A Study and model Of Sustainability

In the beginning Alaska is one of the cleanest, pristine environments in the world with a wealth of wildlife and Fish. In 1953 the Alaskan Government set in motion a program of controls and procedures that would govern how much they fished, when they fished, where they fished and for how long they fished. These controls where to achieve 3 main goals: 1. Protect fish stocks for the future. 1. Protect their environment and the wildlife that thrived on the abundant fish. 2. To ensure that Alaska was seen as a world leader in the sustainability of fish and a protector of the last wilderness.

Where is Alaska

Importance of Sustainability The Alaska Government thought the issue of Sustainability so important that : They wrote it into their constitution making it the responsibility of every man, woman and child. And so making it an issue that everyone knows about.

Black Cod (also known as Sable Fish)Pacific Cod Pacific Halibut King Crab Snow Crab Sea food in Alaska

Alaska Wild Salmon King Salmon King Salmon are by far the largest of the Salmon found in Alaska and by many considered the best, with weights excising 40kg they have a deep orange color and have a high fat content but unlike farmed Salmon it does not have that oily fishy flavor when cooked instead it is moist and meaty. Also known as Chinook Salmon

White King Salmon

Sockeye are smaller than the Kings but can still make 3.5 to 4kg in weight. They have a vibrant red colored flesh this gives them their other name red Salmon and also because they turn a bright red color from Silver as they move up stream to spawn. Also known as Red Salmon. Sockeye Salmon

Pink Salmon are the most common salmon species in the Pacific. They are lighter in flavor than the others and are low in fat. The make up a large part of the canned salmon industry and develop a distinctive hump on their backs as they go up river to spawn. Also known as Humpback Salmon. Pink Salmon

Coho Salmon a similar texture and flavor to king these fish have a bright silvery skin. Also known as Coho Salmon Coho Salmon

Keta Salmon, are another species that are in abundance and are mainly frozen. They have a low fat content and a mild taste. Also known as Dog Salmon and Chum Salmon Keta Salmon

Sustainability and Control in Commercial Salmon Fishing In Alaska’s Copper River The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) monitor Salmon movements using a sonar that is placed at the mouth of the river. The Sonar is so sensitive it can differentiate between Salmon species and therefore give good indication on how many fish have gone up stream to spawn.

Once good numbers of Salmon have gone up stream the first day of fishing is set. This is called “The opener” and will normally run from 7am to 7 pm. The Alaska Salmon fisheries are managed as an “Escape Fishery” this means that the ADFG will not set the first day of the season until a certain number of fish have gone up river and escaped. By the time the first day of the season is opened and fishing starts thousands and thousands of fish have already gone up stream. Only a small percentage of fish are caught the rest continues on their journey. Sustainability and Control in Commercial Salmon Fishing In Alaska’s Copper River

Method of Catch at Copper River Fish are caught using small boats called “Bowpickers” the gill nets come from a large roller at the front of the boat. The boats go up to the shore and drop a buoy they then back out into the sea dropping the net as they go. The fishermen bleed their fish as they come onto the boats and then load them into their hulls layering ice between fish. Once full they make their way out to a Tender which is a larger boat that is paid by the processers to weigh and collect fish from fisher men so they can continue fishing and do not need to come back to shore until the day is done.

At the end of the day the smaller Bowpickers Are the first back they will unload their catch at the dock side. Large cranes lift heavy duty bags that are set into the Bowpickers hulls. Fish are sorted, each catch is weighed and the fisherman are given a ticket which will get them paid for their catch.

The unloading of fish can take go on well into the night depending on how many fish are caught. This boat had engine trouble and after speaking to the owner unloading his catch he told me that he did not go out until mid day so he only fished 7 hours in that time he caught : 300 Fish

Assessing and catch The ADFG will do spot checks on fish caught at the end of each days fishing. They will collect data such as weight, sex,amount of fish caught, species and general condition of the fish. At the Copper river opener only King and Sockeye Salmon where being caught. All the information the ADFG get helps them assess when to set the next opener dates for the future and what the quotes should be to maintain the Sustainability of Wild Alaska Salmon. Straight after the opening day there is a lull in the harvest for a period of days so that the ADFG can look at data and samples taken from the first catch as well as data taken from the sonar, using this they can assess as to when the next open day should be.

Once the fish are processed and packed some are frozen and some are sent out fresh to places such as Pikes Market in Seattle and all over North America.

When each fish makes it to the spawning grounds the females will lay their eggs and the males will fertilize them. Each female can lay between 3000 and 6000 eggs.

This is an important part of the natural circle of life in this part of the world and something that has happened for thousands of years. These fish provide an important food source for the Alaskan Wildlife such as Bears, Bald Eagles and others. Soon after both fish reach the spawning grounds and have spawned they will die and their life cycle will be complete. At this time of year the river can be littered with thousands of dead fish. In some places it is said that you can walk from one side of the river to the other on the bodies of dead fish.

Abundance of fish Smelt’s

Catching Smelts

Out come of a Sustainable fishing policy Alaska was one of the pioneers of a sustainable fishing policy and is one of the world’s leading authorities on the management of fish stocks and quotas, they have also done such a good job in education and public awareness that the majority of people know the sustainable issues surrounding all Alaskan fish. All Alaska fisheries are managed on a sustainable yield principle in other words quotas and fishing opening dates are closely governed and controlled using on going scientific data which has maintained the sustainability of their fisheries for over 50 years and will continue to do so for many more.