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Bill Hunsinger (Seat E - non-Alaska Resident)

Bill Hunsinger’s Candidate Statement

My name is Bill Hunsinger. I feel my qualifications as a board member are as follows.

1. I have owned my own boat and permit in Bristol Bay for over 50 years.
2. I also own 3 other boats and permits for which my 3 sons fish or have fished on.
3. I've been on the OR and WA commercial fishing advisory board for at least the last 15 years.
4. For 12 years I was a Port Commissioner for the Port of Astoria who I represented on the commercial fishing industry.
5. I was the ILWU Longshoremen Area Chairman representing OR and WA in agreements and contracts and other issues.
6. I am working with our senators in Wa.DC on the economic impact on low prices paid in BB also BB fishermen over the last 3 years have lost close to 40% of their small business worth value.
7. The processors are working to be in the new Farm Bill and I am talking to our senators about us being part of that farm bill.
8. I own numerous boats and gillnet permits in OR & WA.
9. I have testified in Olympia, WA & Salem, OR in fish commission meetings supporting our industry numerous times.

My vision for BBRSDA is to take a closer look at our bylaws and see if we need some changes . Also I want a 100% transparency to the membership before the board makes major decisions on certain issues. I also would like our webpage to be more updated. We can't let BBRSDA fail. We have to bring price fairness to the Bay.

Bill Hunsinger
p.hunsinger@yahoo.com
503-338-8211

Bill Hunsinger’s Responses to Candidate Questionnaire

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

   I have done a lot of work studying the commercial fishing industry. I have owned crabbers, herring boats, numerous Columbia River gillnet boats and Bristol Bay boats and permits. With this experience and knowledge of these fisheries I would bring good experience to the board. Also, I went to probably a hundred meetings representing the commercial fishing industry in the states of OR and WA. I have written letters and emails to OR and WA. state representatives and also my Federal representatives in Washington DC. about the issues that commercial fishing industry have. I just think that my experience over the years and the people I know and the contacts I have would make me a good representative on the board of BBRSDA.
   
   
   

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

   I believe in trying to find a way to bring price fairness to all the commercial fishermen, drift and set netters alike. We have to get rid of our old ways of doing business with the processors. We are a small business and we need to know a base price before we go fishing so we can budget our costs and not let the processors dictate the price after they get our fish. We might need to change our bylaws to find a way to help our membership achieve some of these issues.

   I don't understand why we are spending all our money on advertising to help the processors. What is their fair share of the advertising money?
   
   
   

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

   Keep the membership fully informed on any major changes or votes. Look at our bylaws to see if there is a direction in which we can better help our membership obtain a better direction than the way we are going now . It is time for fishermen to work together to obtain our goals. Don't sit back and have somebody hopefully do your job. It is up to you and me to change the old ways. If the processors get on the farm bill we have to be part of it too. The fish are ours when we catch them. The processors can't operate without our help.
   
   
   

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?

   I believe that the strategies are an effective goal as long as we stay within their guidelines. The marketing plan is to collaborate with the stakeholders and processors. How have we been doing with coming together with the processors? I don't believe very well. Our quality program doesn't seem to be working very well. The more money we put in to make our fish better the lower base price gets worse. As stated $1.45 base 2021.. A $1.15 2022. Fifty cents 2023. I think a full review of our strategic plan is necessary as soon as possible.
   
   
   

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

   I have read many articles on earthen dams that have broken and sediment has flowed into creeks and rivers that have caused long term destruction of fish. After years of trying to bring the fish back to these river systems it continues to be a failure. I am 100% against the Pebble Mine idea.
   
   
   

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

   I seek more meetings and a better website update. It is very important to our membership.