Casey Coupchiak (Seat G Candidate - Open Residency)

Casey Coupchiak

F/V Mera
caseycoupchiak@gmail.com
(907) 980-1890

Seat G – Casey Coupchiak’s Candidate Statement

I am Casey Coupchiak, a Yup'ik woman from Togiak and a third-generation Bristol Bay permit holder. My family’s legacy of fishing these waters stretches back millennia. For 16 years, I have proudly commercial fished my family’s drift permit, instilled with a profound respect for quality and preservation by my late grandparents, Willie and Mary, who initially obtained our S03T permit. This intergenerational commitment compels me to run for the BBRSDA Board, bringing an energetic, fiscally responsible, and results-oriented perspective to our cooperative.

We face a hyper-competitive global market. The BBRSDA’s core mission must be to aggressively secure a premium price for every pound of our sockeye. My platform echoes my Grandmother Mary's insistence on premium quality and sustainability of this great resource and is centered on three core priorities for maximizing our fleet tax dollars:

1. Aggressive Market Innovation: We must push for data-driven, strategic marketing campaigns that focus on higher-value domestic and international markets, leveraging our unparalleled story of sustainability and quality to command the prices our premium product deserves.

2. Resource Protection and Advocacy: A strong market is meaningless without a protected resource. My extensive experience in watershed defense, including my work with the Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay (CFBB) on landmark legislation like the Bristol Bay Forever Act, gives me unique insight. I will ensure the BBRSDA remains a strong partner in securing permanent protections for the Bay.

3. Quality and Investment for the Future: I am committed to increasing the transparency of board decisions and ensuring our investments directly benefit fishermen, particularly through supporting on-the-water quality initiatives like ice and refrigeration improvements and fostering the next generation’s involvement in the fleet.
My life has been shaped by the rhythms of this region. I am ready to fiercely protect this irreplaceable resource and build a profitable, sustainable future for all. I am here for the fleet, by the fleet. I ask for your vote in the upcoming elections.

Casey Coupchiak
F/V Mera
caseycoupchiak@gmail.com
(907) 980-1890

Seat G – Casey Coupchiak’s Responses to Candidate Questionnaire

  1. Why do you want to be a BBRSDA board member?

  2. What do you think is the most important mission for the BBRSDA and why?

  3. In your view, what are three priorities the BBRSDA should focus on (within the legal limits referred to above) and why?

  4. The BBRSDA's Strategic Plan lists specific strategies for maximizing the value of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery.  Do you believe those strategies are an effective guide for accomplishing that goal, and if not, how should they be modified?

  5. Please explain your position on the Pebble Mine project.

  6. Is there another issue that you would like to respond to?