Commercial fishing is a vital part of our economy. Supporting local infrastructure helps fishermen operate safely and efficiently and strengthens the resilience of many hard-working Haines fishing families.

As residents of Haines and longtime commercial fishermen, we want to express the need for continued investment in local infrastructure to support the success, safety, and sustainability of our commercial fishing fleet. We would like the borough assembly, ports and harbor committee, the planning commission and the broader community that source their seafood from us to please be aware of the following critical infrastructure needs of our industry:

— Our fleet lacks sufficient dry dock storage, creating logistical challenges for off-season maintenance and gear storage. Expanding this space would help fishermen extend vessel life and better prepare for the season.

— Haines harbor needs a drive-down dock. With only one crane available, loading and unloading is inefficient. A drive-down dock would greatly improve efficiency by allowing direct access to vessels with vehicles.

— The absence of haul-out capacity forces local fishermen to travel to other communities for repairs—adding cost and inconvenience. Local haul-out options would support vessel longevity and the economy.

— Finally, the commercial fishermen need a safe harbor on the Chilkat side. Not having mooring capability in Letnikof is a huge disservice to the boating community and needs to be addressed quickly.

Will assembly candidates address these critical needs for our industry?

Dennis Gudmundson, Mika Gudmundson and Erik Lembke