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Economic Development and Advocacy for Southwest Alaska
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October 2013
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Well, snow is on its way in Alaska and so is the meeting season, beginning this week with NPFMC and continuing with AFN, AML, and more. I hope we can run into some of our readers! Check out a few of the issues surrounding Southwest Alaska below. Thanks for reading this month, keep in touch, and let us know if you have any questions.
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Catching up with...Glenn Haight, Board of Fish Executive Director
The new Executive Director for the Board of Fish (BoF), the body responsible for setting management regulations for all Statewater fisheries within three miles of shore, has an extensive history with coastal communities and fisheries management. Glenn Haight joins the Board after serving as a development manager for the Alaska Division of Economic Development, and previous history with the Marine Advisory Program (MAP) and CDQ Programs (Department of Commerce). Glenn is a born and raised Alaskan, in Juneau, where he lives and works today. Glenn has a unique perspective for understanding issues important to coastal Alaskans.
Meeting cycles are the main driver for handling BoF issues. It is important to understand how the Board's actions typically become regulation, governing how Alaska harvests its fishery resource. There are several important dates this year for SWAMC communities to note, including meetings for Statewide Pacific Cod (October 18-22), Chignik Finfish (December 3-6), Kodiak Finfish (January 7 - 11), and Statewide King and Tanner Crab (March 17-21). Let's get to the interview...
SWAMC:  How can people become more involved in the Board process and help influence important decisions?
GH: As an individual interested in fish and game issues in Alaska, probably one of the best means to get involved is through the advisory committees. There are over 80 advisory committees authorized in Alaska regulations. These committees not only respond and react to proposals, but also will develop their own proposals. They are an important source of input. Another important thing to keep in mind is timing. Each region's fishery is generally analyzed on a three year cycle. Every spring a fresh batch of proposals come to the Board for the next round of meetings planned for the fall and winter. It is important to be ahead of the curve when planning new proposals for consideration.
SWAMC: Are meetings cycles the best way to provide feedback?
GH: In terms of working with the Board, generally yes. That said, the board will also accept "agenda change requests," or ACRs. ACRs essentially ask the Board to take up an issue that would not be considered in the immediate meeting cycle. The Board will be reviewing this year's ACRs at its work session in October. The other method for bringing an issue forward is through an emergency petition, which are intended for dire situations. Whether it is an ACRs or an emergency petition, higher standards are applied in order for them to be heard.
SWAMC: How do Advisory Committees work?
GH: Advisory committees are formal committees carved out in regulation. In general, advisory committees come together to discuss issues of importance related to both fish and game, review new proposals, create their own, and otherwise provide input to the boards and the Department of Fish and Game. Advisory committees are one the best structures for public input that we have in our state.
SWAMC: What resources does the BoF have at its disposal as they weigh important decisions and their potential implications?
GH: The BoF provides an ongoing effort to increase the public's ability to inform the decision making and improve the information available. At this early stage, I'm working with staff and Board alike to assemble information for this year, but I remain on the lookout for ways to increase the breadth and depth of information the Board may have and need.
SWAMC: What makes you most excited about your new post?
GH: Alaska truly is a global leader in fisheries management and to be a part of that is very rewarding.
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SWAMC Board Resolution Requests Tustumena Replacement Funding 
It seems like we've been providing updates on the Tustumena ferry status with each monthly newsletter, and we probably are. The latest item we would like to report is that the SWAMC Board, as well as other communities and boroughs, recently passed a resolution requesting Governor Parnell to include in his FY15 capital budget a $100M deposit into the State's Vessel Replacement Fund. The deposit is meant to go toward construction of a Tusty replacement vessel, after the design and engineering work are finalized in the next 18 months or so. The timing of this request is critical as the Governor and his Administration will soon be putting together his draft budget, which will go out to the public in December. SWAMC encourages all ferry-dependent communities in the SW region to consider a similar request to the Governor. You can read the resolution here.
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RETRACTION: Adak Cod Cooperative to Operate Plant in Adak
Last month we reported that it appeared Trident Seafoods was close to buying the processing equipment on Adak Island to start plant operations later this year. Consider this our mea culpa, as we were deceived along with many others. The newly formed Adak Cod Cooperative will in fact start operations this winter, as they bought the plant equipment from the City of Adak and signed a 20 year lease to operate the facility. Good news indeed for Adak. The new ownership group already has a successful history with SW Alaska. Read more about them here.
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From the VISTA Desk: STEM Education & Workforce Update
September was a month of reassessment and new direction in STEM education. SWAMC's mentorship initiative, in the planning stages last year, has begun to be redesigned as a primarily local initiative utilizing local businesses and professionals. Engineering is Elementary is another program SWAMC began working with last year and was introduced to regional teachers. This year, we will look towards ways to facilitate this training via a collective regional venue, rather than one community at a time. We are also looking to partner with a Southwest community on the Real World Design Challenge. SWAMC will work with Junior Achievement this fall within the communities of Dillingham and Unalaska to promote financial literacy education. We have also begun planning for a Family Science Night in Dillingham to be held within the coming months.
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SWAMC Community Member Spotlight: CITY OF ATKA
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Atka Pride Seafoods
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Monthly spotlights on a member community.
Atka is one of the more remote small communities in Alaska. It is located about 350 miles west of Unalaska and 90 miles east of Adak. Archeological evidence indicates the island has been occupied by the Unangas for thousands of years. Traditional Unangan cultural practices remain a daily part of the Atka resident's daily life with subsistence hunting and fishing playing a major role. The Aleut language is still in use by the middle-aged and older residents. The resurrection of Unangan dance in the Aleutian region originated in Atka.
Atka is the home to Atka Pride Seafoods. The community itself constructed the original processing plant and began fishing commercially for halibut in 1983. The Community Development Quota program and the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has provided financing and expertise to purchase vessels, gear, expand the plant, etc. APICDA plans are underway to expand commercial fishing and processing to nearly a year-round operation with additional facilities to be constructed.
Recently completed capital projects include expansion of the airstrip to 4800', new water treatment and sewer facilities, and completion of the Chuniixsax Creek hydro-electric project. The new hydro-electric plant has the capacity to provide up to 1.6 million kWh of renewable energy each year. The project was completed in 2012 with the City of Atka acting as the prime contractor. Plans are underway to use excess energy that will be available to heat City and tribal buildings. Additional renewable energy sources are being looked at to support the operations of Atka Pride Seafoods.
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Southwest Alaska Economic Indicator: Summer Salmon Recap!
Alaskan salmon fishermen are proud to report that the 2013 season smashed the previous harvest record, and many expect when the numbers come out, the record ex-vessel value will be demolished as well. While record prices buoyed the bottom line in recent decades, a closer analysis reveals specific species and regional strengths and weaknesses, with largely above-average pink and below-average sockeye and Chinook returns.
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The world's largest wild sockeye fishery in Bristol Bay missed the harvest forecast of 18.27M total and 16.59M sockeye, returning 16.26M and 15.71M, respectively; 36% below the 20 year average of 36 million total run strength. The ex-vessel value of $141M is 26% above the 20-year average, supported by $1.5/pound for sockeye, easily the best price in many years. All districts made escapement goals, preserving future sustainability, although in general numbers were on the lower bounds of the escapement range, except in the stronger Nushagak district. Although the Naknek-Kvichak systems were the strongest for overall catch, it also showed one of the weakest relative performances, coming in 32% below expectations. Egegik, Togiak and Nushagak proved to be closest to preseason forecasts. Arguably, missing forecast can affect fishermen more than the forecast itself, as the expectations drive morale - although the larger than average paychecks due to strong prices will likely have the most positive effect on spirits.
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Kodiak Seine Boat
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Kodiak fishers rode the wave of pinks that washed over Alaska, resulting in a harvest of 28 million fish, blowing away the preseason harvest of 17M. In all Kodiak subregions harvests came in above expectations (except relative weakness on the Westside), especially in light of the coldest years since 1977 - cold years on average yield 60% of warm season - and uncertainty due to river flooding affecting smolt for this year's class. A sockeye harvest of 2.55M was slightly below the preseason forecast, but above the 10-year average of 2.41M. Oddly enough, the chinook harvest of 32,000 exceeded their relatively modest forecast of 20K. Total harvest of salmon in the Kodiak Management Area exceeded 31.8M, an excellent harvest, and with strong prices.
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South Peninsula Boats
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The Alaska Peninsula district, while yielding smaller absolute numbers, can represent some of the best value per operation; but like all salmon fisheries, this is very dependent on being in the right place at the right time. Northern Peninsula fisherman missed pre-season forecasts by 42% with a total harvest of only 875K fish, 712K of which were sockeye. Southern Peninsula fishermen fared considerably better, exceeding preseason forecasts with harvests of sockeye by 20% at 2.198M and pinks by 14% at 7.761M; these harvests exceed the 10-year average by 15% and 32% respectively. Chignik continued its string of above average sockeye harvests with a total catch of 2.399M, exceeding the 10-year average to 2010 by 93%. High prices further added to strong ex-vessel values.
All salmon data directly from the Alaska Dept of Fish & Game website.
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Rower Reaches Adak...And Dresses Well!
Superhuman athlete Sarah Outen recently rowed across the Pacific Ocean from Japan and reached Adak Island last week. This is all part of her London2London mission to cross the globe- all 20,000+ miles of it- as a solo adventurer on bike, kayak, and rowboat! What a journey! Here she is on dry land in Adak, rested and sporting some wonderful Alaskan attire. (It's a SWAMC 25 Year Anniversary vest, a little hard to see)
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Interested in Supporting Southwest Alaska's Economy?
BECOME A SWAMC MEMBER TODAY! 
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Our Thanks to These SWAMC Members!
Adak Eagle Enterprises
AIDEA
Alaska Aerospace Corporation
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Comm. Fish & Agriculture Bank (CFAB)
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
Alaska Groundfish Data Bank
Aleutian Housing Authority
Aleutians East Borough
Alyeska Seafoods
APICDA
ASMI
At-Sea Processors Association
Belkofski Traditional Council
Boyd, Chandler & Falconer
Bristol Bay Borough
BBEDC
Bristol Bay Housing Authority
Bristol Bay Native Association
City of Adak
City of Atka
City of Akutan
City of Dillingham
City of Egegik
City of False Pass
City of King Cove
City of Kodiak
City of Manokotak
City of New Stuyahok
City of Old Harbor
City of Ouzinkie
City of Pilot Point
City of Port Lions
City of St. Paul
City of Unalaska
Coastal Transportation
Copper River Seafoods
Curyung Tribal Council
Delta Western
DOWL HKM
Era Aviation, Inc.
First National Bank Alaska
Foraker Group
GCI
HDR Alaska, Inc.
High Tide Environmental
Icicle Seafoods
James E Carmichael
Karluk Village Council
Katmailand, Inc.
King Cove Corporation
Kodiak Best Western Inn
Kodiak College- UAA
Kodiak Island Borough
Lake & Peninsula Borough
Marine Advisory Program
Marine Stewardship Council
McDowell Group
Naknek Electric Assoc.
Native Village of Port Lions
Northern Air Cargo
Northern Economics, Inc.
Nushagak Electric Coop.
Ocean Beauty Seafoods
Ounalashka Corporation
Pacific Seafood Processors Association
Pacific Seafoods, Inc.
Pebble Partnership
Petro Star, Inc.
Qagan Tayagungin Tribe
Samson Tug & Barge
SAVEC
Shumagin Corp.
Sullivan & Richards, LLP
TelAlaska
The Aleut Corporation
UniSea
WACDA
Wells Fargo
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Visit Southwest Alaska @
www.southwestalaska.com
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SWAMC Board of Directors
Louise Stutes, Pres.
Alice Ruby, Vice Pres.
Layton Lockett, Treas.Dan Clarion Dan O'Hara
Glen Gardner
Joe Sullivan Michelle Ravenmoon Paul Gronholdt
Shirley Marquardt Trevor Brown
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SWAMC Staff Andy Varner
Executive Director
Erik O'Brien Economist; Development Specialist Mickey Morelli STEM Education Coordinator / VISTA |
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| Upcoming Events & Dates to Remember | |
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As always...
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Thanks for your support of SWAMC. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, concerns and events. For previous newsletters, click the link below.
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