The Sound’s set gillnet salmon fleet fishers are now members of the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association because a proposal to charge a 1 percent seafood development tax of the Prince William Sound set gillnet salmon fleet was passed by members with 75 percent in favor. Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association executive director Beth Poole has welcomed 29 new members to their ranks.
He explained that the set gillnet salmon fleet are joining Sound gillnetters, who began assessing a tax in 2005, to fund the marketing association’s programs to promote quality improvements and brand enhancement for the regional salmon fishery. Thea Thomas, president of the marketing association, opined that several of thier current projects are focused in the western Sound, where setnetters fish, so it’s a perfect time for them to join in and take advantage of the ice barge and their new branding effort for Prince William Sound sockeye.
Emil Notti, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, said that the election makes the marketing association the first Alaska regional seafood development association to represent two gear types. Carly Krichen, whose gillnet site is on the east side of the Prince William Sound at Point Nowell south of Main Bay, thinks this is a good idea.
