When it comes to sharing the wealth of famous Copper River sockeyes, commercial salmon harvesters and processors are a generous bunch, eager to share their catch with senior citizens in town and kids getting lunch at local schools.
“I do think it is just an important thing to share this amazing food source,” said Malani Towle, wife of commercial harvester Mike Towle, in an interview on June 11, while her husband was out fishing on the Copper River. “Quite a few people don’t have access (to the fish). I think there are definitely people in town who go out of their way to get fish to elders. Everybody tries to do their part to make sure people in their lives get fish.”
“It’s a great program,” said Cordova harvester Trae Lohse. “It is important to give back to the community and give fish to people who don’t have the same access to fish as some of us do. It’s a generous community, and in tough times it’s important to give. People come together in a small community in difficult times,” he said.
Last year, when the Copper River fishery came to an unanticipated early end after three openers, “we actually had our highest donations (to date) said Chelsea Haisman, executive director of Cordova District Fishermen United. “That says a lot about the people in our fleet.”
On Monday, June 17, from noon until 2 p.m., commercial harvesters will again share the wealth with the community, offering free fillets of wild Alaska sockeye salmon to all residents age 60 and older, outside the CDFU hall on Main Street.
The annual event, organized by CDFU, even allows those unable to show up in person to send a family member or call CDFU at 907-424-3447 to arrange for delivery. Fish donated by harvesters is processed by Trident Seafoods, Copper River Seafoods and 60° North Seafoods.
“If we have a really good donation drive, we can give them five or six (fillets),” Haisman said. “A lot of factors go into it. Last year about 150 elders came to get them. Sometimes if people call ahead of time, we deliver.”
“If there are leftovers, we take that to the hospital for their food service program. It’s a great way to give back to the community and take care of our own” she said.
“We do some advertising,” Haisman said, “with flyers at the harbor and our board members will talk about it, to get the word out. Some (harvesters) donate as many as 20. Some donate two, but it’s one of those programs that whatever people want to kick in, we are happy to help them out.”
For donations to local schools, the fish will come from the Copper River and Prince William Sound. Participating processors block freeze the donated salmon and have it ready for the schools,” Haisman said. “We work with the schools and processors, so once a week at the schools, they get salmon for lunch,” in dishes ranging from chowder to salmon fingers.
