Sun’aq Subsistence Guide
Overview
Traditional foods, the wild plants and animals from the land and the sea, are an important part of the Sun’aq culture. The gathering, hunting and fishing, preserving, and eating of wild foods is more than just food for the Sun’aq people. It is a way of life. It is a culture. It is a way of being and understanding who you are in this world.
Since time immemorial, traditional foods have connected the Sun’aq people with the land and sea through cultural rights, traditional practices, and celebrated rituals that have been passed down from generation to generation. Tribal members continue to define themselves by the customs and traditions in gathering, processing, and distributing wild resources. The sharing of these cultural traditions and laws are an essential element of the Sun’aq subsistence practices.
In Alaska, the word subsistence generally refers to the harvest of fish, wildlife, and other wild resources for an individual and their family for food, shelter, and other personal or family uses and needs. Subsistence is the mainstay of the Alutiiq culture, as subsistence practices are time-honored and largely self-regulating traditions. According to the State of Alaska’s most recent wild food harvest and use surveys, most of the Alaska Native households within the Kodiak archipelago use subsistence harvested fish, wildlife, and other wild resources.
This Sun’aq Subsistence Guide is designed to facilitate the exchange of information about the harvest and use of natural resources within the Kodiak archipelago. Most, if not all, of the information currently available through the Sun’aq Subsistence Guide is public information. Numerous partners throughout the archipelago shared information that is assembled in this guide.
The Sun’aq Subsistence Guide was designed to:
Help local citizens and resource users better understand the laws and regulations governing subsistence resource harvest, sharing, and use; and
Facilitate information exchange for the betterment and protection of traditional Sun’aq resources.
Assessment of Kodiak Island Tribes’ Wild Foods Consumption
Research and anecdotal evidence suggests that some communities may be exposed to more pollutants than others because they consume more seafood than another. Assessments that consider the health risks associated with pollutants are often based on nation-wide surveys and the national average of seafood consumption. So, in rural Alaska where traditional foods can make up 40% to 90% of the diet, which is much more than the national average, the risk assessment is grossly underestimated. Research shows that elevated levels of contaminants in wild resources could be especially dangerous to Alaska Natives (ATSDR 2009).
Due to unique geographic and cultural practices, residents of the Kodiak Archipelago who survive on customary subsistence food diets may differ from national seafood consumption averages, but we do not know how they differ. Over the winter of 2015-2016, the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak conducted study funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to document the consumption rates, patterns of use, habits, preparation and cooking methods of fish and other subsistence resources in four villages throughout the Kodiak archipelago; Ouzinkie, Old Harbor, Larsen Bay, Port Lions, and the city of Kodiak. This study is attempting to gather the community consumption rates of commercial and non-commercially obtained fin fish, shellfish, and marine mammals by surveying 10% people living within these of the communities. The Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak Natural Resource Department staff are working closely with each of the Tribal Councils in order to reach this goal. Once the study is complete, project findings will be presented to EPA and the Tribal Councils who supported this project.
Access to Resources on Kodiak Island
Within the Kodiak archipelago, the eligibility and access to the wild resources is varied and you must qualify to participate in an activity before doing it. All hunting, fishing, and gathering activities fall under the management of the state or federal governments, even the resources on private or corporation lands. State and federal hunting, fishing, and gathering regulations establish which fish, animals, and plants are available to harvest, who can harvest them, when and how they can be harvested, where they can be harvested, and how many can be harvested.
Under federal and state management, the seasons, harvest limits, methods and means, permitting, and reporting requirements for every activity and species can vary widely so before heading out always check with federal and state regulations to determine the licensing and permitting requirements. Pay careful attention to closed waters, seasons, limits, and other rules for the area where you plan on hunting, fishing, or gathering other wild resources.
Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Licenses
Check the state and federal hunting and fishing regulations booklets carefully for information about license requirements and to make sure the area you plan to fish or hunt in is open to you. It is important to note that no one may fish or harvest game or fur animals without first getting a State of Alaska fishing, hunting, or trapping license and any associated tags, permits, or harvest tickets required for specific fishing or hunting activities. The State of Alaska hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses can be purchased at a number of vendors in Kodiak City or can be purchased online through the Alaska Fish and Game Online Store.
Hunting Eligiblity
Hunting within the Kodiak archipelago is regulated via harvest tickets, and drawing and registration hunts. Drawing and registration hunts are available to residents and nonresidents. Drawing hunts are awarded by a lottery and entering require an application fee. Typically, you can apply for drawing hunts during the months of November and December each year. Registration are not usually limited to a number of permits but seasons are closed by emergency order when a harvest goal is met. Sometimes registrations hunts are limited to a first-come, first-served basis. More information about drawing hunts and registration hunts can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website page – Drawing Hunts and Registration Hunts.
Fishing Eligibility
On Kodiak there are three different types of fishing activities: subsistence, commercial, and sport fishing. While sport fishing is open to most individuals, commercial and subsistence fisheries are limited to certain types of gear, specific areas, or to Alaska residents. In regard fishing, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game maintains the chart, “What kind of fishery do you qualify for?” to help you determine which different fisheries you can participate in. Once you determine the kind of fisheries you are eligible for, then make sure you review the regulations for the specific areas you would like to fish and the species you want to catch. The seasons, harvest limits, methods and means, permitting, and reporting requirements vary widely. Kodiak’s fisheries are managed by agencies of the federal government, agencies of the state government, or by a cooperative arrangement between federal and state agencies.
Marine Mammal Hunting Eligibility
Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, only Alaska Natives who live on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean may harvest marine mammals for subsistence purposes.
Land Ownership
Over the last 40 years, many changes in land ownership and land management have occurred on Kodiak Island. As a result, areas that were previously open to the public for use, now require special permissions for access. Some of these areas may have use restrictions or may even be no longer available for public use. These changes in land ownership and management have brought about problems of unauthorized land use and resources. Of course, most unauthorized land and resource use has been inadvertent due to a lack of knowledge and understanding about land ownership and resource use.
Land on Kodiak Island is owned by the federal government, the state government, the municipal government, or by a private individual or corporation. The land that owned by a government is usually managed by an agency of the government. For example, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is owned by the federal government and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency or the corporation that owns the land typically designates a land manager or contact person to answer questions or deal with other public matters involving the use of the land. Each land ownership type has different provisions to provide access to public lands and waters. Before taking a trip, learn who owns the land and how you can legally use or cross it.
All land owned by Alaska Native corporations is private land and, except when noted, it is is closed to public use. Like other privately owned land, individuals can get permissions (or permits) from the landowner to use the land. Since some of the Alaska Native corporation lands are open to hunting, fishing, and other recreational uses, it is important to first speak with a Corporation land manager to get permission to access the land before venturing onto it. Users should always obey all signs or barricades placed on private land.
The Afognak Native Corporation, Natives of Kodiak, Ouzinkie Native Corporation, Koniag, Inc., Leisnoi, Inc., Old Harbor Native Corporation, and Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc. all manage and protect their traditional lands and, through land use permits, provide opportunities for shareholders and others to utilize their lands responsibly. Any of the general public who wishes to access Alaska Native Corporation lands are required to obtain a land use permit in advance. Land use permits for Afognak Native Corporation, Natives of Kodiak, Inc., and the Ouzinkie Native Corporation lands are administered through the Joint Land Use Permit System. The general public wishing to access Leisnoi, Inc. lands to hunt, fish, recreate, and other purposes must obtain a Land Use and Firewood Gathering Permit and Waiver from Leisnoi, Inc. The Old Harbor Native Corporation Land Use Policy states that individuals who wish to use OHNC lands for any reason must first first apply, and then meet the terms of the application and pay a fee to the corporation before accessing OHNC lands.
Food From the Land
The Kodiak Island archipelago only has six native species of mammals. The rest were introduced to the island between the 1920s and 1950s. The native mammals include the Kodiak brown bear, red fox, river otter, ermine, little brown bat, and the tundra vole. The non-native, introduced species include the Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goat, elk, reindeer, marten, red squirrel, snowshoe hare, and beaver. All of the introduced species are now hunted or trapped. Regulations for brown bear, Sitka black-tailed deer, elk, reindeer and mountain goat are published by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Current regulations are available in a printed booklet and online. As a hunter or trapper, it is your responsibility to check with the landowner before going out on your hunt. Please contact the U.S. Bureau of Land Management or the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to find out who owns the land.
Berries, Mushrooms, and Other Plants
A great variety of berries, mushrooms, and other plants are often harvested throughout the Kodiak archipelago. Harvesting small amounts of wild plants, mushrooms, berries, and other plant materials (excluding seaweeds) for personal, noncommercial use is generally allowed on state lands. On federal lands, no permit is required for the non-commercial harvest of berries, mushrooms, and other plant materials by federally qualified subsistence users. Here you can download the Kodiak Alutiiq Spring Plants book provided by the Native Educators of the Alutiiq Region
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Elk
Within the Kodiak archipelago, Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis) were transplanted onto Afognak Island from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in 1929. Since then some elk have migrated to Raspberry Island. Elk hunting with the Kodiak archipelago is managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and opportunities are offered through drawing and registration hunts.
Reindeer (feral)
In 1921, reindeer were introduced to the southern area of Kodiak Island and ten years later an Alaska Native Cooperative, “The Alitak Native Reindeer Corporation”, was formed to managed the herd. Active management of the herd continued for 30 years and, shortly thereafter, federal grazing licenses ceased. In 1964, the State of Alaska declared the reindeer to be feral and started an open season, no bag limit hunt. This hunt remained unchanged for nearly 40 years when, in 2010, the State of Alaska instated a ban on same-day-airborne hunts and restricted the harvest opportunity to six months per year and one reindeer per hunter per year. Currently, hunting reindeer requires a hunting tag and the season is open from August 1st to January 31st.
Mountain Goat
Mountain goats (Oreamnus americanus) were introduced to Kodiak Island in 1952 and 1953. Since their transplantation, harvest numbers increased dramatically and the first hunting season occurred in 1968. In an effort to spread the mountain goat population throughout Kodiak Island, the state managed the populations conservatively. Currently, mountain goats occupy all available goat habitats on the Island. In 2014, 334 mountain goats were harvested from the Kodiak Island drawing and registration goat hunts. Mountain goat hunts are managed by registration and drawing permits. The taking of nannies with kids is prohibited and the taking of males is encouraged. Nonresident hunters must be accompanied by a guide. For more information about this hunt, please review the Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulation booklet.
Furbearers and Fur Animals
Furbearers and fur animals within the Kodiak archipelago include the red fox, snowshoe hare, beavers, river otter, red squirrel, and marten. The hunts for these animals are managed under the State of Alaska’s trapping regulations. Annually, the State of Alaska publishes summary of furbearer and fur animal trapping and hunting regulations.
Furbearers that may be taken with a trapping license include beaver, red fox, marten, mink, river otter, and squirrel. Some of these forbearers may also be classified as fur animals and these animals may be taken under the State of Alaska’s trapping regulations using a trapping license or under the hunting regulations using a hunting license. Before hunting or trapping these animals, please be sure to fully understand the regulations. For specific information about trapping on federal public lands, please call (800) 478-1456.
Food From the Air
Migratory Birds
Migratory bird hunters have numerous opportunities to harvest waterfowl throughout the Kodiak archipelago. The first thing to do before going migratory bird hunting is to become familiar with the regulations and shooting times for where you’ll be hunting, and to purchase the appropriate licenses and stamps. Migratory bird management in the United States is a cooperative effort of state and federal governments. So, within the Kodiak archipelago, migratory bird management is a cooperative effort between the State of Alaska and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Migratory Bird Regulations
All waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older must have a current federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp unless you are a qualified permanent rural Alaska resident or an eligible person living in an included area. The seasons when you may hunt without a Federal Duck Stamp vary depending on how you qualify for this exemption. Additionally, migratory bird hunters must you must purchase a state hunting license and an Alaska Waterfowl Conservation Stamp, unless you qualify for license and duck stamp exemptions listed in this section. Both federal and state stamps must be signed in ink and be carried at all times while hunting waterfowl. Also, migratory bird hunters are also required to enroll in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program and must carry proof of enrollment while hunting.
If you would like more information on the federal and state hunting stamp requirements, licensing, regulations, or the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, please contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at (800) 478-7468 or (907) 267-2206.
Also, please know that nontoxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and snipe and that you cannot carry lead shot in the field while hunting migratory birds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also publishes federal regulations governing traditional spring and summer subsistence hunting of migratory birds in Alaska. The regulations allow permanent residents of designated harvest areas to hunt certain species of migratory birds during specified open seasons. For more information, contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Migratory Bird Comanagement Council at (877) 229-2344 or online through the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council. A briefing of the Kodiak Archipelago Federal Subsistence Migratory Bird regulations is also available on the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Coucnil website.
Migratory Bird Eggs
Migratory bird eggs are also an important part of the traditional Sun’aq subsistence diet. If you are a permanent resident of a Kodiak Island archipelago community or village, you are eligible to harvest migratory birds and eggs for subsistence purposes, under federal subsistence migratory bird harvest regulations. In all regions throughout the state of Alaska, seasonal closures apply to all forms of harvest including hunting and egg gathering, unless specified otherwise in regulations. The Migratory Bird Co-Management Council keeps an updated list of migratory birds that can be harvested and the various types of migratory bird eggs that can be harvested. This list is published annually in the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council’s Alaska Subsistene Bird Harvest Regulations Handbook.
Ptarmigan
Within the Kodiak archipelago, Willow and Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus lagoons and Lagopus muta, respectively) are found. Both are managed by the State of Alaska small game hunting regulations. Willow ptarmigan like willow-lined waterways or subalpine areas. Tall bushes are an important feature for willow ptarmigan and these birds choose wetter places for breeding than the rock ptarmigan. The rock ptarmigan prefer slopes and high valleys where short shrubs form a patchy pattern with low herbs and grasses. Willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan have the widest ranges in Alaska of any of the other upland game birds.
If you harvest a willow or rock ptarmigan, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game asks for your helping collecting wings, tails, and heads from hunter-harvested ptarmigan. These samples can help biologists understand the sex and age of the harvests, which is important in managing this species. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Kodiak Alaska Department of Fish and Game office at (907) 486-1880.
Food From the Water
The State of Alaska manages three different types of fisheries on Kodiak Island: subsistence, sport fish, and commercial. While sport fishing is open to most individuals, commercial and subsistence fisheries are limited to certain types of fishing gear, specific areas, or to Alaska residents. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game maintains the chart, “What kind of fishery do you qualify for?” to help you determine which different fisheries you can participate in. Once you determine the kind of fisheries you are eligible for, then make sure you review the regulations for the specific areas you would like to fish and the species you want to catch. The seasons, harvest limits, methods and means, permitting, and reporting requirements vary widely.
Alaska residents, and only Alaska residents are eligible to participate in subsistence fisheries. Some subsistence fisheries require obtaining a permit issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before participating in the fishery. Make sure to check with the Kodiak Fish and Game Department to find out if you need a subsistence permit before participating in Kodiak’s subsistence fisheries. Also, some waters are closed to subsistence fishing so make sure you double check the fishing regulations before you fish.
Salmon
All five species of Pacific salmon – King (Chinook), sockeye, coho, pink, and chum salmon – are found in the waters in and around Kodiak Island. Within the Kodiak Management Area, sockeye salmon are the most subsistence harvested salmon species. All individuals harvesting subsistence salmon must have a state permit. The permits allow individual fishers to harvest 25 salmon for their own use plus 25 additional salmon for each member of the permit holder’s household. An additional permit can be obtained if the fisher could demonstrate a need for more fish.
Generally, subsistence salmon fishing is open year-round, with seasonal conditions placed on the use of commercial purse seine vessels when subsistence fishing. Federal regulations allow subsistence fishing 24 hours per day, while state regulations only allow subsistence fishing to occur between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
Under state regulations, legal gear for subsistence salmon harvest in the Kodiak Management Area include gillnets and seines. State subsistence fishers are required to physically attend their net while fishing and should always have a valid subsistence salmon permit on when while they are fishing. Harvested fish should be recorded on the permit before concealing them from plain view, or transporting them from the harvest area. For further information about state subsistence salmon regulations including specifics on gear types and amendments to the harvest seasons, please visit the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game website for the Kodiak Subsistence Salmon Fishing Regulations.
Federal regulations generally mirror the state regulations summarized above but also include rod and reel as legal harvest gear (in addition to gillnets and seines).
Other Freshwater Fish including Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Steelhead, and Grayling
Wild populations of steelhead, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden populate the rivers, streams, and lakes throughout the Kodiak archipelago. In addition to wild populations of salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game stocks a number of roadside lakes with hatchery rainbow trout fingerlings. The Kodiak Island Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations detail the regulations for these fisheries.
Ground fish
The marine waters around Kodiak have a great variety of ground fish species such as Pacific cod, lingcod, pollock, and different types of flounders and rockfish. Black, dusky, and yellow eye rock fish are the most commonly caught rockfish around the archipelago. There are some restrictions on subsistence lingcod and rockfish (black, dusky and yellow eye). There are some state and federal restrictions on subsistence lingcod and rockfish fishing in the Kodiak archipelago. Most groundfish fisheries off the Alaskan coast are managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under management plans that were adopted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. For more information on the subsistence ground fish regulations, please visit the State of Alaska’s state subsistence regulations, or the federal subsistence ground fish laws and regulations.
Herring
Since 2002, subsistence herring harvests are included on the existing State of Alaska’s Kodiak Management Area salmon and crab subsistence permits. Regulations for the Kodiak subsistence herring fishery, including the sac roe fishery, are found within the Kodiak federal subsistence fishing regulations.
Shellfish
In the Kodiak area, harvested shellfish include king, Tanner, and Dungeness crab as well as shrimp and other miscellaneous shellfish including clams, cockles, mussels, chitons, octopuses, sea urchins, and others. While permits are required for the subsistence harvest of shellfish, harvesters only need one permit for both salmon and shellfish. Shellfish harvests are to be recorded on the back of the salmon permit. Harvest regulations include sex, size, and bag and possession limits for each of the shellfish species. For more information on the Kodiak area subsistence shellfish harvest regulations, please review the harvest regulations for the harvest of fish and shellfish on federal public lands and waters booklet and contact the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge at (907) 487-2600. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game provides more information on the state subsistence shellfish fisheries and can be contacted at (907) 486-1825.
Seaweed
Throughout the State of Alaska, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages aquatic plants, which includes seaweed. Most of Alaska’s coastline is considered a “subsistence use area” so it is okay to harvest kelp for personal, noncommercial uses without a sport fishing license. Using dive gear to harvest kelp is prohibited by Alaska regulations. While there are no seasonal closures and no daily harvest limits, it is good practice to check with the Kodiak Alaska Department of Fish and Game office to make sure there are not any emergency closures before harvesting seaweed in the area. Please follow these guidelines when harvesting kelp:
Harvest in manner that prevents dislodging the entire plant from the bottom, and prevents straining or breaking the plant.
Do not cut the seaweed more than one foot below the surface of the water, and only keep the upper portion of the plant.
Sea Otters, Polar Bears, and Walruses
Contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammal Management Office at (800) 362-5148 or (907) 786-3800 or by Email. Information is also available on the web at Fish and Wildlife Service.
Seals, Sea Lions, and Whales
Contact the Protected Resources Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service at (907) 586-7235. Information is also available on the web at NOAA.
