October NPFMC meeting recap

Written By Mary Catharine Martin

Jackie Arnaciar Boyer testifies at the October 2024 NPFMC meeting

Waqaa Camai, 

My name is Jackie Boyer or Arnaciar. My family comes from Nunivak Island, Mekoryuk, Alaska in the Bering Sea. My family is the Shavings, Davids, and Koleroks - but I know I’m related to other families from all over if we sat down and talked about all our aunties and uncles. My Cup’ig name, Arnaciar, was given to me by my grandma and I carry her same name. I live in the Anchorage area with my adopted teenage daughter and I enjoy reclaiming my culture and getting out and appreciating all that Alaska is. 

I just started at SalmonState, working on the Ocean Justice Program.  Mostly focusing on salmon bycatch, Indigenous and Tribal involvement and representation in these systems, equitable process change, and education about these systems, and policy changes. I have a passion for good public policy and process and love for my people who have lived and loved these lands and waters for millennia. Quyana for allowing me to share who I am and a bit about myself. 

This blog titled “Neqa (salmon/food) News is meant to break down and recap things in a first-person informal perspective. 

North Pacific Fishery Management Council 

While sitting in the last North Pacific Fishery management council (NPFMC), for multiple full days and still not fully understanding all of the nuances of it, I thought about family across Alaska who are busy with family and their jobs, or just don’t want to be stuck in front of the computer for hours just listening to a, quite frankly, boring meeting. So I decided a blog to break it down in human terms might help others.  

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council met in Anchorage in October to discuss whether or not trawlers that hit the ocean floor are considered bottom trawlers or not - well, actually, in the convoluted and insider baseball game council process, their discussion paper said “pelagic trawl gear definition” while the actual debate surrounded the codend of the gear and innovations but not actually talking about the definition of midwater or ‘pelagic’ trawling. It was a few days of the Advisory Panel (AP) talking about how the public misunderstood the council process and that they really weren’t talking about pelagic trawl gear definition - which *is* confusing.  The state of Alaska has a clear definition of pelagic trawl, which states, “does not touch the seafloor” meanwhile, the NPFMC has no definition, and “midwater pelagic” trawlers in federal areas are allowed to trawl and hit the bottom of the ocean, in sensitive areas where bottom trawlers are not allowed. Why is there a special exception for these trawlers who hit the bottom and why isn’t there a definition for them? 

Trawl gear. Illustration credit: NPFMC

The council’s process is a slow moving, but it seems to be a missed opportunity to really be clear with the public: a bottom trawler is a bottom trawler, and a midwater pelagic trawler should not touch the bottom - squishing slow growing coral and sensitive habitat. There were hundreds of comments asking the council to take meaningful action and protect the essential fish habitat closed to non-pelagic trawlers and to clearly define what a pelagic trawler is - instead of talking about gear innovations and other issues related to pelagic, without actually talking about pelagic. This process needs to change; how can the public and regular fishermen and subsistence users engage in something when the issue isn’t defined? 

This is on top of myriad of issues with engaging in the council process: It’s a long meeting, travel and hotel cost restrictions, the Advisory Panel and Scientific and Statistical Committee and the full council overlap in meetings, the agenda and testimony time changes frequently, the documents are hundreds of pages long, the structure of the council itself and the favor towards the industry, no tribal seats and no subsistence seats on the council.  Unless you are a paid professional to do this work, have a science background in fisheries, work in the industry, or have someone you know tell you how to engage and break down the very complicated management structure and process — it’s just not accessible to regular people. 

If you want to read more about the council, check out the toolkit we made on it: October NPFMC Toolkit 

If you want to learn more about what trawling actually is and how to take action in the meantime, visit: https://salmonstate.org/bycatch 

On a lighter, more understandable, and happier note: also this month, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) had their annual convention - also known as Native New Year. It was so good to see so many smiling faces and take my kiddo to Quyana night and listen to the resolutions and buy all of the big aunty energy earrings. I’m just always so rejuvenated after seeing everyone. 

Some of the highlights: 

Keep an eye out for the next blog on the Board of Fish meeting happening in December and the next North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting. 

If you want to add fisheries meetings to your calendar or view them, visit: https://salmonstate.org/fisheries-meetings 

Quyana/Thank you,

Jackie Arnaciar Boyer 

Mary Catharine Martin