AMSEA's new Executive Director, Dr. Leann Fay, and her research assistant, Mayugiaq Melanie Sagoonick, completed a pilot study of the set gillnet fishery in Norton Sound this past year. The pilot study looked at the commercial salmon set gillnet fishery in Norton Sound to determine why fatalities are so high and ways to reduce fatalities in the future.
This pilot study consisted of 10 semi-structured interviews with Alaska Native fishermen in Unalakleet, AK. Fay and Sagoonick used the interviews to identify several contributing factors to marine safety for Alaska Native salmon set gillnetters in Norton Sound.
Some methods proposed for reducing risk in the fisheries include overcoming PFD use and access challenges, creating marine safety training more suited to small open skiff vessels, and use of Alaska Native and community-based knowledge to develop training and outreach efforts.
Check out the published article here!