04/21/2009: "Stewardship Award Winners Announced"

(Lopez Reefnet fisherman Jack Giard)

Eight Good Stewardship awards were presented at “Sustainable San Juans: Greening Your Home, Business and Food”, an Earthday event held Saturday in Friday Harbor. The awards were part of a three day celebration of environmental stewardship sponsored by the San Juan Stewardship Network and the San Juan Island Community Foundation .

The Business Stewardship Award went to Lopez 4-Way Reefnet and Jack and Joan Giard, owners for over 40 years. Reefnet fishing is the most selective of the commercial fishing techniques and allows salmon stocks of conservation concern as well as other bycatch to be returned with zero mortality.

Lopez 4-Way Reefnet was selected for this award as they have shown reverence not only for the salmon that they are catching, but for the greater marine environment as well. They have demonstrated to us all that sometimes the best way of doing things… is the old way of doing things. Jack serves on the Marine Resources Committee and is a quintessential resource on all things salmon.

Julian Glasser; Dr. Eugene Kozloff; Peter Fisher; Bob and Pat Jester; Dr. Mike Kaill; Douglas, Joseph and Sam Bullock; and Lynn Danaher were the other award recipients; they and their photos will be featured in separate stories over the next few days.