NWSA Board

  • Adelia Myrick

    PRESIDENT

    I was born and raised in Kodiak and have been a lifelong island resident aside from time away for higher education and travel. My parents started setnetting in 1980 when my twin sister and I were 3, first in Kizhuyak, then in Viekoda, and in 1986 bought the site I have today, in Uganik Bay. I have only missed one summer since then and now am honored to own the site. My mom, sister, and my 3 young nieces all spend significant parts of their summer at the setnet site, and my husband Tollef also owns and fishes his own site several miles across the bay. In 2016 I moved to Uganik full time to focus on salmon fishing, kelp farming, building a small business direct marketing a small portion of our catch, and homesteading. I also serve on the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association Board of Directors in the Westside Setnet North seat. Salmon is central to my life, and I am committed to working to keep our fishery active and sustainable for the next generation.

  • Adam Wischer

    VICE PRESIDENT

    My parents purchased our set net site in 1976. I made my first trip out to the property at nine months old and have continued doing so ever since. I worked from a young age and got my permit at 17 and began running the site from then on.

    Having been involved in the salmon fishery my entire life has provided me the privilege to get to know people in all aspects of the fishery. I have had the opportunity to work with family fisheries in Viekoda Bay and Moser Bay. I grew up with many members of the seine fleet as well. I have good relationships with all of those involved in the fishing industry. In addition I currently serve on the board of the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association. 

    I value the importance of a stable and sustainable salmon industry and NWSA’s contributions to ensure that it remains viable for our community and generations to come.

  • Jane Petrich

    SECRETARY

    I am a member of a multi-generational setnetting family in the Northwest District of Kodiak Island. I am committed to protecting the cultural and historical set net fishery for my children, grandchildren and future generations. I started setnetting in 1978 out of wooden skiff crafted by a local builder in Larsen Bay. I have spent my summers since 1978 fishing in Uyak and Larsen Bay. As my 3 children came of age they crewed with me and learned the fishery and over the years we grew the operation. I always felt privileged to be part of something that allowed me to work and play with my three sons-especially during their teen years. Now I get to share my love of being on the water and fishing with my grandchildren.

    In addition to my years of setnetting I have 40 years of working with the University of Alaska, village and regional native groups, and the United States Coast Guard in a variety of administrative roles.

    I bring my collective experiences to the Board of the Northwest Setnetters with the hope and expectation of helping to strengthen and assure the sustainability of the set net fishery on the west side of Kodiak Island.

  • Mark Beardsley

    TREASURER

    Fishing with my family in Uyak Bay has been my life on the Westside of Kodiak for over 40 summers. Setnetting has provided me with an opportunity I thoroughly enjoy. Working on the water each summer helped me through college and fishing is now my primary profession, including a recent new venture of direct marketing a few of our salmon. I volunteer on the Northwest Setnetters Association Board to help provide continued opportunities in our setnet fishery. I am committed to this organization, its membership and keeping our fishery viable.

  • Virgina Adams

    I began fishing commercially with my husband Jonathan in 1975 out of Montauk, NY. In 1980 we moved to Kodiak, Alaska looking for better opportunities. While seining in Kodiak we saw set net operations and knew that was for us. We bought Valley Pt set net site in 1980 and it has grown, along with our family, to a multi permit operation that we as a family have fished for 43 seasons. I am an original founder of NWSA and have served as President and Vice President. I am committed to strongly advocating for opportunities for the Kodiak set net fleet for the future.

  • Abby Haughey

    My family started setnetting on the westside of Kodiak Island in 1965. I grew up setnetting in Uyak Bay every summer from May through September with my two sisters and our little brother. In 2021, I graduated from Washington State University with a degree in zoology and moved to live in Kodiak full time. I have continued setnetting every summer as well participating in other fisheries throughout the state. I enjoy sportfishing through Kodiak Island in my spare time and am passionate about preserving local Salmonid runs and setnetting as a profitable livIihood going forward. I recognize the challenges our fishery and market face and will work to ensure a sustainable fishery and market Kodiak 's westside's setnetters.

  • Lauren Haughey

    In 1965, my grandfather, Al Haughey, purchased a set net operation on the west side of Kodiak Island in Uyak Bay. There, my grandparents raised my father and his brother and sister. Eventually, my father took over running the operation. I grew up working alongside my parents, sisters and brother. Some of my first memories in the skiff are of when we were so small, it would take both me and my sister to pick up one fish and heave it in the tote. I started fishing full-time at 13 and have done so every summer since. I am excited to be continuing the family business and sharing it with future generations. I have recently began expanding into the direct marketing of our fish to consumers. I look forward to being on the board of the Northwest Setnetters Association and welcome the opportunity to learn from and work with everyone.

  • Anitra Winkler

    I was born and raised in the small Interior town of Cantwell Alaska. I got a job set netting in Uganik in 2010 right after my senior year of high school. I continued crewing in Uganik throughout college. In 2017 I bought my setnet site in Uganik which I have been fishing every season since. I spend the bulk of my year on Kodiak- set netting as well as participating in some other fisheries on the island. I spend my winters in Anchorage teaching avalanche safety classes to backcountry skiers and riders. I am new to the fisheries regulatory process and am excited to get involved.

  • Thom Wischer

    I became a Kodiak Island set netter in 1976. I was attracted to the lifestyle that set netting offered me and my family. I acquired a site in Kupreanof Strait known as Eagle Rock. In 1988 I had the opportunity to expand my set net operations to include a site on Raspberry Island at Gori Point. I realized that to preserve the fishing life that I loved, I would need to do more than just fish. I became one of the founding members of the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association and served on the Regional Planning Team. In 1995 I was elected President of the United Salmon Association, an organization created to negotiate pre-season price contracts with all Kodiak processors. I served as a board member of the United Fishermen of Alaska representing that organization. I am currently on the board of the Northwest Settnetters Association representing the family gillnet fishermen in Kupreanof Strait. I will continue to work to advance the interests of all the gillnet fishermen in the Northwest District of the Kodiak Management Area.