Mayor’s Report
Week of May 10, 2004

Gearing Up for the Salmon

The ice will soon be drifting out of Kotzebue Sound and, in July, will be replaced by the sight of the gillnets, the corks bobbing as still another salmon becomes enmeshed.  The return of broad scale fishing in our area was signaled last week when new Kotzebue Sound Fisheries Association Manager Lenny Makue arrived here with his family.

Makue has been assigned the substantial task of supervising renovations to the NANA fish plant that will bring the facility up to code for processing.  He will also be receiving, transporting and installing all the equipment that will enable us to send out headed and gutted fish as well as a boneless fillet product.  Also, in the coming weeks, he will be hiring seasonal employees to handle all the fish that our local fishermen can bring to the dock.  The operation is expected to provide 12-18 temporary jobs.  Finally, he will also be working the markets to find the best possible prices for our

Lenny brings decades of experience in Alaska fish processing industry to his job here.  Most recently, he was employed by Great Pacific, which is likely to be a major buyer of our fish and eggs this summer.  He will be residing in Kotzebue for the next four months with his wife Greta and their family.

For our part, the Borough has been trying to facilitate the activity of the new local fisheries association in any way we can.  In addition to providing matching funds for the grant for equipment and start up, we plan on making fishing nets and supplies readily available for local fishermen.  Late last month we ordered enough 5 7/8 inch webbing, corks, and leadline to make thirty three-shackle nets.  Residents will be able to obtain the supplies they need through our Small Business Loan Program, which financed the purchase.  The supplies should arrive here by early June.  Business loans are available to all adults who receive a Permanent Fund Dividend check and are provided interest-free.  Supplies may also be purchased directly.  By purchasing these supplies in bulk, we should also be able to provide the best price available.

Much of the focus on fishing this season will be on insuring an extremely high quality product.  Fishermen who join the association will be provided with slush ice bags for their salmon and will be required to bleed all fish immediately.  Fish that are not cared for properly will not be purchased.

Plans at this point are for the Association to pay about .15 per pound for the fish on delivery, with a final price based on the overall profit for the year.  That final price should be determined in September, after the plant has closed for the season and all the fish and eggs have been sold.

The Board of Directors for the Kotzebue Sound Fisheries Association are Billy Reich, Tim Edenshaw, John Rae, Walter Porter, Sophie Foster and Kenneth Tikik.  Their next scheduled meeting is Thursday, May 13, at 6:00 p.m. at the Borough Assembly Chambers in Kotzebue.  They will be working on Association bylaws as well as reviewing the status of all activity related to the fish project.  All interested people are encouraged to attend.

Northwest Arctic Borough Staff Directory

Northwest Arctic Borough
P.O. Box 1110 Kotzebue, AK 99752
(907)442-2500 (800)478-1110 Fax:(907)442-2930

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