Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ocean Restoration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fishermen and residents urge Kodiak officials to back ocean restoration plan; borough to consider resolution
Summary
Residents and commercial fishermen urged the borough and city to support a proposed ocean restoration program focused on plankton enhancement; proponents, including Russ George, asked the borough to consider a formal letter or resolution endorsing a federal restoration plan.
Several residents and commercial fishermen used the Feb. 4 joint work session to press the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly and City Council to back an ocean restoration plan that proponents say would enhance plankton and help restore fish populations.
Robert (Rob) Lindsey, who described himself as a long‑term fisherman in the region, recounted multiple salmon disasters and said he has been pursuing plankton‑enhancement approaches since 2016. Lindsey recounted contacting Russ George, who proponents say led a 2012 project in Haida Gwaii, and described outreach to state officials and the U.S. House Fisheries Committee.
Russ George called into the meeting by phone and urged the borough to "stand up and speak for the fish." George described ocean pastures and plankton as diminishing and said he has been invited to help draft an ocean-restoration plan for federal consideration. "What I'm here to ask is that the borough stand up and speak for the fish from the Gulf of Alaska or all of Alaska," George said by phone, asking the borough to consider supporting a federal restoration initiative with grassroots backing.
Joseph Delgado and other residents described long-term declines in local crab and shrimp and urged more indigenous and local involvement in resource planning. Delgado said community planning should consider seven-generation impacts and the effects of extractive practices on the land and waters.
Officials responded that they would review the request. Mayor Pat Branson said the borough and council would look at whether to draft a resolution or letter of support. "That'll be something we'll look at on each of our bodies as far as a resolution," an official said during the session, indicating staff would place the item on a future agenda for formal consideration.
No formal action was taken Feb. 4; proponents asked for a formal expression of support and indicated they planned additional outreach to state and federal fisheries bodies.
