Part 3: Gill net fishing - Copper River Basin Sockeye

Bow picker Gill net fishing on the Copper River Delta

As part of an ongoing assignment (see part one and part two) covering the copper river red salmon, I traveled to Cordova, Alaska to join a commercial fishermen during the current, once a week 12 hour period for the Copper River gillnet fishery.

The great Copper River pours into the Gulf of Alaska in southcentral Alaska, depositing its turbid waters full of glacial silt and sand creating an array of shallow sand bars and and shoals. The fishermen of the Delta use bow-picker jet boats by majority, which enables fishing in these shallow waters. A 900 foot net is released into the water suspended above by small floats and a lead line below helps the net hang down in the current. The net (and boat) drift along with the current for about an hour or so, before a large wheel reels in the net along with the catch. The fish are caught in the net by the gills.

Hauling in the net

My special thanks to the generosity of commercial fisherman Bill Webber for letting a total stranger join him. Bill has more than 40 years experience fishing the Copper River Delta, and currently operates an innovative and progressive business where he processes his fish at sea and sells direct to restaurants in the lower 48. (Gulkana Seafoods Direct)

Sockeye salmon caught in the gillnet

This takes a blend of skills, which Bill implements well. The “processed at sea” attribute is one more effort to increase the quality of an already amazing product. Bill takes extensive care in handling the fish in order that they are not inadvertently bruised. In addition, they are live bled quickly, headed and gutted, then pressure bled, and quickly hand packed with ice and put in the hold. This practice is more common in the troll fishing industry, but he is introducing it to the gill net fishery. The fish are generally sent out the following day on Alaska Airlines jets.

Salmon coming over the bowroller.

Packing the hold with processed fish.

His boat named the “Gulkana” (one of the headwater rivers of the Copper) is fitted with satellite phone/internet and he can literally take orders from restaurants as the catch of the day unfolds! Which is a pretty slick operation.

Mixed in with the run of red salmon are the king salmon, and we netted a very nice one weighing in about 50 pounds. In case you are wondering, that single fish fetches about $700 on the (direct, processed at sea) restaurant market!

50 pound King salmon nets $700 on the processed at sea direct market.

Conditions were not optimal for photography, very flat light, gray sky and gray water. And the density of the fishing fleet (500 plus boats) has dispersed to other parts of Prince William Sound in part due to the economics of a low salmon run, reduced opening periods and the cost of fuel. It was a great experience and I captured a few o.k. photos.

Interestingly, the perspective I like the most was from the last set of the day, just before closing, when an increased sense of "I need to work this differently" prompted the idea of hanging off the bowroller for a look back as the fish came on board the boat. Of course, having another vessel to shoot from would have been optimal, but it was not available. Bill got a rope which we rigged up to enable me to lean back against it for support and shoot a few frames.


Hanging off the bowroller for a different perspective

Herring Sac Roe Fishery in Sitka

Pacific herring spawn in the waters around Sitka, Alaska.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, 24-105mm f4.0L IS (28mm), 1/1000 sec @ f5.6, ISO400

Each year in March a brief Pacific herring sac roe commercial fishery happens in Sitka. The school of fish, which returns annually to the Sitka Sound, is monitored closely by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. When the egg development reaches an optimal point, the season opens for a designated amount of time, targeting a specific tonnage of fish harvested by the fleet of fisherman. Purse seine fishing methods (the large net drawn in a circle around the school of fish) are used, however, the nets are not lifted on to the boat due the extremely large amount of captured fish. Instead, they are vacuumed from the net when drawn close to the side of the boat. It's all about the eggs, not the meat. The eggs are sold primarily to an Asian market.

Purse seine nets are drawn around a successful catch of Herring
Canon 1Ds Mark II, 24-105mm f.40L IS

Tons and tons of Herring are harvested for the sale of their eggs.
Canon 1Ds Mark II, 24-105mm f.40L IS

Photo details:
The exotic and somewhat tropical aqua color present in the water is the result of milky Herring sperm. It makes for quite a beautiful scene from the air. I spent one day on the water via a boat, and the next opener I took to the sky for some aerials. I was fortunate on this evening since the sun peaked through the clouds for about 3 minutes during the flight. During that time, I captured a handful of images. The bird's eye view gives such a descriptive viewpoint, that I try often to get in the air whenever possible. Aerial photography can be complex. From scheduling, weather cooperation, finding the right aircraft, to communicating with the pilot for proper positioning. I've learned a few things that may be helpful if you are considering doing the same.

Considerations for aerial photography

• Take two cameras, each with a different lens
• Remove lens hoods unless absolutely necessary, they can be bad wind drags
  
• Use image stabilzed lenses
• Shoot with a high shutter speed (you are always at infinity focus anyway so the f stop-depth of field issue is not critical-at least you better be at infinity focus!)
• Have the aircraft door removed if possible (good luck with that since many pilots are reluctant to do it. You might consider giving them enough notice time to make proper FAA contacts for approval.)
• Keep from resting arms or elbows on the aircraft frame - it transfers vibrations to your camera
• If you have to shoot through a window (it is possible but not the best situation), wear dark clothes and watch for reflections. Do not let your lens touch the window, you won't like it and your pilot won't either.