2010 Annual Report
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Brevig Mission • Diomede • Elim • Gambell • Golovin Koyuk • Nome • Savoonga • Shaktoolik • St. Michael Stebbins • Teller • Unalakleet • Wales • White Mountain The year in review Message From the Chairman to facilitate the repair of vessels in member communities. The initiative allowed for the purchase of portable t is with pleasure, by and large, that welding units that could be brought NSEDC looks back on 2010—a year I to boats in each village, rather than marked by growth and service. bringing the boat into a shop. Eleven of NSEDC’s member communities received While we like to focus on the positive, training in using the equipment. we must acknowledge that 2010 also dealt us great sadness with the loss of NSEDC continued to work to investi- U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Like so many gate commercial fishing opportunities individuals and organizations in Alaska, for residents in our northern member NSEDC and the Community Devel- communities. New boats, fishing gear opment Quota program lost a great and funding for crews to test fish were friend and champion with the Senator’s provided for Teller, Brevig Mission, passing. Ted Stevens figures large in the Wales and Diomede. Results were fact that NSEDC can report continued limited in the initial efforts conducted growth and service to our member into administering and improving our in 2010. However, test fishing did not communities as the CDQ program pre- core programs offered to residents and get underway until later in the season, pares to celebrate 20 years of existence. member communities. meaning the jury’s still out as far as the potential for commercial fisheries NSEDC continues to place a priority I and NSEDC would like to honor Sena- in the area. The program was slated to on connecting residents with train- tor Stevens for his vision, dedication, continue in 2011. advocacy and tireless work on behalf of ing and education—whether it leads Western Alaska and the Community De- to employment opportunities, passes People passing through the Anchorage velopment Quota program. Legislation on traditional knowledge or adds airport will now be able to get a taste that bears the late Senator’s name has to a fisherman’s set of skills. In 2010, of the fine seafood harvested from our ensured both the sustainability of our NSEDC distributed a record $680,000 region’s waters with the 2010 opening fisheries and Western Alaska’s ability to in scholarships for post-secondary and of the Norton Sound Seafood House. benefit from them. vocational training as the number of Norton Sound Seafood Products pro- residents taking advantage of the pro- vides salmon, red king crab and halibut gram continually increases. We choose to not remember the Sena- that is served at the HMSHost-operated tor for his tragic passing, but to honor restaurant in the main concourse. his memory by wholly investing our- We are seeing the return on this invest- selves in making his vision for strong ment in the number of scholarship and sustainable communities in West- Expanding opportunity recipients who return to the region upon ern Alaska a reality. May his leadership graduation. This new generation is estab- and energy be an example for us all. In regard to our involvement in the lishing itself as our graduates and training distant Bering Sea fisheries, NSEDC, recipients take on quality jobs with their through its subsidiary Siu Alaska Corp., new skill sets and assume leadership roles New initiatives grew with the acquisition of a seafood within our member communities. Among NSEDC’s new efforts in 2010 processing plant in Dutch Harbor in within the region, we introduced a partnership with Copper River Sea- NSEDC’s efforts to support education program to deliver portable welding foods. Siu also took full ownership goes beyond scholarships. In 2010, equipment to member communities, of the longliner Glacier Bay and its NSEDC sponsored several residents as provided the tools for our northern associated fishing rights. These invest- they attained various certifications and communities to test fish for commercial ments, in turn, widen NSEDC’s ability licenses in relation to the fishing indus- harvest opportunities, and partnered to institute and support programs and try. NSEDC also supports a number of with a major operator of restaurants services within our region. community-based classes that promote to supply the Norton Sound Seafood the sharing of knowledge between House in the Anchorage airport. While we were busy with several new community members. Several com- initiatives in 2010, much of NSEDC’s munities hosted classes in 2010 that The innovative welding program aims effort and emphasis in the year went ranged from wood-carving, beading 1 A Look Back at 2010 and Inupiaq language to CPR, first aid bulk fuel program that provides lower- the return of sockeye salmon. NSEDC and driver’s education. Many of these cost fuel to communities continues to ex- also continued the popular Clean courses engaged residents as both pand both in terms of the number of enti- Waters program that creates employ- teacher and student. ties participating and the amount of fuel ment in our communities while at the purchased. NSEDC endeavors to further same time clearing local beaches of In 2010, NSEDC continued its work ease the burden of high energy prices debris and litter. In 2010 NSFR&D noted to support and facilitate commercial through the Community Energy Fund. success from its work to re-establish fishing opportunities for resident The fund allots $1 million to each mem- or improve salmon runs in area rivers fishermen. For the first time in years, a ber community for projects that improve through egg incubation and planting. herring buyer came to Norton Sound power generation facilities—whether it The program continued to support in June. NSEDC negotiated with Icicle is through upgrades, the introduction of research and management activities Seafoods to bring a processing vessel alternative or renewable systems, or the through projects such as fish counting and tender boats to the region, allow- adjustment of existing equipment. towers and weirs as well as the devel- ing area fishermen to jumpstart their opment of scientific papers on salmon season. While small in quantity com- The Small Business Initiative continues and crab issues. pared to herring fisheries in other parts to attract and support entrepreneurs of the state, the quality of the fish from with start-up or expansion funds By all accounts, 2010 was a busy year Norton Sound is unsurpassed with roe through a competitive grant pro- for NSEDC and we expect more great percentages that cannot be matched cess. NSEDC continued its support of things in 2011. It has been a pleasure elsewhere. Salmon fishermen had a individual communities through the to work with my fellow board members strong year, earning more than $1.1 Community Benefit Share of $100,000 and NSEDC’s staff in 2010, and I would million combined for their catch. Crab to each municipality. Member commu- like to thank them for their dedica- harvests were robust, netting resident nities also receive support through the tion and effort. The result has been an fishermen a combined total of more Outside Entity Funding process that al- organization that is stable and success- than $1.47 million. Halibut fishermen lows municipalities, tribal organizations, ful so that it can remain an effective enjoyed a good season, with Savoonga nonprofit groups and agencies to apply and responsive source of support and and Nome harvesters landing near for funds that, in turn, advance projects economic opportunity for our member equal shares of the 111,217-pound that improve the region’s economic and communities and residents. catch. NSEDC worked to offer residents social landscape. the opportunity to harvest and sell Regards, more fish to Norton Sound Seafood We maintained our focus on helping Products during the winter, including assure and improving subsistence red king crab and assorted finfish. and commercial fish harvests through NSEDC’s Norton Sound Fisheries NSEDC also worked to maintain and Research and Development (NSFR&D) strengthen our offerings through the program. We continued the Salmon Dan Harrelson, Community Benefits Department. Our Lake fertilization program to improve Chairman of the Board 2 Norton Sound Fisheries Research & Development he Norton Sound Fisheries Two watershed monitoring alliances in 2004 with the first-year returns Research and Development pro- established themselves during 2010. recorded in 2008. NSFR&D monitored T gram (NSFR&D) seeks to maxi- The Norton Sound Watershed Alliance the returns in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and mize opportunities for both subsistence is modeled after a similar group com- these results indicate the return of one and commercial harvests with projects prised of Yukon River communities. The adult for each original spawning fish that integrate fisheries research with intent of this group is to coordinate local with roughly one-half of the returning applied fisheries biology. This program’s efforts to have the critical mass to affect adults straying to the Nome or Snake priority is to help maintain sustain- large project development or to ad- rivers. The high stray rate may be due to able populations of the region’s most dress regional environmental concerns. frequent closures of the mouth of Hast- sought-after species: king salmon, red The Golovin Bay Watershed Alliance is a ings Creek from wave action. salmon and red king crab. coalition of the village IRAs and village corporations of Golovin, White Mountain In Anvil Creek, Coho salmon eggs were NSFR&D also manages a number of proj- and Council. These communities realize planted in 2005, 2006 and 2007. It ects that focus on increasing Coho and that natural resources and their develop- appears that the Anvil Creek planting chum salmon returns; supports research ment are tied to the watersheds where contributed to the late return of more and fisheries management activities; they reside.