In last week’s CVN article, “Board asks Klukwan to pull nets during king salmon peak,” I was shocked to read my quote from the April 26 Upper Lynn Canal Fish & Game Advisory Council (ULCAC) meeting: “What is the value of your tradition opposed to the value of spawning Chinook mortality?” So shocked, in fact, that I went to the CVN office and requested the audio file of the meeting which they generously provided. The intent of my very poorly expressed meaning, somewhat clarified by what I followed that statement with, was, if Chinook salmon are extirpated from the Chilkat watershed, your tradition of catching them will be lost forever.

As an ULCAC board member I recognize, and am sensitive to, the frustration the residents of Klukwan have expressed when asked to make sacrifices of their traditional activities while other users continue to fish, intercepting the same stock we are asking you the residents of Klukwan to avoid catching.

The ULCAC has made recommendations to the state board of fish requesting more rigorous conservation measures be taken to protect Chilkat Chinook stocks in particular. While time and area have been restricted in the interest of Chilkat Chinook conservation, we feel more needs to be done. Please accept my apology for not having expressed my intent differently.

Kip Kermoian