PRESIDENT

I was born and raised in Kodiak and have been a lifelong island resident aside from time away for higher education and travel. My parents started setnetting in 1980 when my twin sister and I were 3, first in Kizhuyak, then in Viekoda, and in 1986 bought the site I have today, in Uganik Bay. I have only missed one summer since then and now am honored to own the site. My mom, sister, and my 3 young nieces all spend significant parts of their summer at the setnet site, and my husband Tollef also owns and fishes his own site several miles across the bay. In 2016 I moved to Uganik full time to focus on salmon fishing, kelp farming, building a small business direct marketing a small portion of our catch, and homesteading. I also serve on the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association Board of Directors in the Westside Setnet North seat. Salmon is central to my life, and I am committed to working to keep our fishery active and sustainable for the next generation.

VICE PRESIDENT

After participating in various commercial fisheries out of Kodiak and in the Bering Sea for a number of years, I bought my setnet site in Uganik Bay in 1983 and still fish there every summer. My kids grew up in Uganik picking fish, mending nets, and driving skiffs and many friends and other family members have also worked with us over the years. We’ve had good seasons and bad ones but catching wild salmon in a pristine environment in a community of other family fishing operations around the bay has been a very satisfying way to earn a living.

TREASURER

In 1960, the year I was born, my father purchased a setnet operation located on Bear Island in Uyak Bay, and all my summers were spent there growing up. I began helping my parents and two brothers as soon as I was able, and when I was 10, began going out on all the picks.

College was paid from my summer fishing shares, and after college, I came back to Kodiak and continued to work with my family in our setnet operation. With my wife Beth, we made our home in Kodiak and raised our two children, spending our summers fishing in Uyak Bay. During the remainder of the year, I began fishing commercially in a variety of other fisheries. In 2010, I began splitting my salmon season between Kodiak and Bristol Bay because of the poor salmon returns in Uyak Bay.

For many years, I have been advocating for the Kodiak Setnet fishery. Since 1985, I have served on both the Executive Board of the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association and the Kodiak Regional Salmon Planning Team. I am also on the Kodiak Advisory Committee for the Alaska Board of Fisheries and have served on numerous committees as a setnet representative over the years.

It is my hope that by working together, we can keep the Kodiak setnet fishery viable for our families and future generations.

SECRETARY

I am a member of a multi-generational setnetting family in the Northwest District of Kodiak Island. I am committed to protecting the cultural and historical set net fishery for my children, grandchildren and future generations. I started setnetting in 1978 out of wooden skiff crafted by a local builder in Larsen Bay. I have spent my summers since 1978 fishing in Uyak and Larsen Bay. As my 3 children came of age they crewed with me and learned the fishery and over the years we grew the operation. I always felt privileged to be part of something that allowed me to work and play with my three sons-especially during their teen years. Now I get to share my love of being on the water and fishing with my grandchildren.

In addition to my years of setnetting I have 40 years of working with the University of Alaska, village and regional native groups, and the United States Coast Guard in a variety of administrative roles.

I bring my collective experiences to the Board of the Northwest Setnetters with the hope and expectation of helping to strengthen and assure the sustainability of the set net fishery on the west side of Kodiak Island.

I began fishing commercially with my husband Jonathan in 1975 out of Montauk, NY. In 1980 we moved to Kodiak, Alaska looking for better opportunities. While seining in Kodiak we saw set net operations and knew that was for us. We bought Valley Pt set net site in 1980 and it has grown, along with our family, to a multi permit operation that we as a family have fished for 43 seasons. I am an original founder of NWSA and have served as President and Vice President. I am committed to strongly advocating for opportunities for the Kodiak set net fleet for the future.

Fishing with my family in Uyak Bay has been my life on the Westside of Kodiak for over 40 summers. Setnetting has provided me with an opportunity I thoroughly enjoy. Working on the water each summer helped me through college and fishing is now my primary profession, including a recent new venture of direct marketing a few of our salmon. I volunteer on the Northwest Setnetters Association Board to help provide continued opportunities in our setnet fishery. I am committed to this organization, its membership and keeping our fishery viable.

I was born and raised in the small Interior town of Cantwell Alaska. I got a job set netting in Uganik in 2010 right after my senior year of high school. I continued crewing in Uganik throughout college. In 2017 I bought my setnet site in Uganik which I have been fishing every season since. I spend the bulk of my year on Kodiak- set netting as well as participating in some other fisheries on the island. I spend my winters in Anchorage teaching avalanche safety classes to backcountry skiers and riders. I am new to the fisheries regulatory process and am excited to get involved.

My parents purchased our set net site in 1976. I made my first trip out to the property at nine months old and have continued doing so ever since. I worked from a young age and got my permit at 17 and began running the site from then on.

Having been involved in the salmon fishery my entire life has provided me the privilege to get to know people in all aspects of the fishery. I have had the opportunity to work with family fisheries in Viekoda Bay and Moser Bay. I grew up with many members of the seine fleet as well. I have good relationships with all of those involved in the fishing industry. In addition I currently serve on the board of the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association. 

I value the importance of a stable and sustainable salmon industry and NWSA’s contributions to ensure that it remains viable for our community and generations to come.

I became a Kodiak Island set netter in 1976. I was attracted to the lifestyle that set netting offered me and my family. I acquired a site in Kupreanof Strait known as Eagle Rock. In 1988 I had the opportunity to expand my set net operations to include a site on Raspberry Island at Gori Point. I realized that to preserve the fishing life that I loved, I would need to do more than just fish. I became one of the founding members of the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association and served on the Regional Planning Team. In 1995 I was elected President of the United Salmon Association, an organization created to negotiate pre-season price contracts with all Kodiak processors. I served as a board member of the United Fishermen of Alaska representing that organization. I am currently on the board of the Northwest Settnetters Association representing the family gillnet fishermen in Kupreanof Strait. I will continue to work to advance the interests of all the gillnet fishermen in the Northwest District of the Kodiak Management Area.