by Hannah Heimbuch, AMCC Community Fisheries Organizer in Homer
AMCC sent a team of five to Expo this year — including Executive Director Kelly Harrell, Fisheries Director Becca Robbins Gisclair, myself, and board members Marissa Wilson and Emilie Springer. We had the opportunity to visit with old friends, and make a few new ones, building membership and communication through three days focused on the livelihoods, lifestyles and ecosystems the ocean supports.
Past board members pulled up a chair to catch up on AMCC’s latest efforts. Seasoned fishermen stopped to tell us stories from their decades of experience living and working on water. Young fishermen came by to ask questions, buy Salmon Sisters hoodies and talk about their journeys into fisheries businesses. And we got a chance to share our ideas and current projects with colleagues from a wide variety of marine industries, advocacy groups, research centers, management and policy organizations, and more. If you had a question about the marine world, you can bet there was a booth there with someone who could answer it.
further protections in Bristol Bay and the Aleutian Basin — messages destined for the offices of President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Jewell.
We look forward to many more years of participating in this excellent event, and building on the important relationships fostered there.