The Next Generation of Fishermen in the Kodiak Archipelago:

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1 The Next Generation of Fishermen in the Kodiak Archipelago: Exploring Dynamics Contributing to the Graying o the Fleet in Alaska s Commercial Fishing Industry Danielle Ringer Kodiak Team: Courtney Carothers, 1 Danielle Ringer 1 Bristol Bay Team: Rachel Donkersloot, 2 Jesse Coleman, 1 Paula Cullenberg 1,3 1 College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks 2 Alaska Marine Conservation Council, 3 Alaska Sea Grant Kodiak Area Marine Science Symposium, Kodiak, AK April 21, 2017

2 Graying of Fleet in Alaska Fisheries Average Age of Permit Holders (Statewide) Data from CFEC 2016

3 Permit Holders Under 40 Number of Permit Holders Old Harbor Ouzinkie Larsen Bay Port Lions Karluk Akhiok Data from CFEC 2016

4 Study Communities

5 Kodiak Context

6 Mixed Methods Ethnography Semi-structured interviews (n=70) Purposeful snowball sampling Interview protocol (29 questions) Student surveys (n=609, 54% of school district ) Survey instrument (6 pages) Participant observation Literature review & annotated bibliography Fisheries and census data

7 Research Questions 1. What are barriers to entry & upward mobility for youth? 2. How do barriers differ by geographic, demographic, and sociocultural variables? 3. What factors influence young people s attitudes towards & participation in fisheries? 4. What are models of successful pathways to establishing ownership-level fishing careers? 5. What policy responses may address the graying of the fleet?

8 1. What are the main barriers to entry? Privatization Paradigm Financial Barriers Social Constraints

9 That s another thing about IFQs that automatically shuts the door for anybody that wants to do it, pretty much the rich got richer on that deal. Younger Kodiak region fisherman

10 It s hard for a 20 or 25 year old that really doesn t have any background or collateral. The banks don t want to take a chance on somebody like that. Older Kodiak region fisherman

11 2. Key Findings: How do barriers differ? Discussed more in Kodiak villages Ethnicity Subsistence Wellbeing Outside employment Mobility Community Quota Entity Program Fishery-specific concerns Discussed more in Kodiak town Entry Power Solidarity Ownership/class Fishery management Markets/prices Entry

12 3. What factors influence youth attitudes about & participation in fishing? Ouzinkie students see less opportunity in fishing; less positive view o future More Old Harbor students see fishing in future ~ 60% of parents in Kodiak and Ouzinkie do NOT encourage to purs fishing careers (~ 50% in Old Harbor do) <20% of students say ideal job is available in community Large majority want to go to college, encouraged by parents Students value natural environment, small close-knit nature, family, culture, subsistence View drugs and alcohol, physical environment, boredom, & remotene as primary challenges

13 More positive view of commercial fishing if: fishing income is important to family engaged in subsistence fishing experience desire to get more involved in fishing historical family ties to fishing younger, male, or Alaska Native [weaker effect]

14 Generational Ties to Fishing Percent of responses 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 8% 24% 33% 56% 89% 86% 21% 57% Kodiak City Old Harbor Ouzinkie Youth who have had any commercial fishing experience Current family ties to fishing Historic family ties to fishing 92%

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18 4. What are models of successful pathways? Family connections/support in gaining access Other social connections and resources (e.g. building/managing relationships with processors, crew, etc.) Informal mentorships

19 5. What policy responses may address the graying of the fleet? Iceland: community quota; quota-free coastal fishing Norway: limits on transferability, recruitment quota, open access, protections for Indigenous fisheries, youth quota Canada: community use rights; Prince Edward Island Future Fisher Program, loan rebate Faroe Islands: auction of fishing rights Maine: limited entry residence requirements, apprenticeship, skipper program, new entrant program New Zealand: annual catch entitlement Current Alaskan Programs: Community Development Quota Program Community Quota Entity Program Alaska Commercial Fishing Loan Program Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Ban Community Quota Entity Revolving Loan BBEDC s Permit Loan Program Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust Local Fund Super-exclusive status Bering Sea Right of First Refusal Alaska Young Fishermen s Summit

20 Potential Recommendations for Alaska Explore new forms of access that are not market based. Consider mechanisms to protect community-based fishing acc Establish mentorship programs to provide young people with exposure. Identify and support local infrastructure to maintain local fisheries. Establish statewide task force to review and consider ways to reverse the graying of the fleet.

21 Conclusions Graying of Fleet is multi-dimensional problem Privatization as key factor in trend Shifting perceptions of opportunity in fishing Future collaboration needed to address adaptation within fishing industry & communities

22 Thank you! Today s audience Kodiak fishermen & community members Graying of the Fleet research team: Courtney Carothers, Paula Cullenberg Rachel Donkersloot & Jesse Coleman Local research assistants: Allie Bateman, Garman Squartsoff & Tamara Swenson Funding: Alaska Sea Grant & North Pacific Research Board Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center Stay in to djringer@alaska.