Stand up for southeast alaska fishing families
August 15, 2024 update:
A big win for the troll fishery and Alaska!
Today the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Alaska’s troll fishery, reversing the District Court’s decision to close the summer Chinook fishery and upholding the prey increase program—i.e., the Wild Fish Conservancy lost on both accounts and NMFS/ADFG/ATA and Alaska’s fishermen WON. NMFS is held to the December 2024 deadline for correcting inadequacies in its NEPA documents to support the fleet’s incidental take statement, but provided that is met – this lawsuit is closed!
Of course, the WFC can appeal, but that seems unlikely given the solid rationale provided by the Ninth Circuit, and the WFC petition to list Gulf of Alaska Chinook as endangered under the ESA is still under review, but today’s decision is a big win. Take time to celebrate!
Seattle Times article - An Alaska fishery has been pitted against orcas. Can both survive? - READ HERE
ALFA July 3 Update - READ HERE
Seattle Times Op-ed- Shutting down salmon trollers won’t save endangered orcas - READ HERE
Alaska’s fishermen and communities celebrate court’s decision to allow Southeast Alaska’s Chinook troll fishery to open on July 1st - READ HERE
“Major victory” for Southeast Alaska trollers, federal appeals panel reverses fishery closure - READ HERE
SalmonState: Trollers are Conservationists video - WATCH HERE
Endangered Species poem by Doug Rhoads, Troller in Southeast Alaska - READ HERE
‘It’ll be a disaster’: Southeast Alaska fishermen fear looming closure of king salmon fishery - READ HERE
A letter from Washington’s Waterway and Public Port Associations asking WA’s Senator Cantwell to stand by Alaska’s troll fishermen - READ HERE
KCAW: DOJ will appeal court order forcing troll fishery closure - READ HERE
May 2023 WFC Lawsuit Interview - LISTEN HERE
Talk of Alaska: The Southeast Troll Fishery Lawsuit - LISTEN TO INTERVIEW HERE
The Wild Fish Conservancy has singled out Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery in its lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The lawsuit challenges NMFS’ Biological Opinion regarding Southeast Alaska’s fisheries and the impact of the fisheries on Washington’s Chinook and Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW).
May 3, 2023 update: On May 2nd the U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones upheld a magistrate’s earlier opinion by adopting, in part, a report and recommendation that vacates the incidental take statement (ITS) for the Southeast Alaska winter and summer commercial Chinook troll fishery, which has the practical effect of closing these Chinook fisheries until a new ITS is in place. While this is infuriating, the fight is far from over. Read the full update HERE.
February 18, 2023 update: The last few months have been a wild ride and we are currently in “wait and see” mode as the U.S. District Court decides whether there will be a winter and summer troll Chinook fishery this year. Thanks to you and your help, ATA and ALFA have been able to rally an amazing outpouring of supportive letters, resolutions, and donations from communities, fishery organizations, aquaculture associations as well as our elected officials in Washington D.C. and the Alaska State Legislature. CLICK HERE for a recap of some of our recent milestones, including a full list of supporters.
The Wild Fish Conservancy’s lawsuit could cost Southeast Alaska trollers their 2023 fishing season. If that happens, that cost will be devastating to fishing families, communities, and the Southeast economy—while providing no meaningful benefit to salmon or orcas.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Please read the below and then TAKE ACTION!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) sued the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) over NMFS’ 2019 Biological Opinion (BiOp), which is the document that provides Endangered Species Act coverage to all Southeast Alaska’s salmon fisheries. The Court found the BiOp to be inadequate on a number of counts that are largely technical, or process related. NMFS is currently revising the BiOp, which includes the Incidental Take Statement essential to open a fishery that may impact an endangered species.
Rather than wait for the revisions, the WFC requested that the court suspend the Incidental Take Statement for the Southeast troll fishery and the prey enhancement program established to assist critical Puget Sound Chinook stocks and SRKW. The WFC targeted the Southeast Alaska troll fishery— a small boat, hook and line fishery that operates hundreds of miles away—and ignored higher impact fisheries operating in SRKW’s habitat. Even more astonishing, the WFC ignored the industrial toxins, water pollution, noise disturbance, and vessel traffic in SRKW’s habitat that are widely recognized as major threats to the orcas’ recovery. The WFC’s goals appear to be aimed at closing hatcheries, closing sustainable commercial fisheries, and raising money by filing misguided and deceptive lawsuits regardless of impact on orcas or people.
The Magistrate Judge did not accept the WFC request to close the hatchery prey enhancement program but did recommend vacating the Incidental Take Statement for the troll fishery. As a result, trollers face the very real possibility of losing their 2023 salmon season. The impact of losing the troll fishery will be devastating for trollers, their families, and the Southeast Alaska economy—while providing no meaningful benefits to SRKW.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Alaska Trollers Association (ATA) and the State of Alaska have pledged to appeal any decision that does not restore the troll fishery and Alaska’s right to manage its sustainable salmon fisheries (SoA). NMFS has not yet committed to the appeal and their engagement in this lawsuit is important. We need all hands on deck and all parties committed to opening the troll fishery and keeping it open for a full season.
TAKE ACTION:
1. Make a contribution to ATA’s legal fund to ensure ATA can fight this battle to the end.
2. How to comment for AK residents- send a message to Governor Dunleavy and thank him for engaging the State of Alaska in the lawsuit. Ask that he commit to securing a full season for Alaska’s troll fishery. Email the Alaska Congressional delegations Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and Congresswoman Peltola and ask that they support the troll fleet by encouraging NMFS to appeal any decision that does not uphold Alaska’s sustainable commercial fisheries. Sign the letter to AK NMFS Regional Director Jon Kurland and Assistant Administrator Janet Coit.
3. How to comment for WA residents- Email Washington Congressional delegations and ask that they support the troll fleet by encouraging NMFS to appeal any decision that does not uphold Alaska’s sustainable commercial fisheries. Washington members: Senator Cantwell, Senator Murray, Congresswoman Jayapal. Sign the letter to PNW NMFS Acting Regional Director Scott Rumsey and Assistant Administrator Janet Coit.
The troll fleet has an annual economic impact on Southeast Alaska of approximately $85 million, as measured in total output. Commercial fishing is Alaska’s largest private sector employer and trolling is the second largest fishery in the State of Alaska. Trolling is a pillar in Southeast Alaska’s economy and vital to the region. Trollers care about whales, salmon, and ocean health—in fact, trollers have advocated relentlessly for salmon habitat protection and sustainable fisheries management. This lawsuit distracts from the real threats the orcas face: industrial toxins, water pollution, vessel traffic, and noise disturbance. Fisheries are not a threat to SRKW, and the Southeast Alaska troll fishery, which operates hundreds of miles away from the orca’s habitat, is not even a factor in the orca’s struggle to survive. The lawsuit is absurd and destructive. Please take action TODAY.