
Jerry Ivanoff is a lifelong resident of Unalakleet, where he grew up and later went on to raise kids of his own. Jerry’s father taught him everything he knew about subsistence living and has passed this knowledge down to his daughter and three nephews who he raised. Jerry graduated from high school in Unalakleet and later attended Stanford University where he studied political science to eventually become a lawyer. Having to care for his father midway through his studies Jerry later returned to graduate but decided to move back home to his family. In the early 60’s Jerry began commercial fishing and got his own permit and business in 1982. Throughout his time as a fisherman the industry has changed significantly, where there use to be an abundance of fish, trawling fishing has depleted the Bering Sea. Jerry now is no longer allowed to fish for King salmon and is unable to find enough salmon to even supplement the cost of boat gas. These sad realizations are only a small part of the detriment climate change and poor regulation have affected. This management is putting Native people in Western Alaska in dire situations, having to travel farther and farther away to find food to feed their families and leaving them with little to no access to fish that once flourished in their waters. Jerry is dedicated and eager to use his knowledge and experiences to help implement change to stop this devastation.
Jerry Ivanoff


