WRST Subsistence Resource Commission Opposes Cordova Dipnet Fishery
Allison Sayer -CRR Staff
Note: Wrangell St Elias Cultural Anthropologist/Subsistence Coordinator Dr. Barbara A. Cellarius submitted the following corrections to the ensuing article:
The subsistence gillnet fishery in the Cordova area mentioned in the article (p. 1, paragraph 3) is a state subsistence fishery in Prince William Sound that is open to all Alaskans, not a federal subsistence fishery.
There is a federal subsistence fishery on the Copper River Delta outside of the mainstem Copper River on lands managed by Chugach National Forest. Most of the harvest takes place in three river systems, although the geographic area covered by that permit is larger.
The meeting materials are now posted on the OSM website: SCRAC Meeting Materials | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov). See the "FP21-10 Proposal Analysis" for a discussion of these fisheries.
Also there is a reference to a modification of the season dates. You can see in the attached proposal analysis that was included in the Federal Subsistence Board meeting book from January 2021 that the modification to delay the opening date to June 1 was proposed by the Interagency Staff Committee (p. 159), not the Office of Subsistence Management.
Thank you, Dr. Cellarius for taking the time to ensure that the correct information gets to our readers.
The Wrangell St Elias National Park Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC) held its spring meeting by phone on March 1. The commission’s main activity revolved around Fisheries Proposal 21-10 (FP 21-10).
FP 21-10 would allow federally qualified Cordova rural residents to fish for salmon from the west bank of the Copper River near mile 27 of the Copper River Highway to the east bank of the river near mile 38 using a rod and reel, spear, gaff, or dipnet. The expectation is that most fishers would use a dipnet. Jesse Carter of Cordova, who submitted the proposal along with Robert Jewell, called in to the meeting to speak on its behalf.
Cordova subsistence fishers can currently fish for Copper River salmon on a federal subsistence permit in a subsistence gillnet fishery. The current Cordova subsistence harvest limits are 15 salmon per single person, 30 per two person household, and ten additional salmon for each additional household member. The per household limit of kings is five. Carter argued the cost and skill required to participate in the gillnet fishery are prohibitive to some residents.
Area resident Dennis Zadra stated he supported the residents of Cordova’s subsistence rights. He acknowledged they did not have access to large stores or the road system for groceries. His main concern was that opening a dipnet fishery could lead to a personal use fishery similar to the Upper Copper River fishery.
“If that’s all it stayed as is a federal subsistence fishery that would be great,” Zadra said, “I have not been answered as to how we can be assured that this is not going to lead into a state personal use fishery somewhere down the road once it’s opened up.” Zadra is a member of the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council (RAC), but did not state whether he was representing himself or the RAC in his comments.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game area manager Mark Somerville commented that one approach to make things sustainable is to “get more fish into the river.” He referenced his report stating that 77 percent of sockeye harvested from 2016-2020 were taken in the commercial fishery.
Gloria Stickwan stated she opposes this proposal due to poor fishery returns. Stickwan cited both AITRC statements that “Amounts Necessary for Subsistence” are not being met in the upper Copper River and ADF&G area manager Mark Somerville’s predictions of low runs for the future. In his presentation to the board, Somerville had stated the “low” runs might become a “new average” in the future.
Stickwan also said, “We only have one fishery.” Entsminger had a similar sentiment: “There’s so much opportunity to catch a salmon down in that Cordova area and we only have one opportunity on the Copper.”
Karen Linnell, AITRC Executive Director, is “adamantly opposed” to the proposal. She cited concerns about the health of the statewide fishery and stated it is “not the time to start a new fishery.”
The Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) supports the proposal, with a modification to change the originally proposed start date from May 15 to June 1. The modification is meant to allow early season salmon, who travel farthest upstream, to clear the mouth of the river, and to give management time to get an estimate of early run strength from sonar.
The proposal is currently “deferred.” The Federal Subsistence Board will hold a meeting between the Southcentral and Interior Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) on March 16 (See press release pg. 11). The board wants the two RACs to come to a consensus or compromise regarding the proposal.
Several meeting attendees were in disagreement with the process taken by the Federal Subsistence Board to direct the opposing RACs to find a consensus. Jim Simon, representing AITRC, asked, “How can they compromise when some support and some oppose?”
Sue Entsminger said, “I’m uncomfortable with the proposal and the process they are putting us through.” She stated that the SRC had not received a response to a letter they sent to the Federal Subsistence board in the fall, which requested using working groups to reach solutions when Regional Advisory Councils disagree. “I feel like we’re being railroaded and I don’t like it,” she said.
Gloria Stickwan also opposed the March 16 meeting, saying, “We made a recommendation and now we’re being told we have to compromise.”
Both Entsminger and council member Mike Cronk stated that it was a missed opportunity not to have a working group to “build bridges.” Cronk added he was concerned displaced Yukon fishers would put added pressure on the Copper River in the upcoming season.
Don Horrell stated he did not have additional perspective to add but he agreed with the other board members.
The SRC members voted by roll call, all opposed to FP21-10.
Following the vote, Gloria Stickwan proposed the commission write a letter of concern regarding the fishery and the current process around FP21-10. After some discussion, the commission agreed to write a letter that would be addressed to the United States Secretary of the Interior, the Federal Subsistence Board, and the Governor of Alaska.
The letter will address concerns about low salmon returns on the Copper River. It will also address concerns about the process within which members feel they are being forced into a position they disagree with.
WRST SRC Chair Daniel Stevens representing Chitina and Vice Chair Sue Entsminger representing Mentasta Pass were nominated and unanimously approved to retain their positions.
Additional Commission members present were Donald Horrell (Tazlina), Gloria Stickwan (Tazlina), Suzanne McCarthy (Gakona), and Mike Cronk (Tok). Absent members were Sam Demmert (Alternate Larry R. Bemis, Jr.) (Yakutat), Michael Christenson (Silver Lake), and Kaleb Rowland (McCarthy).
Members had the opportunity to ask representatives from various agencies and park departments questions after reviewing their latest reports and updates. These reports provide a good summary of what has gone on in area management recently, and are available online at https://www.nps.gov/wrst/ learn/management/subsistence-resource-commission.htm. The current big local snowfall was noted by members as an area of general concern for wildlife. The next SRC meeting will be in the fall.