Kenai Learning Exchange June 26th, 2018
Participants Amy Lowndes - Salmon and Communications Policy Intern - Nautilus Impact Investing (left) Megan Warren - Policy Intern - First Alaskans Institute (right) Sarah Warnock (not pictured) Nautilus Impact Investing
We planned a trip to Kenai to learn more about salmon policy from a sportfish and tribal perspective, and to build connections with the region s diverse salmon stakeholders Context and Objectives We met with a diverse array of salmon stakeholders, with equally diverse interests in and relationships to salmon: Tribal Organizations Kenai is home for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, who operate an educational fishery on the coast Sportfishing Kenai is also one of the biggest sport fisheries in Alaska, and the economy revolves around sport fishing Habitat Partnerships Habitat conservation in Kenai is key to a thriving tourist economy
At the Kenai Watershed Forum, we were given a tour by the head of the Forum, Jack Sinclair The organization's mission is "working together for healthy watersheds on the Kenai Peninsula The building, a converted homestead, was bustling with interns and staff from all over Alaska and the Lower 48 Sinclair explained that the holistic view of a healthy watershed includes efforts to eradicate invasive algal blooms, tag and track individual salmon, and protect habitat with fencing
Between meetings, we visited the Kenai River via a trail leading down from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. The trail had many educational signs focused on conservation of riverside habitat, which is directly effects capable in an economy centered on salmon like Kenai's. The well-maintained trail featured railings that descended into the water that serve to minimize disruption of the natural landscape, and thus salmon migration as little as possible. This proved a sharp contrast to the other side of the river, where the lawns of residential homes led straight to the water. This is harmful because without the natural barrier of trees and vegetation, the salmon cannot nest to spawn.
Meeting with Ricky Gease, Executive Director KRSA - Megan Warren While in Kenai, we sat down with Salmon-Fellow Ricky Gease to learn about salmon policy and conservation from a sportsfishing perspective. Ricky gave us an easy-to-digest rundown of the layers of governance related to fishing in Alaska, something that can sometimes be extremely complex with many interacting players and different layers of administration. We talked about the way that salmon-policy is shaped in Alaska by individuals and users, as well as interest groups. Extremely intriguing was our conversation on the difference between commercial, subsistence, and sportfishing practices; the way that salmon are allocated between these groups was a valuable piece of information that was expanded upon. Gease also allowed us to obtain a more nuanced perspective on the health of our salmon in our rivers and oceans; through this discussion we learned about some of the negative impacts salmon hatcheries may have on certain populations and the relationships of coho, chinook, pink, and chum salmon. Overall, this conversation was illuminating. It allowed us to form a deeper understanding of fisheries in general, how policy is formed, and how salmon populations interact with each other, all in relation to the politics of salmon in the State of Alaska. Thank you, Ricky, for your valuable perspective and the data you shared with us in this meeting.
Kenai River Sportsfishing Association Clockwise from left: Megan Warren, Amy Lowndes, and Ricky Gease discuss the population of salmon in the oceans and the impact of commercial fishing
Kenaitze Educational Fishery From left: a communal gathering place, Megan enjoying the smoked salmon that was shared, a flounder caught in the salmon net
In Kenai, we also had the opportunity to visit the Kenaitze tribe s educational fishery, guided by one of the tribe's foremost fishermen, Jacob. The Kenaitze Tribe fishes at the mouth of the Kenai River, operating the same fishing net since 1989. Meeting with Jacob, Kenaitze Tribe -Amy Lowndes Jacob told us how the harvest of reds had been slim in the past couple of years, and how the tribe s status as rural imposes yet more limits on their traditional harvest. Jacob explained that the harvest nonetheless usually satisfies the needs of the elders and supplements the diet of the rest of the tribe. A short boardwalk across from the net is the tribe s shared smokehouse, where children ran and observed underfoot as practiced hands cut and hung the salmon. As we chewed smoked salmon from this year s harvest, Jacob explained how the tribe cooperatively operates the net, and how those who wish to are allowed to schedule a time to fish it. In keeping with traditional values of respect, a scheduling preference is given to elders.