A couple days ago I noted that there has been a flurry of e-mails lately from leaders in Western Alaska talking about what to do about this year’s strict limits on king salmon fishing on the Yukon River. Well, they’re still coming, and people are talking about some major moves -- including calling for a freeze on the massive Bering Sea pollock fishery that Yukon River fishermen blame for dwindling king runs. Although a new cap on the number of king salmon wasted by the pollock fleet could take effect in a couple years, local fishermen who aren't allowed to fish are saying the big-money industry needs to do its part right now.

All this after last winter’s high energy prices and the flooding this spring, not to mention a public hungry to debate Gov. Sarah Palin‘s decision making. Throw in simmering talk of protests by what amounts to civil disobedience over the limits on chinook fishing along the Yukon, and you’ve got the potential for real drama.

(Commercial and subsistence fishing for kings on the lower Yukon is currently closed because of the weak run. Current info on the Department of Fish and Game's Yukon Management Area page .)

Here are a couple more of the recent e-mails that debate the notion of staging something similar to the 1961 “duck-in” in Barrow, where hunters protested laws that prohibited shooting waterfowl. Click here for some good background. The general idea is -- if regulators prohibit harvesting a subsistence food, do you ignore the rule and essentially force them to arrest the entire village? (And what if that happens -- what if everyone just went ahead and caught kings anyway, despite restrictions meant to build the runs for the future? Would that further cripple the fishery?)

I’m still away from work, by the way -- just wanted to share these e-mails. Let me know what I missed. I know there are other rural topics out there that need attention, but this is where the tension is right now:

…

To All Concerned,

There was a day at Pt. Barrow when subsistence catch of ducks became a criminal issue. As on hunter went to court for his catch, many members of Barrow took birds and brought them to the court house. Each claimed to be criminally negligent and asked that they too be cited, fined or imprisoned. All cases were dropped.

I think the time has come for this same action to be taken by all subsistence fishermen in Western Alaska.

-- Robert Okitkun

…

Hi all,

I remember the Pt. Barrow bird event. It was a well-known action that helped pave the way for hunting in the spring when we needed the fresh meat.

I do know that peaceful, non-violent protest against our government is protected by our constitution, BUT ONLY after all legal, administrative, and other means have been exercised and failed.

We do know that people are barely hanging on and we are going to have a tough winter IF our federal, state, regional, and village leaders do not clearly understand that we cannot tolerate another winter of high cost fuel and electricity and watch the continuation of the taking of so many king salmon and other salmon in the Bering Sea Pollock Trawl fishery.

I hope that any decision to fish illegally will be decided by wise and sound counsel and due deliberation. This is not a step to be taken lightly.

At this point, I would advise against such action.

I know that there is little patience to wait for the results of seeking injunctive relief from our courts shutting down the Bering Sea Pollock Trawl fishery once king salmon bycatch reaches 5,000. I also know that village people are experiencing great difficulty having to pay very high prices for fuel to Subsistence hunt and fish.

Nevertheless, a suit seeking injunctive relief should be tried by our leaders.

Such injunctive relief would:

Stop the Bering Sea Pollock Trawl Fishery once 5,000 king salmon were caught;
Provide sufficient compensation that would get the people who depend on the king salmon and other salmon through the winter;
Develop a plan that will get low cost fuel into our villages ASAP.

I don't know what has been done on our behalf legally, legislatively, or administratively to provide us immediate relief. Therefore, I cannot say with any degree of certainty that we have exhausted all avenues of redress and relief.

I hope our leaders will intervene before any further harm is done to our salmon resources by such a high bycatch cap on the Bering Sea and do no further damage to the fragile economies of our villages by having to pay for such high cost fuel and electricity.

Again, I hope that wise heads prevail and that our grievances will be heard and relief will come from our federal, state, regional, and village leaders before any action is taken that may not bring desired results.

Best regards,
Nels Anderson, Jr
Dillingham, Alaska

Here's more ... Letter: Yukon fishermen suffer, pollock industry goes unpunished. (Tundra Drums)