Sitka is a small town. Visitors might think there isn't much to do here if they are passing through. But locals know better. It's a rare day when I have nothing to do. The City and Borough of Sitka actually covers the largest area of any city in the United States. That's because the limits span Sitka Sound. There are many opportunities to explore the area by boat and often times, be the only person or group in a particular part of Sitka. Recently, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) took part of our town away from us. They ruled in favor of allowing Geoduck farming in Mielkoi Cove, which is about 7 miles south of Sitka (picture courtesy of Sitka Conservation Society). Last week, the Sitka Tribe, Sitka Conservation Society, and the City of Sitka appealed the decision.

Geoduck (pronounced "gooey duck") is a Nisqually native word for "dig deep." They are the largest burrowing clam in the world and are a delicacy in Japan and China. The industry is relatively young; commercially it's less than five years old. Found along the West Coast, there are harvestable amounts in Washington State, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska. Geoduck are an odd looking shellfish, having a neck that can get up to three feet long and they may live to be over 100 years old (they are measured by the rings in the shell). They are eaten raw or lightly cooked. There is even a documentary about them.

The Sitka Tribe's main concern, according to my brother (he's on the tribal council), is the cultural impact to its citizens at the selected clam farm sites. These include traditional harvesting of native foods, historical or ongoing ceremonial use, and historical clan ownership of the area. Financial impacts will be brought to tribal citizens who commercially harvest geoduck in the form of direct competition from such farms as proposed for the Mielkoi Cove site and the restriction to the area as a result of DNR's decision to lease the area for farming. Additionally, public use of the area will be limited or restricted and will impact its general use.

The City of Sitka and Sitka Conservation Society's concerns in addition to the above include the impacts to commercial and sport fishing, recreation, and tourism, among others. On their website, they mention the expansion of a current farm in the Sitka area as well as Mielkoi Cove. But most alarming are the applications for 140 new sites around Southeast Alaska.

To be fair, in tonight's local newspaper, the applicant for the Mielkoi Cove site defends his position in a letter to the editor. He explains how the impacts may be exaggerated because his farm is at depths of forty feet, the buoys won't be an obstruction to navigation, and each permit application costs $5,000 to process (even if it's turned down). The details of the application process and current status are outlined here.

No matter the outcome, this is another example of Native resources in jeopardy. It is an ongoing struggle throughout Tlingit/Native Country. Under the guise of "no evidence the proposed farm's location is in a heavily used area," the DNR has ruled favorably for the applicant. But as my uncle likes to say in response to those types of arguments, "I have an old boat in my yard that I don't use very much anymore, but that doesn't mean anyone can just come and take it."