UFA Update
www.ufa-fish.org
 
New UFA Business Member: The Auction Block. The Auction Block provides
internet fish auction services, offload services, ice & bait, and other
fishermen services. Check out their website at: www.auctionblock-ak.com
or email them at fishbid@xyz.net
 
Table of Contents
1. Governor Drops Katie John Appeal
2. Subsistence
3. State Subsistence Court Ruling.
4. Steller Sea Lion Biological Opinion
5. A Review of Proposed Fishery Management Actions and the Decline of
Steller Sea Lions Eumetopias jubatus in Alaska: A Report by the Alaska
Steller Sea Lion Restoration Team (ADFG)
6. Economic Disaster
7. ASMI hires new retail program director
Larry Andrews to help promote Alaska seafood to retailers
8. Arctic Rose yields more secrets
9. Hatchery expands shellfish production
10. Belugas escape endangered species list
11. Ads imperil Alaska salmon markets
12. Four rescued after skipper dies, grounding boat near Juneau
13. Tender capsizes near Sitka; crew rescued
 
 
1. Governor Drops Katie John Appeal.
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/talkingpts/2001/0827.html
 
Press release. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/press/01196.html
 
2. Subsistence
Subsistence defines Native culture.
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/662702p-705575c.html
 
SUBSISTENCE SUMMIT (ADN Opinion, 8/20/01)
Nods of recognition
 
There was an exquisite moment Thursday morning at the Governor's Subsistence
Leadership Summit when Dick Bishop of the Alaska Outdoor Council maintained,
not for the first time, that survival was not at stake for rural
villagers -- that, difficult though it might be, they would not starve
without subsistence foods on the table.
 
Gently but oh-so-clearly, the Rev. Michael Oleksa said it was indeed a
matter of life and death: "I think here we are dealing with maybe the most
serious disagreement on subsistence before us," he said. "People may
not die
of starvation because subsistence is not provided for them. But they will
die emotionally, spiritually and ultimately physically."
 
That was the only applause line in two long days of talking at the summit.
The emotional lift in the room was palpable. But it was not the exquisite
moment.
 
The exquisite moment came with the next several speakers, who "got
it" very
clearly. Jim Sampson of Fairbanks said, "I couldn't agree more."
Archbishop-Emeritus Francis Hurley of Anchorage called subsistence
"integral" to rural life. Guide Rob Holt of Talkeetna, who wrestled
visibly
with the issues for two days, said he believed that without a relationship
with the land, Alaska Natives "would be a soulless people." The rest
of the
room was filled with nods of recognition.
 
It also must have been a moment of relief for Alaska Natives who've been
trying literally for decades to get this point across to the rest of us.
Rev. Oleksa, a funny, wise and engaging white guy from Pennsylvania, is
married to an Alaska Native woman and has lived in several rural villages
during a long career as a Russian Orthodox priest in Alaska. You might
expect him to "get it," but not everyone does -- or we wouldn't be in
this
fix.
 
Joe Williams, a Tlingit from Ketchikan, said, "This is beyond food. This
is
spiritual survival." That's true. And maybe it's also just the simple
notion
that making a life is a lot more than making a living. -- Steve Lindbeck
+++++++++++++++++++++
Subsistence rally cry
We the People March raises voices, sounds drums of support (8/22/01).
http://www.adn.com/front/story/665224p-707988c.html
 
Two call for needs-based subsistence access system
MINORITY: Bishop, Somerville also suggest changing ANILCA (8/22/01)
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/665252p-708015c.html
 
Summit recognized Native-resource link (8/24/01)
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/667368p-710066c.html
 
Alaskans should share resources
Compass By Daniel Kosterman Commentary (8/25/01)
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/668413p-711050c.html
 
Votes aren't swayed
SUBSISTENCE: State Senate remains deadlocked after summit (8/26/01)
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/669249p-711858c.html
 
+++++++++++++++++++++
Web posted Sunday, August 26, 2001, Juneau Empire
 
My turn column: Sit down together and solve subsistence By AVRUM GROSS
 
Last week, I had the honor of attending the governor's Subsistence Summit in
Anchorage. The most important thing I learned is that the divide between
Native and non-Native Alaskans is real, bitter and growing worse. The Native
community views rural subsistence as a basic test of whether today's Alaska
can incorporate and respect their traditional lifestyles and culture.
Subsistence is important to many in Alaska, but for Native people in rural
communities subsistence literally defines who they are. It is the way they
have lived for thousands of years and includes traditions that hold families
and cultures together.
 
The issue is whether the state is willing to make a binding commitment to
the rural Native community to respect their way of life, not just because
the federal government will take over fish and game management in most of
our state if we don't, but because it is the right thing to do. It was the
nearly unanimous view at the subsistence summit that passing a state
constitutional amendment allowing for a rural preference for subsistence use
was a critical first step in reaching out across the divide to the Alaska
Native community so as to assure them that even in an increasingly urbanized
Alaska their values will be respected.
 
Though the vast majority of Alaskans support the passage of a constitutional
amendment for a rural subsistence preference, a small number of legislators
have been successful in blocking any action. Instead, we have engaged in
endless litigation about the terms of federal legislation that require a
rural preference. There are a number of things wrong with this approach.
First, it won't work. The recent Katie John case, for instance, involves how
much state water the federal government may control in order to enable it to
protect subsistence on public lands. Even if the state wins, the decision
will have no effect on the basic federal power to manage subsistence.
Second, it puts the state on the wrong side of the issue. Why should we be
in court trying to deny an Athabascan elder her right to feed her family
when most Alaskans believe that her right to do so should be protected? And
most important, why are we in court at all? We can protect the rights of
Katie John and make sure that the state manages our fish and game simply by
the adoption of a constitutional amendment.
 
While the state has stood still and done nothing effective to solve the
subsistence dilemma, the situation has changed radically beneath our feet.
The federal government is right now managing fish and game in much of this
state. Federal management was the issue that provoked statehood, and the
loss of state authority is no less serious now than it was then. Equally
serious, the Native community has been forced to look away from the state
and to the federal government to protect its traditions.
 
I realize that dividing Alaskans into rural and urban for purposes of
subsistence is to cleave with a dull ax. There are many examples of people
who live in urban areas who depend on fish and game, and there are many
persons who live in rural areas who don't. But after struggling for years to
define who really "needs" subsistence for food, cultural and
spiritual
reasons, most people have come to realize that a rough approximation is the
best we can hope for. I also realize that there are many, well-meaning
Alaskans who believe the solution here goes beyond a constitutional
amendment to include modifying some of the terms of federal law. But first
and foremost, we need to establish a unity of purpose; to proclaim that it
is our goal to protect rural subsistence and the Native traditions that
thrive there and we must act soon. Daily, the federal presence grows more
permanent daily our state becomes more and more divided.
 
The most meaningful moment of the summit for me occurred when I was sharing
dinner with and old friend from Hoonah. I asked her why so many of the
Native community were still asking the state to re-assert control in light
of the fact that federal legislation already guaranteed the desired
subsistence preference. "Because we're Alaskans," she said and then
she
stopped and looked at me as if there was nothing more to say. There wasn't.
We can do this. It's time to stop the rhetoric, stop the posturing, sit down
together and do it. ***** Avrum Gross of Juneau is a former attorney
general of Alaska.
 
 
++++++++++++++++++++++
Dialogue made summit special (8/27/01).
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/669843p-712520c.html
 
3. State Subsistence Court Ruling.
Judge muddies subsistence waters
RULING: State's attempts at open-to-all federal alternative hit Southcentral
roadblock. http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/666283p-708966c.html
 
4. Steller Sea Lion Biological Opinion.
001&id=19807
 
5. A Review of Proposed Fishery Management Actions and the Decline of
Steller Sea Lions Eumetopias jubatus in Alaska: A Report by the Alaska
Steller Sea Lion Restoration Team (ADFG).
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/pubs/RIR/5j01-04/5j01-04.htm
 
6. Economic Disaster.
 
Western Alaska fishing industry in line for disaster aid (8/24/01).
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/082401/ala_082401alapm00150001.shtml
 
Alaska fishing sector declared disaster; Governor seeks aid (8/24/01).
ave=36912&id=5270
 
Aleutians East Borough mayor declares economic disaster (8/24/01).
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/082401/ala_082401ala0010001.shtml
 
KNOWLES DECLARES ECONOMIC DISASTER IN WESTERN ALASKA
Poor Salmon Runs, Prices Affect Aleutians Bristol Bay, YK Delta, Norton
Sound (8/24/01) http://www.gov.state.ak.us/PRESS/01193.html
 
Fisheries hit disaster status
SALMON: Farmed fish, Japan recession lower prices for Alaska's commercial
catch (8/25/01). http://www.adn.com/front/story/668418p-711045c.html
 
Bristol Bay blues (8/27/01).
19899
 
Alaska Governor declares salmon economic disaster (8/27/01).
l=e&country=&special
 
7. ASMI hires new retail program director
Larry Andrews to help promote Alaska seafood to retailers.
wave=36912&id=5263
 
8. Arctic Rose yields more secrets.
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/669863p-712511c.html
 
9. Hatchery expands shellfish production
FACILITY: Output includes oysters, clams, cockles and geoducks.
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/669860p-712500c.html
 
10. Belugas escape endangered species list
RULING: National Marine Fisheries Service legally assigned depleted listing.
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/665246p-708009c.html
 
11. Ads imperil Alaska salmon markets
Compass By Jan Konigsberg.
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/665270p-708034c.html
 
Letters from the people (Published: August 26, 2001)
ASMI markets Alaska's seafood aggressively and responsibly
 
Mr. Jan Konigsberg's Compass piece ("Ads imperil Alaska salmon
markets" Aug.
22) requires a response, but it's tough to know where to begin. His
affiliation with Trout Unlimited and his record regarding hatcheries (he
wants them dismantled) colors his opinion, but I can't let it go without
refuting some of his points.
 
Mr. Konigsberg calls into question the entire foundation of our marketing
program for wild Alaska salmon. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute does
market wild Alaska salmon as sustainably managed because it is. Experienced
seafood buyers around the world cite Alaska as an example of good
stewardship of the resource. We market the pristine environment of Alaska,
as well as the purity of the water, both of which are true. We market the
fact that fishermen are our best conservationists and they are. ASMI talks
about safety, wholesomeness, the ecosystem, whatever we believe will appeal
to consumers and differentiate our wild fish from farmed salmon. All this is
done responsibly and based on the facts. The governor is correct to push for
organic certification of wild Alaska salmon. What is more organic than a
wild salmon?
 
The livelihood of thousands of Alaskans and hundreds of communities depends
on expanding world markets for Alaska's seafood and ASMI is doing this
aggressively.
 
-- Barbara Belknap, Executive Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
 
12. Four rescued after skipper dies, grounding boat near Juneau.
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/082701/ala_082701ala0050001.shtml
 
13. Tender capsizes near Sitka; crew rescued.
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/082601/ala_082601ala0060001.shtml
http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&country=217&monthyea
r=8-2
http://www.worldcatch.com/page/WC_Article_View.wc?priority=9&Featured=True&
amp;w
http://fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&country=&monthyear=8-200
1&id=
http://fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=8-2001&day=27&id=1
9900&
http://www.worldcatch.com/page/WC_Article_View.wc?priority=6&Featured=False
&