A state fisheries panel on Nov. 15 decided to maintain a fishermen's cooperative in the Chignik purse seine salmon fishery as is, with no caps on membership and no changes in allocations to its membership.
"We're happy, thankful to have the (board's) support," said Axle Kopen, president of the co-op.
Kopen said co-op measures had raised the quality of the harvest by drastically reducing handling and reducing the time needed to get fresh fish from the water to the processor.
Currently 87 of 100 fishermen eligible to participate in the fishery are members of the co-op, which gives the cooperative an allocation of 87 percent of the fishery, and independent fishermen 13 percent of the harvest.
The co-op is not without critics.
"It's very frustrating," said Ernie Carlson, a Chignik resident who has fished for salmon in the area for 40 years. "I've fished there my whole life. I've upgraded my boat, and now I've lost fishing time."
The co-op has one more year on a three-year contract for purchase of its fish by NorQuest Seafoods Inc.
