Since 2017, Hoonah Indian Association has surveyed the shellfish populations in Gartina Watershed. These data are unique – the protocol is scientifically rigorous and also overlapped with an extreme weather event that drastically changed the watershed area, short term shellfish size and distribution, and ultimately harvest patterns for shellfish harvesters. This report was written in partnership with Elizabeth Figus and was co-edited by HIA Staff and Olivia Mills.
You can download a PDF copy of the report by clicking HERE or view the report below.
HIAShlfshShrtRprt_Nov2025
Gunal’cheech Jeremy for your thorough HIA Environment action report – I love that the youth is so involved! Any notion to check the fisheries health around Hoonah, i.e. halibut…news is they are getting smaller. How does Hoonah’s situation compare to Kake and POW Island, are you still partnering with them?
Wanda,
I had put together a very in depth project in partnership with NOAA Fisheries focused on Halibut this last winter. Unfortunately with the actions of the Federal Administration, those people and positions within NOAA are now gone, as well as the funding. The average halibut is now only 2/3rd’s of the historical average length, and 1/2 the historical weight. Overall stock abundance is also down dramatically. It is very much on our radar and I will continue to work towards projects that could potentially improve halibut health in our area. This goes for herring, crab, and every other critically important food species as well. Kake is one year into their herring project and we are now joining efforts with them to include Port Frederick / Icy Strait this spring.