Judge: Salmon run's survival trumps religious rights of Alaska Native fishermen

What began as a hot protest beneath a warm sun last June had 11 months later, with ice still clinging to the Kusko, become a legalistic ritual in which some decided they no longer wanted to take part. The case has divided villagers, who rely on salmon runs to feed their families, and state officials, who have a duty to manage fish runs for sustainability.

Fisherman Yago Evan bailed completely. He told the defense attorney trying to make a religious case out of the citations issued against 25 fishermen that he didn't want to play anymore. No one in court quite knew how to handle that.

Judge Bruce G. Ward finally had his clerk call Evan at home to see what he wanted to do about the case. Evan was frank about his feelings. "It's just a big waste of time," the voice transferred into a speakerphone in the court room said, "I'm not going to waste [Bleeeeep!] time on that [Bleeeeep!] thing."

A very patient Ward, however, convinced Evan to at least listen in on the phone while Alaska State Trooper Brett Gibbens testified against the fisherman. Gibbens then offered up a story similar to what he'd already repeated many times on the day.

He saw a boat with an illegally long net in the water. He went to investigate. He found illegally large mesh being used. .... http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20...ative-fishermen