by AVCP Staff
The Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) Subsistence Committee and AVCP leadership testified at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) meeting (held February 3rd – 11th, 2025) in Anchorage to bring attention to the dire salmon crash which is creating a humanitarian crisis for thousands of Native Alaskans.
AVCP Chief Executive Office, Vivian Korthuis urged the council to enact new fishery management rules to end the five-year salmon drought.
“We are asking that you take transformative action to help our communities. Our rivers and ecosystem are changing. Why isn’t our management regarding chum salmon bycatch also changing? Every salmon counts and we need to work towards making sure our salmon get to their spawning grounds,” said Korthuis.
NPFMC is currently considering five chum catch alternatives. AVCP recommends NPFMC consider an alternative which sets a hard cap on bycatch at a level as low as possible while also calling for the creation of conservation corridors to allow salmon to safely pass to spawning areas.
AVCP Executive Board Chair Thaddeus Tikiun told the council, “We need to get an alternative which sets hard limits and protects the fish corridors. Anything other than that tells me no real effort is being made.”
AVCP Traditional Chief Nels Alexie joined Korthuis and Tikiun at the hearing in Anchorage.
“The reason why I came here is because of my traditional stomach. Will you give me back my chum and my king salmon,” says Alexie.
The trio invited the council to Bethel to hear first-hand from people in the region who are suffering. Members of the council will travel to Bethel on March 4 and 5 for a Regional Advisory Council meeting. Further details on that meeting will be announced soon.
“Where there should be a focus on the consequences of environmental and social impact, we see the focus on financial benefits as a priority over our way of life. This is why we are here today,” says Korthuis.
AVCP Subsistence Committee members Julia Dorris, Christina Changsak, Martin Andrew, and William Igkurak addressed the council as well. Each told their unique stories of how the salmon crash is impacting their families, friends, and neighbors.
“Fish bonds our families, helps us communicate with one another. It is part of the cultural and spiritual aspects of our lives,” says Andrew.
The NPFMC will decide next steps following the hearing. It is possible the council may set new standards of fishery management by the end of this year.
