are an Oregon Impact Statement for the North Aleutian sentative for the Bristol Bay region resident, please contact Senator Smith Basin lease sale, is likely to begin in and current AIFMA member (3/6/85) with your concerns about offshore early 2008. This will provide an oppor- On July 1st, at the height of the fish- drilling and urge him to cosponsor the tunity for fishermen to comment on the ing season in Bristol Bay, the Minerals Bristol Bay Protection Act. lease sale and to urge MMS not to pro- Management Service’s new Five-Year ceed with this flawed plan. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing “Urge your congressional Your Help is Needed! Program for 2007-2012 officially went representatives to support the Take a few minutes to contact your con- into effect. Bristol Bay Protection Act” gressional representatives and urge them The program calls for a 2011 lease to support the Bristol Bay Protection sale in waters that sockeye pass through What’s On Deck Act. If they are already a cosponsor before arriving at Bristol Bay’s fishing Upcoming Studies on Salmon (check at www.fantasycongress.com/ districts. MMS is planning to lease the Last November at a meeting held by legislation/H.R.1957) thank them for same 5.6 million acre block at the MMS in Anchorage on the status of sci- their support. E-mails, letters and phone southern end of Bristol Bay, off the ence with regards to Bristol Bay and calls from constituents do make a differ- Alaska Peninsula, that was previously southeastern Bering Sea resources, fish- ence. If you are an Oregonian, call Sena- sold in the 1980’s and subsequently eries experts urged that information tor Gordon Smith’s office and urge him bought back by American taxpayers for needed to assess the potential impacts to cosponsor the Bristol Bay Protection more than $95 million dollars. of offshore drilling on salmon was Act. With Royal Dutch Shell heavily in- sorely lacking. Get in touch with Kelly Harrell at vested in a public relations campaign to Specifically, they pointed to data gaps AMCC to become more involved with promote drilling in the region, a strong on the distribution, abundance, migra- the campaign to keep oil and gas out of uprising from those that depend on tion patterns and nearshore habitat us- Bristol Bay’s waters. Editorial writers the bay’s renewable resources for age by salmon. are badly needed! Call (907) 277-5360 their livelihoods is needed to restore As a result, MMS has proposed a or e-mail [email protected] protection that was lost. study on the use of the North Aleutian Kelly Harrell, Last spring, the Bristol Bay Protection Basin Planning Area by juvenile and Alaska Marine Conservation Council Act—a bill to permanently ban oil and gas leasing in the North Aleutian Basin- For More Information on Offshore Drilling was introduced in the House by Repre- sentatives Inslee (D-WA), Hinchey (D Alaska Marine Conservation Council’s -NY) and Gilchrest (R-MD). A com- Website features in-depth information and up- panion bill was also introduced in the dates on Bristol Bay offshore drilling: Senate by John Kerry (D-MA). The http://www.akmarine.org/our-work/protect- bristol-bay Keep Informed Living Oceans Society Website features in- formation on impacts of offshore drilling: Bristol Bay Times http://www.livingoceans.org/library/ www.alaskanewspapers.com/ bristolbay.asp index.shtml#offshore MMS information on the 5-Year OCS Leas- KDLG Radio, Dillingham ing Program and links to the environmental im- www.kdlg.org pact statement: http://www.mms.gov/5-year/ AIFMA Web Page MMS Alaska Environmental Studies Pro- www.aifma.org gram: Page 6 AIFMA LEADER

Pebble Mine Controversy reetings fishermen, hope you he didn’t love and that the proposed sockeye research in Bristol Bay, will be all had good seasons and good Pebble Mine is the “biggest issue in the presenting at Fish Expo. This presenta- prices in 2007! I have new in- State of Alaska”. Hopefully, both this tion will cover the effects of mining on formation on developments in bill and the Refuge Bill, fish and what needs to be done to protect the Pebble Mine controversy. SB 67 will get more play in the state Bristol Bay Wild salmon. Come check it th At the end of July Northern Dynasty legislature this session. out Nov. 16 a 11 am! See you then. Mines announced that it has entered into a Finally, a diverse panel starring Dr. Lindsey Bloom 50:50 partnership with Anglo American, Carol Ann Woody, who is a veteran of Commercial Fisheries Coordinator the world’s second largest mining com- Trout Unlimited Alaska pany, to advance the Pebble Project to- ward permitting, construction, and opera- Two Bills Need to Pass Before Permit Process tions. Anglo American has promised an Moves Ahead investment of $1.425 billion. According to some, Anglo American’s mining opera- I am the state representative for House District 36, which includes Kodiak as well tions in the Global South are associated as the Lake Iliamna region, the area of the proposed Pebble Mine project. with environmental, human health, and I have just returned from hearings related to the Pebble Mine held in my district as human rights abuse. The Anchorage well as the surrounding area. I stayed around after the hearings for about a week be- Daily News recently reported that Anglo cause I wanted an opportunity to talk with people personally about the project rather has been criticized for its African opera- than just hearing from those willing to speak at a public forum. tions by the group Human Rights Watch. In a paper released this fall, Dr. Carol There are two schools of thought concerning Pebble Mine. The first is that this is Ann Woody, Ph.D., a veteran of sockeye simply not an appropriate place for a huge mining operation. Period. salmon research in Bristol Bay, reported This is a seismic area at the headwaters of the Kvichak and Mulchatna rivers and that “small increases in copper levels are the Talarik Creek drainages. This is the fountainhead of not only Alaska's thriving highly toxic and can cause irreversible commercial fishery but active sports fishing and tourism industries as well. harm to salmon and other freshwater plants and animals. Even slightly ele- No matter how many promises are made relating to safety of the operation, there is vated levels of copper exposure can always the possibility of human error or natural disaster. After all, they said the Ti- harm salmon which have a low toler- tanic was unsinkable. I come from a fishing community and to me no project is ance for this pollutant.” worth poisoning the watershed. Dr. Woody reports that Alaska’s Water On the other hand, I also recognize the importance of economic diversification and Quality regulations allow for amounts of resource development. Many people in my district and the surrounding one are now copper in fresh water salmon habitat that earning a decent income while the mine is in its exploratory stages. are proven to be harmful to salmon and The central argument of those who favor the development of the Pebble Mine is the food chains they depend upon. This that we should "let the permitting process run its course" as the state supposedly has means that existing water quality stan- a large mine permitting process that will adequately protect the habitat. This argu- dards in the state of Alaska would allow ment has a great deal of appeal and is one which I have previously advocated. After for harm to be done to the fish resources all, in this country we all believe in due process. Why kill a project that has the po- in Bristol Bay. tential for economic development, especially in an area of the state in which jobs are The Alaska State Legislature recently scarce? held three field hearings in Newhalen, However, the problem with the argument of letting the permitting process take its Naknek, and Dillingham where the House Fisheries and House Resources commit- course is that this argument assumes that we actually have in this state a rigorous permitting process. Unfortunately, our previous governor, , tees listened to 4-1 testimony favoring the "gamed" the system in favor of development, regardless of its effect on the environ- creation of higher standards of protection ment. for fresh water salmon habitat. The impetus for the hearings was Rep. For example, one way in which the Murkowski administration stacked the deck in Bryce Edgmon’s Bill called the “Wild favor of large scale industrial mining was when he transferred the Habitat Division Salmon Protection Act”. Both local leg- from Fish and Game to the Department of Natural Resources. ends, Bella Hammond and former Senator The Habitat Division's role under Fish and Game was to ensure that permits were Rick Halford, testified in support of the not issued if such permits compromised the fisheries resources of the state. Bill. In fact, Halford stated that it was the first mining proposal he’d ever seen that (Continued on page 7—See Two Bills) AIFMA LEADER Page 7

Alaska Clean Water Ballot Initiative

laska Superior Court Judge fore," he said. "There are not regula- Fred Torrisi has ordered state tions to take this into consideration.

officials to expedite printing "They say 'let the process work' but Fish Expo Highlights of petition booklets for an Alaska Clean there is no process," he said. Hackney AIFMA Booth #401 Water ballot initiative. also expressed concern that eight other Backers of the Alaska Clean Water mining companies in the 1,000 square Offshore Aquacultrue: ballot initiative, which could determine mile area would also begin develop- Boon or Bane? the future of mining in Southwest ment. Thursday, November 15 Room C1 Alaska, have until Jan. 15 to gather Earlier this year, Alaska Lt. Gov. 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. 32,000 signatures to get the measure on Sean Parnell denied petitioners the abil- the ballot in the fall of 2008. ity to put the Alaska Clean Water ini- BBRSDA Meeting The initiative asks Alaska voters to tiative on the ballot. His ruling was ap- Thursday, November 15 decide on new restrictions on large- pealed through the courts. Under the Media Room 1D47 scale mineral mines to prevent the dis- new ruling, Parnell now has until Oct. 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. charge of pollutants into water used for 22 to supply the signature petitions and drinking or salmon habitat... to allow Alaskans to start signing the Bristol Bay Reception Thursday November 15 ...Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D- initiative. Pyramid Alehouse Dillingham, said he feels residents of The Renewable Resources Coalition 5 – 7 p.m. the Bristol Bay region will support the issued a statement Oct. 17, saying that initiative. "I think the main concern is the lieutenant governor should allow Impact of Large Scale preserving the fisheries-based lifestyle the initiative to move forward. Open Pit Mining we have out here," said Edgmon, who Whether he decides to appeal the Friday, November 16 attended recent hearings on Pebble pro- court ruling to the Supreme Court or Room C1 ject related issues in Iliamna, Naknek not, in fairness, the lieutenant governor 11 a.m. – Noon and Dillingham... should allow the petition to move for- ..."If mining can live up to a stricter ward, spokesmen for the coalition said. set of regulations, that's fine let the Margaret Bauman mine go forward", said Art Hackney, an Alaska Journal of Commerce, Anchorage advertising executive whose 10/18/07 firm represents the Renewable Re- (Two Bills—Continued from page 6) sources Coalition, a group opposed to Murkowski transferred Habitat to the Department of Natural Resources because he the mine. "But the regulations have not believed that the Habitat biologists were making it too difficult to obtain permits kept pace with the scale of what mining is today," said Hackney, noting that the Another Murkowski administration "initiative" that stacked the deck against fish project would employ huge dams to habitat was changing the mixing zone regulations of the Alaska Department of Envi- hold toxic wastes in an area known for ronmental Conservation so as to permit the discharge of pollutants into salmon spawn- earthquakes. "It's never been done be- ing areas. Currently there are bills introduced in the Legislature to undo these Murkowski ad- ministration "innovations." I have introduced, along with Rep. Paul Seaton of Homer, House Bill 74, which would forbid mixing zones in salmon spawning areas. In addition, House Bill 41 returns the Habitat Division back to Fish and Game. Un- fortunately, both of these bills have stalled in the Legislature. These bills must pass be- fore I, for one, can say with any conviction that we should let the permitting process run its course, with respect to the Pebble Mine or any other large scale industrial min- ing activity. The existing fishing industry and the residents of the area deserve a permitting proc- ess based on sound science and a full and open public process. There needs to be a thoughtful and thorough benefit/risk analysis, review, oversight and enforcement by appropriate agencies. Passage of these bills would be a step in the right direction. Gabrielle LeDoux is a republican from Kodiak. She was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 2004. She represents the 36th district which represents Kodiak and the Lake Iliamna region. AIFMA’s Board Support AIFMA’s Associate Members Page 8 ofAIFMA Directors LEADER President: David Harsila Sec./Treas.: Bob Bonanno Greg Anelon Shawn Dochtermann REDDEN MARINE SUPPLY Bruce Jolma Greg Munson Mikal Mathisen Fred Pike AIFMA’s Marine Insurance Reidar Solberg A Great Product at a Great Price The AIFMA Leader is Join AIFMA and take advantage of our marine insurance policy’s low rates published by the:

and exceptional coverage. Highlights of the program are: Alaska Independent • Marsh Inc. only uses insurers with Third party property damage/bodily Fishermen’s Marketing “A” Bests’ ratings injury Association Editor: Janis Harsila • Oil pollution insurance at no Crew coverage additional cost to you. Owner/Skipper coverage AIFMA Dues — $300 Hardship Dues — $200 • Protection & Indemnity • And much more! Non-fishing—$100

Crewmember Dues — $75 Call and ask for Betsy McKenzie-Berentsen in the marine department for more information and a quote: (877) 613-2200 or call direct (206) 613-2546. Dues Include: • Free subscription to the Fishermen’s News and National Fisherman AIFMA 1966-2007 [email protected] Representing the interests of Bristol Bay fishermen for 41 years. www.aifma.org Copyright © 2007 by AIFMA.

AIFMA LEADER

AIFMA Cooperative P.O. Box 60131 Seattle, WA 98160 Phone/Fax (206) 542-3930

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